Get Your Best Contoured Face Through This Facial Treatment Combo

Say it with me: 2024 is all about intentional self-care. We are putting our best foot forward this year and yes, that includes our face. So we’re serious about making our skin and face the best it’s ever been. And while it’s fun to research and discover skincare products and gadgets to help with that, sometimes you need to go one step further to address issues that are skin deep. And to achieve that, we consulted the experts at Luminisce to find out what the creme de la creme is currently for getting one’s face snatched.

After our consultation, the doctors let me know that if I had goals of having a contoured and tight face, the best approach were a combination of Ulther X (Ultherapy) and Jawtox. You might have already heard of Ultherapy as it is very popular on social media and for good reason. Ulther X is a rejuvenation powerhouse and according to the doctors of Luminisce it is the best prevention you can do to slow down the skin aging process, “As early as age 20, collagen production slows by around 2% annually. Ulthera stimulates collagen and elastin, making it the perfect preventive measure against wrinkles and sagging.” It is a long-term investment and takes 3 months for the peak results. Maintenance is after 6-9 months, requiring fewer repeat treatments, in the long run. It’s the ultimate non-invasive procedure to achieve firmer skin, less sagging, and fewer wrinkles as it goes beneath the skin with focused ultrasound energy. As for Jawtox or Masseter botox, can cause the muscle to shrink and as a result, relieves pain and discomfort from grinding, and also helps you have a noticeable V-shape face. For this procedure, you can have 2-3 sessions a year depending on your doctor. Read on to find out what happens during the session and if they’re really worth the hype!

The Procedure

We went in with the Ulthera first and took about 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete. The procedure itself is quick but you will have to allot time for the numbing cream to really take effect. And trust me, you’ll be thanking that numbing cream during the procedure.

We started with cleansing my face to remove any makeup and/or dirt that might be currently sitting on my face. Then, she started marking my face to map out the areas that were going to be hit by the Ulthera wand. After that, they started one round on my face. They go in in strips and sections– from the right cheek to the left cheek, then under the chin so every part is targeted. They use the ultrasound as a guide to see if they’re in the right place then deliver Ultrasound energy to the targeted areas. I’m not gonna lie: I felt every single hit of that energy so this procedure is not for the faint of heart. It does disappear quickly but it is one of if not the most painful non-invasive procedures I’ve done so far on my face. It does go away quickly so hooray for that.

After what felt like an eternal flurry of agony and laughing at the pain, with the help of lots of moral support from the Luminisce staff and a very handy happy-face stress ball, we got through the first round. They told me there was a second round and it actually didn’t hurt as bad as the first.

Immediately after the Ulthera X, we got to the Jawtox. I was expecting that to also hurt because it involved a needle, but it was quick. They just told me to bite then they proceeded to put a total of 62 units of botox in my left and right jaw. I honestly didn’t even feel it. Maybe it helped that the first procedure had that level of pain that the next one didn’t hurt as much. After that, we were pretty much done and I could instantly see a firmer face. But they did advise me that for both, I will be seeing the results more in the next few weeks.

Dos and Don’ts

One of the biggest dos of course is to research a lot before going in for either of the procedure. With anything that you do to your body and/or face, knowledge is key. Don’t be afraid to also ask your friends who have done the procedure themselves for advice. This will give you a better understanding of what to expect and they can be honest if the procedure worked for them. I personally asked beauty content creator Nate Javier for his take on the procedure. Knowing that he’s tried Ulthera and has experienced the effects months after, I sort of had a peek at what’s to come. He said the procedure is painful but totally worth it in the long run. Another friend of mine who has done it more than once also told me it’s worth it but for her, it didn’t hurt that much. So with them sharing their own experiences, I got to have a better understanding of what I was getting myself into. To add to your prep, you can also take a pain reliever before the procedure. But always ask your doctor beforehand, of course!

As for the don’ts, there is a lot after both of the procedures. She said that I would feel some swelling and was also advised not to eat chewy food or chew a lot in general. The doctor also said that I would gain full mobility the next day but would still feel some weight in the face plus more noticeable swelling so try to plot your week accordingly! Some more aftercare to achieve the best results and not disrupt the effects are listed below:

For the next 24 hours:

• No alcohol
• Sipping hot drinks or soup
• Keep upright for 6 hours

For 1 week:

• No weightlifting or exercise

For 2 weeks:

• No hot bath or sauna
• No face massage

Final Thoughts

The great thing about Ulthera is that you only have to do it once a year and the effects will only keep getting better as months go by. The real con of it is it has a lot of downtime so patience is a must. Although the timeline might vary per person, do expect puffiness and sensitivity to your face. I had trouble imagining myself with a more contoured face at first because I couldn’t see past the swelling but when it eventually settled, all the worry went away. It’s also up there in price but it is the golden standard in non-invasive contouring and lifting. I will admit it’s not a must but if you are willing to invest and really want to see some drastic change without going under the knife, Ultherapy is worth it. I have yet to experience the full effects as it has only been a month for me since my session but I’m already seeing some great results. As for Jawtox, it did help to relax my jaw and it made it click less. I can have more movement in my jaw and I haven’t experienced any jaw-related ache since. It’s definitely a more tedious upkeep as you have to come into the clinic more often for maintenance but it’s still up to you how long of an interval you prefer.

Interested in the treatments? Inquire online at the Luminisce website.