Salma Hayek swears by this non-invasive anti-aging procedure. Is it right for your patients?
Industry Buzz
The benefits include minimal downtime and gradual, natural-looking results.
—Mark Murphy, MD, board-certified surgeon
It will be a useful tool for the right candidate.
—Mark Murphy, MD, board-certified plastic surgeon
Hollywood icon Salma Hayek, 58, doesn't keep secrets when it comes to beauty.
Hayek says she generally prefers to keep things natural, opting mostly for radio-frequency treatments for her skin, but in a 2025 interview with The Cut, she opened up about a new anti-aging procedure she had done to address skin sagging around her neck.[]
She told the publication that her neck was starting to look like a “turkey,” so she wanted to lift and tighten it up—but she didn’t want to go under the knife.[]
That's why she turned to a procedure called "Ultherapy PRIME." Here’s what you should know about the technology.
Related: Patients are injecting salmon sperm into their face: Anti-aging breakthrough or serious health risk?What is Ultherapy PRIME?
Ultherapy PRIME is a non-invasive treatment that uses focused ultrasound to stimulate collagen production and gradually tighten the skin, according to Mark Murphy, MD, board-certified surgeon and founder of Palm Beach Facial Plastic Surgery in Palm Beach, FL.
“Ultherapy delivers ultrasound energy below the surface of the skin, targeting up to the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, or SMAS layer,” Dr. Murphy explains.
The SMAS lies beneath the skin, connecting it to musculature. []
“This energy heats the tissue, triggering a natural regenerative response that produces new collagen over time. It’s a gradual process, and patients can expect subtle improvements in firmness and contour over several months. [It achieves] mild skin tightening. The benefits include minimal downtime and gradual, natural-looking results,” Dr. Murphy says.
Jimmy C. Sung, MD, JD, FACS, board-certified plastic surgeon and founder and medical director of Tribeca Aesthetics in New York, NY, is an expert in Ultherapy technology. “Ultherapy PRIME is an FDA-cleared Class II medical device. It should only be used by MD/DO, NP, PA, or RN under direct supervision,” he says. Class II devices pose moderate to high risk to the patient or user. []
Who Ultherapy PRIME is best for
Dr. Murphy says that Ultherapy PRIME has its limitations, though, like any non-invasive option. He says the results can be subtle and inconsistent, especially in patients with advanced aging.
“It will be a useful tool for the right candidate,” he says. “It can be a suitable option for younger patients. In my experience, patients seeking more noticeable and lasting rejuvenation are typically better candidates for surgical options like a deep plane facelift, which allows for more precise and transformative results.”
Side effects can include swelling, numbness, and redness—but with a well-trained provider, serious reactions are rare, Dr. Murphy says.
“The doctor's ability to read and interpret the ultrasound image is crucial,” Dr. Sung adds.
Related: These 2 foods are anti-aging all-stars