Sofwave
Youthful Skin With SUPERB™ in San Francisco, CA
Reducing fine lines, wrinkles, cellulite and skin sagging does not have to involve invasive surgery and long, painful downtime. Sofwave uses non-invasive ultrasound technology (SUPERB™) to deliver amazing results safely and quickly. If you are a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, contact the Appearance Care Center™ today to learn more about this treatment.
What Is Sofwave Therapy for Skin Rejuvenation?
Sofwave is a non-surgical alternative to a facelift, neck lift or brow lift. Using proprietary Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam SUPERB™ technology, this FDA-cleared skin rejuvenation treatment lifts and smoothes aging tissues. A Sofwave treatment takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes for the full face and neck region.
As the next generation in ultrasound skin rejuvenation, Sofwave is similar to Ultherapy. Both technologies use ultrasound energy to stimulate collagen production for firm, even skin. However, Sofwave has several advantages:
- Completely painless
- Less expensive
- Shorter treatment duration
- No downtime
- Suitable for all skin types
Because Sofwave targets layers of the skin closer to the surface, it comes with a low risk of complications and side effects. This also makes it ideal for people with mild to moderate skin laxity. It can help reduce the appearance of:
- Fine lines
- Shallow wrinkles
- Mild skin sagging
The majority of patients see improvement after one treatment.
What Is Sofwave Therapy for Cellulite Reduction?
In 2022, the FDA cleared Sofwave for short-term improvement in the appearance of cellulite. The device’s SUPERB™ technology stimulates collagen and elastin production, helping to rebuild your skin from within. This produces smoother, firmer skin and minimizes the characteristic dimpled or “orange peel” look of cellulite. Sofwave can treat cellulite in almost any area of the body.
In a clinical study, participants received two Sofwave treatments spaced two to four weeks apart on the upper thighs and buttocks. Independent reviewers assessed photographs taken before the treatment and the three-month post-procedure mark. The reviewers correctly identified the post-treatment images for nearly 90% of the study participants.
How It Works
Sofwave — and other forms of ultrasound skin rejuvenation — works by boosting collagen production.
Collagen is a type of protein that acts as a critical building block in your body. It keeps your skin firm and toned. But its production tends to decrease by one percent a year starting in your late teens, leading to skin sagging, wrinkling and loss of elasticity.
Sofwave helps increase collagen production through controlled injury of the mid-dermis. This is where most of your skin’s collagen is produced.
The Sofwave device delivers focused high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to the mid-dermis at a depth of 1.5mm. The sound waves convert to heat inside the skin, which stimulates a healing response called neocollagenesis.
Neocollagenesis is the process of increasing and regenerating collagen in the skin. Once this process has taken place, there is a noticeable reduction in fine lines and wrinkles as well as improved skin elasticity.
How to Prepare
You don’t have to do much to prepare for this procedure. Sofwave is a non-invasive procedure with no required downtime. Sedatives and anesthetics are unnecessary, which means you can safely drive back home post-treatment.
Plan to spend around an hour in our clinic for your procedure, so adjust your schedule accordingly. It’s also a good idea to keep your skin free of makeup on the day of your appointment or bring face wipes with you.
We encourage patients to prepare a list of any questions they might have about this procedure, including what results they can expect, how often they will need treatment, costs, recovery and so on. We will take as much time as needed to address any questions.
Once your procedure is complete, you can return to your routine as usual.
The Procedure
Once you arrive for your appointment, one of our providers will explain how they perform the procedure and what you can expect. You will then make yourself comfortable in a treatment chair, and your provider will cleanse your skin of any residues and oil. They will apply a conductive gel to the treatment area and move the device handpiece across your skin.
You may experience mild tingling or heat as the device delivers the sound waves, which is normal. You can take ibuprofen before this procedure if you’re particularly pain-sensitive, although this isn’t usually necessary. Sofwave devices come with an integrated cooling mechanism called SofCool™ to maintain your comfort and prevent burning of the skin. The whole session will take 45 minutes maximum, after which you can resume your day as usual. Your provider will let you know if you need additional sessions.
Aftercare
Sofwave is a gentle procedure, so there’s barely any aftercare needed. You may notice mild tenderness in your skin right after your procedure, which should go away within a couple of days. Avoid direct sunlight, hot baths and saunas in the first week after your treatment. Please also avoid Retin-A, aggressive exfoliating products and irritating skincare ingredients or cosmetics while your skin is healing.
Maintaining a good skincare routine after your Sofwave treatment will help you retain your results longer. This includes wearing sunscreen, using mild exfoliants and not smoking, among other things. As your skin continues to age naturally, you may need to repeat the treatment after two to three years.
FAQs
Is Sofwave safe?
Sofwave targets layers of the skin closer to the surface while leaving the surrounding tissue unharmed. The controlled injury resulting from this procedure is minor and managed with the help of SofCool™.
Is Sofwave effective?
According to the manufacturer, a multi-center clinical study found that most patients noticed some or significant improvement 12 weeks after treatment and that over 70 percent of the treated patients said they were satisfied. At the Appearance Care Center™, we see high client satisfaction rates, with most of our patients noticing significant improvement after just one treatment.
How long does a typical Sofwave treatment take?
A typical Sofwave treatment session treating both the face and neck region lasts 30 to 45 minutes.
How many treatments will I need?
Most Sofwave patients need only one treatment to see significant improvement. But if you have deeper wrinkles or moderate sagging, you may need an additional session or more.
How is Sofwave different from Ultherapy?
Sofwave is gentler than Ultherapy because it targets the mid-dermis, whereas Ultherapy targets deeper layers of the skin.
Book an Appointment
If you are considering a non-invasive Sofwave skin-tightening and firming treatment in San Francisco, CA, contact the Appearance Care Center™ here or call us at (415) 567-7200. Our treatments are performed by board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Corey S. Maas or one of our experienced aesthetic providers. When you come to us for your cosmetic care, you can feel confident that you can achieve a beautiful, natural look while maintaining your uniqueness and safety.
