I tried Sofwave on my face and neck – here are my honest thoughts

Mark your calendar: When you turn 50, you will notice your neck. You may never have given him a second look, but out of nowhere thoughts about your throat will take up more space in your brain. You’ll be wondering when those horizontal “necklace” lines got there. You’ll pinch the delicate skin of your neck and wonder why it doesn’t snap back into place. You’ll be talking about your neck with friends, and they’ll want to talk about theirs, too.

My intrusive neck thoughts led me to try Sofwave. The in-office device uses a form of ultrasound to rebuild your skin’s supportive collagen and elastin fibers without affecting the skin’s surface. It can be used to tighten skin that has already begun to sag or to prevent sagging from even beginning. While I wouldn’t say I’m approaching facelift territory, I’m definitely not sagging.

I decided to visit dermatologist Dr. Blair Murphy Rose – the sofwave whisperer of many beauty editors. I also had a long conversation with cosmetic surgeon Dr. Yael Halaas and her esthetician Brittany Blancato on the non-invasive treatment. Read on to see how my 52-year-old face fared.

What is softwave?

Sofwave uses Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam (SUPERB™) technology to generate heat 1.5mm below the skin’s surface in the dermal layer of the skin, where collagen is produced. “The heat causes a targeted injury that triggers a very powerful boost in collagen production and tightens the existing collagen fibers, lifting the skin,” explains Murphy Rose. “The skin’s surface remains untouched, as does the fat and nerves.”

In addition to treating fine lines and wrinkles on the face, Sofwave was recently approved by the FDA for eyebrow lifting, under the chin and on the neck. 80% of patients in clinical studies saw an improvement within 12 weeks.

Benefits of Sofwave

Reduces fine lines and wrinkles on the face Lifts the eyebrows Improves sagging skin under the chin and neck Results in 12 weeks and anecdotally within a week Fast, tolerable procedure No downtime

“Sofwave is great for someone like you who is not a candidate for a facelift,” Dr. Murphy Rose diplomatically, “but everyone could use a collagen boost. Collagen is the skin’s main structural protein and helps keep everything where we want it, but we lose about 1% of our collagen each year. Sofwave is a great way to restore that collagen.”

About 12 weeks after the treatment, the formation of new collagen and the restructuring of existing collagen becomes noticeable. Nevertheless, Dr. Murphy Rose also states that her patients are satisfied even faster: “Every patient I have treated with this device has told me that they have seen a tightening effect within a week.”

Sofwave can also create the coveted snap look. “My patients in their 30s still have a little bit of baby fat on their face but want to look super defined,” says Dr. Hallas. “Sofwave gives them a better chiseled jaw line and more defined cheekbones without having to remove the fat from their faces that they will want later.”

How to prepare for Sofwave

There is no intensive preparation for Sofwave. If you’re prone to cold sores, consider pre-treating with valaciclovir that day to prevent an outbreak (this goes for pretty much any energy-based treatment). One more thing to remember: some providers prefer not to inject neurotoxin or fillers 48 hours before or after Sofwave, so don’t expect to “get the effect” that day.

What to expect during Sofwave

I’m at the age where almost every treatment I do at the dermatologist’s requires an anesthetic first, and Sofwave is no exception. I sat for about 30 minutes with a numbing mixture all over my face and neck to keep the heat generated by the ultrasonic waves from making me wince during the treatment. In the practice of Dr. Halaas offer them Pro-Nox (laughing gas) to take the edge off during treatment. The Sofwave device is also equipped with a cooling plate that rests on the skin during treatment to prevent the skin’s surface from getting too hot.

After I removed the numbing cream, Dr. Murphy Rose applied ultrasound gel to my face and neck, creating a bond between the skin and the ultrasound transducer to conduct the energy. “We have seven transducers all working simultaneously, so we can cover a large area,” explained Dr. Murphy Rose. She showed me the handpiece for the device and then held it to my face for the first ray. The heat builds slowly: nothing at first, then heat, and just as you reach the point where it’s getting too much, you’re done. And then it’s on to the next spot. For the last two seconds of each seven-second interval, I’d slam my hands against my thighs (my version of squeezing a squishy ball), but at no point did I feel like I needed to stop. The session lasted about 30 minutes for my full face and neck.

Before Sofwave

There are things I like about this photo: my lashes are rocking and my cleavage looks pretty cheeky. But if you zoom in, you can see a hint of a double chin (I’m pretty sure it’s skin, not fat) and a fold of skin on my neck.

After Sofwave

Three months later: look at my neck: it’s smooth and the little smoothness under the chin is gone too. like dr Murphy Rose promised, my chin, cheekbones and jawline looked sharper within a week of my Sofwave treatment. It took me a little longer to see a difference in the skin on my neck but it’s definitely smoother now. Blancato says, “I’ve had patients texting me two weeks ago, ‘Oh my god, this is amazing.’ In the fourth week I hear: ‘I think something is happening, but I can’t say what.’ When they hit 60 days, it’s more like, “Oh my god, who is that?” They love what they see in the mirror.”

Softwave vs Ultherapy

Sofwave is similar to Ultherapy, an ultrasound treatment that also targets the face and neck. With Ultherapy, the ultrasonic waves penetrate to three different depths: 1.5 mm (where Sofwave also does its work), 3.0 mm and 4.5 mm, penetrating into fat, nerves and superficial muscle tissue. This has its advantages and disadvantages: Ultherapy can also tighten muscle tissue in addition to the skin, as would be the case to a greater extent with a facelift. The downside is that even with anesthetic and Pro-Nox, Ultherapy can hurt.

As Blancato explains, Ultherapy is more vendor dependent than Sofwave. “I’ve done so many Ultherapy treatments and it was so boring,” she laughs. “You can’t have too much or too little gel; you have to have the perfect pressure and contact with the skin; everything has to be super perfect.” Sofwave, she says, is “more like a point-and-shoot device.”

possible side effects

Sofwave’s clinical trials showed no side effects and that was my experience too. If you are prone to hyperpigmentation or take medication, a Sofwave treatment may make you more prone to hyperpigmentation (as with any heat-producing skin treatment). You should inform your doctor of any concerns prior to treatment.

The costs

The price of Sofwave depends on the area treated and the location of your provider. If you want a brow lift in New York City, it costs around $1200. Right under your chin? About $800. The entire face and neck ranges from $3500 to $4500.

post-treatment

“Sofwave has no downtime,” says Dr. Murphy Rose. “Patients may have a little redness during treatment, but it’s gone by the time you leave the office.” Once my treatment was complete, I went to the women’s room to apply makeup – I had to go to one right after my session Event going – and my BB cream was more than enough to even out any post treatment stains.

The last snack

Since my treatment three months ago, it seems like all my beauty editor friends are trying (and loving) Sofwave. A second round of Sofwave can be considered after three months. While I don’t think I necessarily do need it I want it! Here’s how I know my results aren’t a placebo effect: a month ago I met a colleague who’s about my age. I caught her examining my throat. I swear it’s not weird – it’s just what we 50-year-olds do. “Have you got work done?” She asked. “No knives, just sofwave,” I told her, promptly texting her Dr. Murphy Rose via DM.