I Tried a Techy Solution for Sagging Skin. Here Are My Honest Thoughts

They say that beauty is pain, and now that I've had a Sofwave treatment, I can confirm that this statement rings true. But is it less painful than a face lift? It certainly has less down time after the procedure.

Sofwave was initially pitched to me as a way to firm up facial skin due to the common-yet-unpopular phenomenon known as "Ozempic Face," in which a drastic amount of weight loss can cause a person's skin to sag. I'm not on Ozempic, but I was curious.

Due to my depressive eyebrows (ugh, genetics!), I get Botox around my eyes to prevent my brow from appearing heavy. Both of my parents have had an upper blepharoplasty, where the excess skin of the eyelid is removed, to correct this. I wondered if skin tightening would help solve this issue.

I also get Botox in my masseter muscles to alleviate constant jaw clenching, a habit so intense and incessant it's changed the shape of my face over time (in a way I am not thrilled about).Could this procedure smooth and soften the Hulk-like shape of my lower face?

As a voracious consumer of all things beauty, I had to know what this was all about.

What is Sofwave?

Sofwave uses ultrasound technology to stimulate collagen production at a depth of 1.5mm in the mid-dermis. The procedure can set you back anywhere from $500 to $4,500, depending on the size of your treatment area.

I was still trying to wrap my head around who this treatment is for and what purpose it serves, so I spoke with Dr. Sue Ellen Cox, a board-certified dermatologic surgeon, founder and medical director at Aesthetic Solutions in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

"The mechanism of action is Sofwave's proprietary SUPERB technology," which stands for synchronous ultrasound parallel beam, she said. Cox explained that the ultrasound generates targeted heat, which signals the body's fibroblasts to activate elastin and collagen production. Superficial cooling from the Sofwave device is delivered throughout the treatment to help manage any discomfort.

So is it like a face lift without the knife?

"Sofwave is an effective treatment for mild tissue lifting, wrinkle reduction and skin firming and tightening," said Cox. "It's ideal for patients who are starting to notice early signs of aging but aren't quite ready for a facelift." She added that while the results are impressive, Sofwave is not a substitute for a traditional deep plane facelift for most patients, noting that "both procedures have their place."

Cox described the ideal candidate for Sofwave as someone in their 30s to 50s who wants to address early signs of aging without resorting to invasive procedures. (That's me!) She noted that Sofwave can be effective for patients of any age, provided proper expectations on outcomes are set in advance.

My Sofwave experience

When I arrived for my Sofwave treatment, the nurses asked if I'd like medication to help ease some of the discomfort.

As someone who has had two epidurals and two caesarean sections, I opted for the medication.

"We never want discomfort to be a barrier for patients to achieve their goals, so we have a wide range of options available," the nurse said. Options included topical numbing, nerve blocks, oral and intramuscular pain medications, anti-anxiety medications, additional cooling devices and Pro-Nox (which is similar to laughing gas).

I took lorazepam, hydrocodone and toradol, let them slather my face with topical numbing cream and settled in. While getting ready for the treatment, I was psyching myself up thinking about how my skin would look and feel after the treatment. However, to get the results that I was hoping for, I'd have to sit through the ultrasound first.

The aesthetician explained that she would work in sections along my neck, jaw, face and forehead. She would go over each section three times. Each "pass" took about two to four seconds, with the ultrasound gradually gaining heat as it penetrated my dermis and rejuvenated my collagen, before cooling back down.

To give you a reference of my pain threshold, I have had a lumpectomy, the aforementioned C-sections and I've gotten 10 tattoos. I have endured four hours of something called "lip blushing" as well as "nano brows", both of which are cosmetic tattoo treatments that sound much nicer than they feel. But Sofwave was one of the more painful things I have endured. With each pass of the ultrasound, I yipped like a small dog. Maybe I've become a softie with age?

All in all, the procedure lasted 30 to 45 minutes. I didn't need to take breaks or stop treatment due to pain, but I was relieved when things were said and done. The upside? No incisions, no downtime and no visible sign of stress to my face. Now all I had to do was wait patiently to see how my face shaped up (or not).

Before-and-after Sofwave results

The author's before-and-after photos, taken three months apart.

Sofwave/ Getty Image/ Zooey Liao/ CNET

I'm happy to report that Sofwave yielded results for me. They are subtle, but I can see some results nonetheless. The team at Aesthetic Solutions told me to wait at least three months, but I began to notice changes in the firmness and smoothness of my skin as soon as seven to 10 days post-treatment, and things just continued to firm up from there.

At the time of writing this article, it has been over three months, and the team said I will continue to see improvements in skin laxity up to six months. I'm happy about it, but I also want to stress that, while I am deeply intrigued by all things skin care, including treatments and procedures, I also believe in making smart choices when it comes to food and exercise. I drink tons of water daily; eat lots of leafy greens, protein and healthy fats; minimize processed foods and sugar and exercise three to five times a week. It doesn't matter what kinds of treatments you get if you're not taking care of your body and mind as well.

Sofwave can be an excellent option for those who want firmer skin without going under the knife. For best results, Dr. Cox recommends patients receive Sofwave once a year if seeking full-face skin revitalization. She explained that a series of treatments is typically required to achieve optimal results if you're looking to lift the brows and upper lip or address skin laxity on the body. And yes, it can be used on the body as well -- perhaps that will be my next adventure.