Ultherapy aftercare: the first day, week and months
Medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · Last reviewed · 3 min read
For radiofrequency tightening of the skin itself rather than focused ultrasound, see Thermage Singapore.
How imaging-guided and cartridge-based focused ultrasound compare is set out on HIFU treatment in Singapore.
Ultherapy needs little aftercare. You can usually return to normal activity the same day. Expect redness for a few hours and tenderness on chewing or touch for days. Use gentle skincare, avoid very hot treatments on the area for a few days, protect from sun, and give the change time: collagen remodelling is gradual, and any review is planned months, not days, later.
Ultherapy aftercare day by day
Ultherapy aftercare: what to expect, what to do and what to avoid, by day
When
Expected
Do
Avoid
Same day
Redness, warmth and tenderness; mild swelling; occasional welt
Cool compress; gentle skincare; paracetamol if needed
Pressing or massaging; heat; alcohol
Days 1–7
Tenderness when pressing; tingling or numb patches that fade
SPF 50; sleep face-up; usual skincare without actives
Retinoids, acids; facials; strenuous exercise for 2–3 days
Weeks 2–4
Settled; skin normal
Resume everything; first review
Other energy treatments on the same lines
Months 2–6
Lifting and tightening develop gradually
Review at 12 weeks with photographs
Judging before 3 months
General guidance; the written aftercare you receive from the clinic takes precedence. Message +65 8023 7170 if anything on the red list above appears.
What should you do and avoid after Ultherapy, phase by phase?
This table sets Ultherapy aftercare out by phase: straight after treatment while the skin is red and warm, the early phase while tenderness on chewing lasts, and the settling phase while collagen remodels around each focused-ultrasound point beneath an intact surface. Each row lists what is expected, what to do, what to avoid and the signs that mean you should send a message.
Phase
What is expected
What to do
What to avoid
Message or call if
Straight after
Redness and slight swelling that fade; warmth; tenderness on touch; an occasional small bruise
Gentle cleanser, plain moisturiser and sunscreen; a cool compress for short periods; ordinary activity
Rubbing the area; saunas, steam rooms and hot yoga; alcohol; anti-inflammatory painkillers if you bruise easily, unless agreed
A raised welt along a treatment row that does not flatten; a blister; swelling that is marked or one-sided
Early phase
Tenderness on chewing, yawning or touch that gradually eases; raised lines along the treatment rows; patches of tingling or numbness that settle
Sleep with the head slightly raised if the face feels swollen; light exercise as comfortable; make-up once the skin is unmarked; retinoids and acids once any redness has gone
Heat-based facials and other energy devices over the area; hard chewing on a sore side; pressing on tender points
Numbness or tingling that persists rather than fades; any change in facial movement; pain that is increasing; a new hollow or dent
Settling
Tenderness gone; the skin looks ordinary while the collagen response develops gradually beneath it
Daily sun protection; attend the review, which is planned later because the change develops gradually
Judging the change early; combining with other treatments on your own timetable rather than the order set in your plan
A line or mark that has not flattened; altered sensation that persists; asymmetry that worries you
This topic is part of the main guide to Ultherapy in Singapore, which covers what it treats, who it suits, the risks and how Dr Sin Yong approaches it.
Illustrative image. Sun protection is part of every energy-device aftercare plan.
Key facts
Same day
Normal activity; gentle cleanser and moisturiser
First few days
Avoid saunas, hot yoga and heat-based facials; mild painkillers if needed
Make-up
Usually fine the next day unless the skin is marked
Redness and slight swelling are expected and usually fade within hours. Cleanse gently, apply a plain moisturiser and sunscreen, and avoid rubbing the area. Paracetamol is usually enough for discomfort; ask before taking anti-inflammatory painkillers if you bruise easily. A cool compress for ten minutes at a time can ease swelling.
The first week
Tenderness on chewing, yawning or touch is common and gradually eases. Sleep with your head slightly raised for the first night or two if the face feels swollen. Avoid saunas, steam rooms, hot yoga and heat-based facial treatments for a few days. Retinoids and exfoliating acids can usually restart after two or three days, or once any redness has settled.
Small bruises, raised lines along the treatment rows or patches of tingling and numbness can appear and settle over days to weeks. A photograph sent by message helps if you are unsure whether something is expected; the side effects page describes what is normal.
The months after
Collagen remodelling after focused ultrasound develops over months, which is why any review is planned well after treatment rather than within days. Daily sun protection supports the skin in the meantime. If you are combining Ultherapy with other treatments, the order and spacing are set in your plan.
Questions after treatment come back through WhatsApp at +65 8023 7170 during clinic hours (Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm, Saturday 11am to 3pm, Singapore time). Anything that is getting worse rather than better, a blister or open area, or fever needs to be seen the same day, wherever you are.
Related on this site
Before treatment, the difference between the platforms is explained in Ultherapy vs HIFU.
Patches of tingling or numbness can appear after Ultherapy, along with tenderness on chewing, small bruises or raised lines along the treatment rows, and they usually settle on their own. Mention them, and send a photograph if you are unsure. Numbness that persists rather than fades, or any new weakness when you smile, purse the lips or raise the brow, needs prompt review.
Gentle cleansing, a plain moisturiser and sunscreen are fine. Saunas, steam rooms, hot yoga and heat-based facials are better avoided while the skin is tender, and retinoids and exfoliating acids can restart once any redness has settled. If Ultherapy is combined with injectables or other devices, the order and spacing are set in your plan rather than added on the day.
Yes. Use a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water, and avoid scrubbing.
Light exercise is usually fine the same day or next. Hot environments such as hot yoga are best avoided for a few days.
Usually the next day, unless the skin is marked or tender.
Most people can fly the next day.
Yes, tenderness along the jaw on chewing is common and usually eases over days, occasionally two to three weeks.
Alam M, White LE, Martin N, et al. Ultrasound tightening of facial and neck skin: a rater-blinded prospective cohort study. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
A Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Microfocused Ultrasound for Facial Skin Tightening. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2023. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Friedmann DP, Bourgeois GP, Chan HHL, et al. Complications from microfocused transcutaneous ultrasound: Case series and review of the literature. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 2018. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
