Methods for face and neck lifts

1. A method of lifting skin tissue, the method comprising:

positioning a portion of an ultrasound probe on a skin surface, the ultrasound probe comprising a movement mechanism and a therapy element,

wherein the movement mechanism is controlled by a control system in communication with the ultrasound probe;

using the 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 fat tissue, and a superficial muscular aponeurosis system (SMAS) tissue;

wherein the therapy element is coupled to the movement mechanism within the ultrasound probe;

wherein the therapy element is configured for targeted delivery of ultrasound energy to form a thermal focus with at least a temperature sufficient to treat at least a portion of the tissue at a fixed depth under the skin surface; and

activating the movement mechanism within the ultrasound probe to move the therapy element to form a plurality of the thermal foci at the fixed depth to treat at least the SMAS tissue in the region of interest,

wherein the plurality of thermal foci results in a tissue lift.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning a portion of the ultrasound probe on the skin surface comprises positioning the portion of the ultrasound probe on at least one of the group consisting of: a forehead, an eyelid, a nose, a cheek, an ear, a mouth, and a chin.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning a portion of the ultrasound probe on the skin surface comprises positioning the portion of the ultrasound probe on at least one of the group consisting of: a preauricular region, a frontal region, and a mandibular region of a face.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning a portion of the ultrasound probe on the skin surface comprises positioning the portion of the ultrasound probe on a wrinkle.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning a portion of the ultrasound probe on the skin surface comprises positioning the portion of the ultrasound probe on at least one of the group consisting of: a brow and a hair line of a face.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treating of the region of interest results in any one or more of the group consisting of: a brow lift, a blepharoplasty, and an otoplasty.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

imaging the region of interest with an imaging element in the ultrasound probe,

wherein the imaging element is configured to image with an imaging frequency of between 2 kHz to 75 MHz and the therapy element is configured to treat with a treatment frequency of between 4 MHz and 15 MHz, and

displaying the region of interest on a display system in electric communication with the imaging element.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the imaging element and the therapy element are combined in a dual-mode imaging/therapy transducer.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fixed depth of the focus is within a range of 3 mm to 9 mm from the skin surface, and wherein the temperature of the thermal focus is in the range of 60-90 degrees Celsius.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound probe is electronically coupled to at least one of the group consisting of: a battery, secure storage element, and a disposable tip.

11. A method of treating sagging skin, comprising:

providing a probe that emits ultrasound energy;

coupling the probe to a skin surface over a region comprising a subcutaneous tissue,

wherein the subcutaneous tissue comprises any one or more of the group consisting of: fat, muscle, muscular fascia, and connective tissue; and

delivering therapeutic ultrasound energy to at least the muscular fascia in the region of interest at a treatment frequency of between 4 MHz and 15 MHz,

wherein the therapeutic ultrasound energy thermally treats at least the muscular fascia at a specific depth under the skin surface to reduce skin sagging.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein coupling the probe to the skin surface comprises acoustically coupling the probe to at least one of the group consisting of: a forehead, an eyelid, a nose, a cheek, an ear, a mouth, and a chin.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein delivering therapeutic ultrasound energy comprises delivering ultrasound energy from a single therapy element in the probe.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising activating a motion mechanism to move the single therapy element to form a plurality of thermal foci along a line in the region to reduce skin sagging.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising imaging the tissue under the skin surface.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic ultrasound energy thermally treats the region of interest resulting in any one or more of the group consisting of: a brow lift, a blepharoplasty, and an otoplasty.

17. A method of lifting sagging skin, comprising:

identifying a region of sagging skin;

providing an ultrasonic probe that emits ultrasound energy;

coupling the ultrasonic probe to a skin surface in a region 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 frequency of between 4 MHz and 15 MHz,

wherein the therapeutic ultrasound energy treats at least one of the group consisting of subcutaneous fat, muscle, cartilage, and connective tissue at a specific depth under the skin surface to lift the sagging skin.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein delivering therapeutic ultrasound energy comprises delivering ultrasound energy at a fixed depth up to 9 mm from the skin surface at a temperature in the range of 60-90 degrees Celsius.

19. The method of claim 17 ,

wherein delivering therapeutic ultrasound energy comprises delivering ultrasound energy from a single therapy element in the probe, and

further comprising activating a motion mechanism to move the single therapy element to form a plurality of thermal foci along a line in the region to reduce skin sagging.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising imaging the tissue under the skin surface.