Dr. Samuel Lin is a double board-certified Plastic Surgeon and Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School who practices in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Lin received his Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University and was enrolled in the Honors Program for Medical Education at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Lin is board certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Lin is board certified by two ABMS boards. He is Program Director of the BIDMC-Harvard Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery residency, and Co-Director of the Harvard Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Fellowship at BIDMC. Dr. Lin was awarded the recipient of a “Mentoring Award,” by Harvard Medical School through a special nomination process which is sent out to all Harvard faculty members, house officers, fellows, and students. He has been a Boston “Top Doc” for several years in plastic surgery. 

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Disclosure: Neither author has any financial interest in any device mentioned.

Are you sick and tired of your fine lines and wrinkles? Meet, Sofwave! A new device designed to treat these concerns by using ultrasound energy to stimulate collagen production in the skin. Haute Beauty sat down with Natalie Hassell and Dr. Samuel Lin, MD, FACS., to discuss treatment details from the ideal candidate to procedures it can be paired with and more.

How does Sofwave work?

With aging, the breakdown of collagen in the skin contributes to the development of fine lines and wrinkles. Stimulating collagen production can reduce signs of aging by improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and causing the skin to look firmer and more youthful.

Who’s the ideal candidate?

The ideal candidate for Sofwave is in their 30s or older and has mild to moderate skin aging. Sofwave is best for those with some fine lines and wrinkles since these are the concerns the device addresses best. Sofwave is safe for all skin colors and is FDA cleared to treat facial fine lines and wrinkles. It is commonly used to also treat the neck, but treatment of the neck is considered “off label.”

When will results be visible?

A Sofwave treatment takes about 30-40 minutes with no downtime after the treatment. Results from Sofwave may start appearing one week after treatment and will continue to develop over the course of three months. Results from Sofwave are less dramatic than with surgery and are not permanent. Instead, Sofwave results last approximately one year.

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Is Sofwave the only option for collagen stimulation?

Sofwave is one of many options for collagen stimulation and non-surgical skin tightening. Examples of other collagen stimulating treatments are laser skin tightening, radiofrequency skin tightening, and microneedling. Sofwave and Ultherapy, another device, use ultrasound energy to stimulate collagen production. Unlike other forms of skin tightening, collagen stimulation using ultrasound requires no downtime and is safe for all skin types and colors.

While, Sofwave and Ultherapy both use ultrasound to stimulate collagen production, the biggest difference between the two machines is the depth that the ultrasound energy is delivered. Sofwave delivers energy at a depth of 1.5mm, just below the surface of the skin. Ultherapy delivers energy at 1.5mm and two additional, deeper levels. Because Ultherapy delivers energy to deeper levels than Sofwave, it can help tighten the muscle layer in addition to the skin. Sofwave only provides skin tightening. This may make Ultherapy a better option for patients with deeper wrinkles and folds. Both machines can help with fine lines and shallower wrinkles. Because Ultherapy reaches a deeper level, it is also more painful than Sofwave, though neither procedure is very painful. In most cases, Ultherapy is more expensive than Sofwave.

Can Sofwave be performed with other procedures?

Since Sofwave is non-surgical, it can be safely combined with other procedures. Neuromodulators, such as Botox or Dysport, can be used to bolster the amount of improvement in areas with wrinkles. Facial filler presents an additional option for further improving facial volume in addition to the skin tightening offered by Sofwave treatment.

A board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist can help you understand your options for addressing signs of aging and provide personalized recommendations tailed to your individual concerns in a consultation.