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Feasibility Study: Evaluation of Ulthera Versus Thermage for Treating the Face and Neck

Feasibility Study: Evaluation of the Ulthera® System vs Thermage® for Lifting and Tightening of the Full Face and Neck

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01713985
Enrollment
20
Registered
2012-10-25
Start date
2012-09-30
Completion date
2013-08-31
Last updated
2017-11-24

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Skin Laxity, Wrinkles

Keywords

Ulthera® System, Ultherapy™ Treatment, Ulthera, Inc., Ultrasound treatment for skin tightening

Brief summary

Up to 20 subjects will be enrolled and randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. Group A will receive Ultherapy™ on the right side of the face and neck and Thermage on the left side. Group B will receive Thermage on the right side of the face and neck and Ultherapy™ on the left side. Follow-up visits will occur at 90 and 180 days post-treatment. Study images will be obtained pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment, and at each follow-up visit.

Detailed description

This is a prospective, single-center, double-blinded, split-face, randomized pilot study. A triple Ultherapy® treatment and standard Thermage treatment will be provided to all subjects to the full half face, neck, and submental areas. Changes in face and neck skin laxity and wrinkles, from baseline and between study treatments, will be assessed at study follow-up visits. Patient satisfaction questionnaires will also be obtained.

Interventions

Focused ultrasound energy delivered below the surface of the skin

DEVICEThermage

Radiofrequency treatment focusing radiofrequency energy

Sponsors

Ulthera, Inc
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
30 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Male or female, age 30 to 65 years. * Subject in good health. * Skin laxity on the area(s) to be treated. * Understands and accepts the obligation not to undergo any other procedures in the areas to be treated through the follow-up period. * Willingness and ability to comply with protocol requirements, including returning for follow-up visits and abstaining from exclusionary procedures for the duration of the study.

Exclusion criteria

* Presence of an active systemic or local skin disease that may affect wound healing. * Severe solar elastosis. * Excessive subcutaneous fat in the area(s) to be treated. * Excessive skin laxity on the area(s) to be treated. * Significant scarring in the area(s) to be treated. * Open wounds or lesions in the area(s) to be treated. * Severe or cystic acne on the area(s) to be treated. * Presence of a metal stent or implant in the area(s) to be treated. * Inability to understand the protocol or to give informed consent. * Microdermabrasion, or prescription level glycolic acid treatment to the treatment area(s) within two weeks prior to study participation or during the study. * Marked asymmetry, ptosis, excessive dermatochalasis, deep dermal scarring, or thick sebaceous skin in the area(s) to be treated. * BMI equal to or greater than 25.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Participants with Lifting and Tightening of Skin180 days post treatmentDetermined by a masked, qualitative assessment of photographs at 180-days post-treatment compared to baseline. Improvement in skin laxity will be assessed based on photographs taken using the 3D Vectra digital imaging system.
Number of Participants with Wrinkle Reduction180 days post treatmentDetermined by a masked, qualitative assessment of photographs at 180-days post-treatment compared to baseline. Improvement in wrinkle reduction will be assessed based on photographs taken using the 3D Vectra digital imaging system

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Participants with Eyebrow Lift90 days post-treatmentQuantitative measurements of eyebrow lift will be obtained at follow-up compared to baseline.
Number of Participants with Lower face and Neck Lift90 days post-treatmentQuantitative measurements of lower face and neck lift will be obtained at follow-up compared to baseline.
Number of Participants Reporting Treatment Satisfaction180 days post-treatmentSubjects will complete a split-face Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire at 180 days following study treatments.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026