Known as the nonsurgical face lift, Profound® gets a lot of hype. Clients and clinics rave about its ability to tighten skin, reduce cellulite and deliver an overall younger appearance. But this raises an important question: when looking at Profound vs. other skin tightening devices, does it really deserve all the hype it gets?
Profound Has Few Competitors
When looking at med spa treatments for skin tightening, there are two treatments to consider: Profound and Ultherapy.
Certainly, there are many devices on the market that claim to make skin tighter. From at-home options that encourage daily use to med spa treatments that promise a noticeable difference after a single session, the market is flooded with them. But the fact is that most of these — the vast majority — do not work, or at best, they deliver a very small change.
The only real competitor Profound has at the moment is Ultherapy®. Ultherapy has been around for roughly a decade, and it used to be considered the king of nonsurgical skin tightening until Profound hit the market. This means that when it comes to selecting a skin tightening treatment, clients have to determine how Profound stacks up against Ultherapy.
Comparing Safety
Both Ultherapy and Profound have received FDA clearance, Ultherapy in 2014 and Profound in 2016. However, Ultherapy has not been approved for skin tightening, but Profound has.
Both treatments have strong safety records, though, as with any treatment, there is a risk of complications.
Comparing Comfort
Neither treatment should be overwhelmingly painful. However, Ultherapy is known for causing significant discomfort. This is because treatment protocol does not prescribe using much anesthetic, and the sessions can last upwards of 3 hours.
Profound, on the other hand, has a treatment protocol that specifies the use of facial numbing. Additionally, the average session takes just around an hour.
Comparing Results
Treatment with Ultherapy tends to deliver results that last about 12 months, with many clients needing a maintenance session at about 6 months. Additionally, roughly 25 percent of clients respond poorly to treatment, showing minimal to no results.
With Profound, it is not uncommon for results to hold up well for 12 months or more. While clinical studies have shown a 100 percent response rate, it is unlikely that this can be duplicated outside such a setting. With that said, most practitioners do feel that it has a better response rate than Ultherapy.
Comparing Downtime
This is the first category where Profound treatments for loose skin come up slightly short when compared to Ultherapy. Ultherapy tends to cause minimal to no swelling and bruising, and when these side effects do occur, they tend to last no more than a few days. Profound, however, can cause redness, swelling and bruising that can last about a week. This means you might need to take time off work after getting treatment.
Comparing Treatment Sites
Both Profound and Ultherapy can treat the brow, chin, neck and décolletage. Profound also can be used to tighten skin on the abdomen, thighs and buttocks. Additionally, Profound can reduce the appearance of cellulite, which Ultherapy cannot.
In the end, when comparing Profound vs. Ultherapy, Profound comes out on top.
Caroll Delo is a board certified laser technician at Simply Smooth Laser Center in Tampa, a niche practice that focuses specifically on laser treatments. Simply Smooth Laser Center offers the most advanced options in laser hair removal, laser skin rejuvenation and laser tattoo removal.
