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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01368874

Lifting and Tightening of the Face and Neck Utilizing the Ulthera® System

This prospective, multi-center, single treatment clinical trial evaluates the clinical outcomes associated with a non-invasive treatment to obtain lift and tightening of facial and neck tissue utilizing the Ulthera® System to deliver ultrasound energy in a focused manner below the surface of the skin.

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Key information

Age range

30 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Baumann Cosmetic and Research Institute, Miami Beach, Florida, United States

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About this study

The primary objective of this clinical trial is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Ulthera® System to obtain improvement in overall lifting and tightening of skin.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Male or female, aged 30 to 65 years.
  • Subject in good health.
  • Skin laxity in the lower face and neck.
  • Willingness and ability to comply with protocol requirements and return for follow-up visits.
  • Provides written informed consent and HIPAA authorization.

Exclusion criteria

  • Pregnant or lactating.
  • Presence of an active systemic or local skin disease that may affect wound healing.
  • Severe solar elastosis.
  • Excessive subcutaneous fat in the face and lower neck.
  • Excessive skin laxity on the face and neck.
  • Significant scarring in areas to be treated.
  • Significant open facial wounds or lesions.
  • Severe or cystic acne on the face.
  • Presence of a metal stent or implant in the facial area to be treated.

Treatment and study plan

Ulthera® System treatment

Device

Single treatment of focused ultrasound energy delivered below the surface of the skin.

Other names: Ultherapy

Primary outcomes

  1. Improvement in Overall Lifting and Tightening of the Jowls and/or Neck Laxity

    Time frame: 90 Days post-treatment

    Improvement in overall lifting and tightening of skin as determined by masked, qualitative assessment of photographs at 90 days post-treatment compared to baseline. Efficacy was based on the number of treated subjects assessed as improved in skin laxity, horizontal neck folds, neck sagging, texture and/or ptosis.

  2. Improvement in Overall Lifting and Tightening of the Jowls and/or Neck Laxity - RE-ANALYZED GROUP

    Time frame: 90 Days post-treatment

    Improvement in overall lifting and tightening of skin as determined by masked, qualitative assessment of photographs at 90 days post-treatment compared to baseline. Efficacy was based on the number of treated subjects assessed as improved in skin laxity, horizontal neck folds, neck sagging, texture and/or ptosis.

    A data set of 42 of the 61 participants were re-analyzed. Data were removed for 19 participants whose pre-treatment and/or post-treatment photos were of poor photo quality, i.e., poor lighting, poor focus, poor positioning, creating the potential for biasing the masked assessment results.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Improvement in Overall Lifting and Tightening of Jowl and/or Neck Laxity, as Assessed by the Principal Investigator (PI) and the Subject Using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale, i.e., PGAIS and SGAIS, Respectively.

    Time frame: 60 days post-treatment

    At 60 days post-treatment, a PGAIS and SGAIS were completed based on a live assessment of the subject and a photographic assessment comparing post-treatment photos to baseline photos, to assess overall aesthetic improvement. The GAIS is a 5-point scale (1-5) describing an overall assessment as follows:

    • - Very Much Improved
    • - Much Improved
    • - Improved
    • - No Change
    • - Worse "Any Improvement" includes participants assessed in categories 1-3
  2. Improvement in Overall Lifting and Tightening of Jowl and/or Neck Laxity, as Assessed by the Principal Investigator (PI) and the Subject Using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale, i.e., PGAIS and SGAIS, Respectively.

    Time frame: 90 days post-treatment

    At 90 days post-treatment, a PGAIS and SGAIS were completed based on a live assessment of the subject and a photographic assessment comparing post-treatment photos to baseline photos, to assess overall aesthetic improvement. The GAIS is a 5-point scale (1-5) describing an overall assessment as follows:

    • - Very Much Improved
    • - Much Improved
    • - Improved
    • - No Change
    • - Worse "Any Improvement" includes participants assessed in categories 1-3
  3. Improvement in Overall Lifting and Tightening of Jowl and/or Neck Laxity , as Assessed by the Principal Investigator (PI) and the Subject Using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale, i.e., PGAIS and SGAIS, Respectively.

    Time frame: 180 days post-treatment

    At 180 days post-treatment, a PGAIS and SGAIS were completed based on a live assessment of the subject and a photographic assessment comparing post-treatment photos to baseline photos, to assess overall aesthetic improvement. The GAIS is a 5-point scale (1-5) describing an overall assessment as follows:

    • - Very Much Improved
    • - Much Improved
    • - Improved
    • - No Change
    • - Worse "Any Improvement" includes participants assessed in categories 1-3
  4. Patient Satisfaction 90 Days Post-treatment

    Time frame: 90 Days post-treatment

    Patient satisfaction was determined by scores on a patient satisfaction questionnaire (PSQ) completed at 90 days post-treatment. Subjects indicated on a PSQ whether they saw improvement in the areas treated, i.e., providing a Yes/No response, and how satisfied they were with their Ulthera treatment, i.e., Very Satisfied, Satisfied, Dissatisfied, Very Dissatisfied. Pre-treatment and Day 90 post-treatment photographs were available for viewing during the assessment. Subjects also had a mirror in hand for real time assessment, comparing pre-treatment and 90 day post-treatment photos. Proportions of subjects reporting Improvement, and Very Satisfied and Satisfied are included.

  5. Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire 180 Days Post-treatment

    Time frame: 180 days post-treatment

    Patient satisfaction was determined by scores on a patient satisfaction questionnaire (PSQ) completed at 180 days post-treatment. Subjects indicated on a PSQ whether they saw improvement in the ares treated, i.e., providing a Yes/No response, and how satisfied they were with their Ulthera treatment, i.e., Very Satisfied, Satisfied, Dissatisfied, Very Dissatisfied. Pre-treatment and Day 180 post-treatment photographs were available for viewing during the assessment. Subjects also had a mirror in hand for real time assessment, comparing pre-treatment and 180 day post-treatment photos. Proportions of subjects reporting Improvement, and Very Satisfied and Satisfied are included.

  6. L'Oreal Photographic Scale Baseline

    Time frame: Baseline

    At baseline, the Principal Investigator (PI) assessed the subjects' horizontal neck folds, neck sagging, and texture and ptosis changes using the L'Oreal Photographic Scales. The L'Oreal scales include the following categories, with a higher grade denoting an increased severity in each category:

    • Horizontal neck folds (Grades 0-6)
    • Neck sagging (Grades 0-7);
    • Texture (Female grades 0-5; male grades 0-7);
    • Ptosis (Female grades 0-5; males grades 0-7).
  7. L'Oreal Photographic Scale 90 Days Post-treatment

    Time frame: 90 Days post-treatment

    At 90 days post-treatment, the Principal Investigator (PI) assessed the subjects' horizontal neck folds, neck sagging, and texture and ptosis changes using the L'Oreal Photographic Scales. The L'Oreal scales include the following categories, with a higher grade denoting an increased severity in each category:

    • Horizontal neck folds (Grades 0-6)
    • Neck sagging (Grades 0-7);
    • Texture (Female grades 0-5; male grades 0-7);
    • Ptosis (Female grades 0-5; males grades 0-7).
  8. L'Oreal Photographic Scale 180 Days Post-treatment

    Time frame: 180 Days post-treatment

    At 180 days post-treatment, the Principal Investigator (PI) assessed the subjects' horizontal neck folds, neck sagging, and texture and ptosis changes using the L'Oreal Photographic Scales. The L'Oreal scales include the following categories, with a higher grade denoting an increased severity in each category:

    • Horizontal neck folds (Grades 0-6)
    • Neck sagging (Grades 0-7);
    • Texture (Female grades 0-5; male grades 0-7);
    • Ptosis (Female grades 0-5; males grades 0-7).

Other outcomes

  1. Subjects' Assessment of Pain

    Time frame: During Ulthera treatment

    Subjects' sensory response to the Ulthera treatment exposures were recorded for each anatomical region treated using a validated Numeric Rating Scale (0-10), with 0 representing no pain and 10 representing the worst pain possible.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ulthera, Inc

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

Evaluation of the Ulthera® System for Lifting and Tightening the Face and Neck

Important dates

Study start
2011
Primary completion
2011
Study completion
2012
First posted
Jun 8, 2011
Registry last updated
Dec 13, 2017

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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