Methods for face and neck lifts
First Claim
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1. A method of lifting skin tissue, the method comprising:
- positioning an ultrasound probe on a skin surface, the ultrasound probe comprising a housing, a piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element, and a movement mechanism connected to the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element within the housing,using the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element to treat a region of interest under the skin surface, the region of interest comprising a tissue comprising at least one of the group consisting of;
a muscle, a muscular fascia, a dermis, a fat tissue, and a superficial muscular aponeurosis system (SMAS) tissue;
wherein the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element is configured for targeted delivery of ultrasound energy to form at least one thermal focus with at least a temperature sufficient to treat at least a portion of the tissue under the skin surface; and
activating the movement mechanism within the ultrasound probe to move the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element to focus at least at one of the muscle, the muscular fascia, and the SMAS resulting in a tissue lift.
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Abstract
Methods for treating skin and subcutaneous tissue with energy such as ultrasound energy are disclosed. In various embodiments, ultrasound energy is applied at a region of interest to affect tissue by cutting, ablating, micro-ablating, coagulating, or otherwise affecting the subcutaneous tissue to conduct numerous procedures that are traditionally done invasively in a non-invasive manner. Methods of lifting sagging tissue on a face and/or neck are described.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of lifting skin tissue, the method comprising:
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positioning an ultrasound probe on a skin surface, the ultrasound probe comprising a housing, a piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element, and a movement mechanism connected to the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element within the housing, using the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element to treat a region of interest under the skin surface, the region of interest comprising a tissue comprising at least one of the group consisting of;
a muscle, a muscular fascia, a dermis, a fat tissue, and a superficial muscular aponeurosis system (SMAS) tissue;wherein the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element is configured for targeted delivery of ultrasound energy to form at least one thermal focus with at least a temperature sufficient to treat at least a portion of the tissue under the skin surface; and activating the movement mechanism within the ultrasound probe to move the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element to focus at least at one of the muscle, the muscular fascia, and the SMAS resulting in a tissue lift. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of treating sagging skin, comprising:
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providing an ultrasound probe comprising a housing and a piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element that emits focused ultrasound energy; coupling the probe to a skin surface over a tissue region comprising any of the group consisting of dermis, fat, muscle, muscular fascia, and connective tissue; and delivering therapeutic ultrasound energy to the tissue region of interest at a depth within a range of 1 mm to 6 mm below the skin surface, wherein the therapeutic ultrasound energy thermally treats collagen in the muscle or the muscular fascia in the tissue region at the depth under the skin surface to reduce skin sagging. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of lifting sagging skin, comprising:
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identifying a region of sagging skin; providing an ultrasonic probe that emits focused ultrasound energy; acoustically coupling the ultrasonic probe to a skin surface selected from the group consisting of one or more of the following;
a forehead, an eyelid, a nose, a cheek, an ear, a mouth, and a chin;delivering therapeutic ultrasound energy at a treatment depth within a range of 1 mm to 6 mm below the skin surface, wherein the therapeutic ultrasound energy treats at least one of the group consisting of dermis, subcutaneous fat, muscle, cartilage, and connective tissue at the treatment depth under the skin surface to lift the sagging skin. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification