Mirror, mirror: Who has the most proportioned face of them all?

I read recently that Amber Heard, the former girlfriend of tech billionaire Elon Musk, has “the most beautiful face in the world,” according to a face-mapping device. The test says, Heard’s face is 91.85 percent accurate to the Greek Golden Ratio, which is believed to be the secret formula of nature’s perfection. The same facial mapping technology also says Kim Kardashian has perfect eyebrows.

This led me to think: But eyebrows can be adjusted? In fact, what part of the human face cannot be tweaked these days? This only means, whether with the help of a good brow product or facial treatment, anyone can be as beautiful as Amber Heard. Okay, maybe that’s a bit of a reach. But it is a comforting thought.

One of the most popular treatments today is Ultherapy, mostly because it’s quick, non-invasive, and quite subtle. I think “subtle” is what makes it sought-after. Nobody wants a photo of their new face going viral (unless of course instantaneous fame is the goal); what you want is a “Wait, did you lose weight? Did you finally leave that bastard? Did you just return from a vacation?” kind of effect.

Taiwanese dermatologist Dr. Fang-Wen Tseng was recently in Manila to talk about Ultherapy, a treatment brought to the Philippines by one of the world’s leading aesthetic companies, German pharmaceutical company Merz. “You would benefit from Ultherapy, whereas I wouldn’t,” he told me, pertaining to my particularly fleshy, squishy face (his is pointed and narrow). Ultherapy has been gaining popularity in the Philippines and is garnering the attention of celebrities as well as regular people. Worldwide, already one million treatments have been administered as of this year.

How does it work? Ultherapy lifts the skin using microfocused ultrasound technology to target and penetrate the skin’s foundational layer. It stimulates the natural process of collagen regeneration and lifts and tightens skin on the brows, under the chin and neck. What makes it unique and particularly effective is Ultherapy’s proprietary DeepSEE ultrasound imaging, which allows physicians to see the layers of tissue targeted during the treatment, making sure that the energy is deposited where it will be most beneficial. It’s the only treatment that can reach a depth where it can make an actual difference in collagen production.

Ultherapy tightens skin through stimulating new collagen formation at a precisely controlled depth under the skin. This technology is able to reach deeper skin layers and treat them without cutting or injections, which makes it safer and reduces recovery period greatly,” said Dr. Tseng. “In addition to the US FDA-approved lifting effects on sagging jawlines, neck and eyebrows, after treatments, patients often discover improvements in skin quality, such as reduced wrinkles and improved pore appearance.”

Merz Philippines Healthcare, Inc. marketing manager Judith Albano added, “Ultherapy is a great addition to the country’s beauty and wellness industry. There is a great demand for non-invasive procedures, especially for lifting. Ultherapy answers that call for people who have mild to moderate skin laxity, as well as those who want to ‘stay ahead of the game.’” Ultherapy lasts up to two to three years, depending on your lifestyle.

Does it hurt? I try not to ask this question because pain depends on the body’s tolerance and mental state for that day, and one’s overall pain threshold. Honestly, I thought it was going to be a walk in the park for me — when I got a tattoo on the wrist, I didn’t flinch once, while the huge man across from me whimpered and held on to his wife. I guess when you’re used to getting your skin touched from countless facial treatments, you develop a tolerance for the pain. But since Ultherapy hits deep under the skin, where I assume many of us have never been touched, expect a new kind of pain sensation. Some will be more tolerant than others. I can only describe the feeling as “rubber needles stabbing you super-fast.” Since the doctor will be able to control the settings, you can tell her when it’s too much for you, and they can take it down a notch.

Dr. Jennie Diaz of Laser 360 in Forbes Park did not do my entire face, just the lower half of the cheeks, jawline and neck. The jawline and neck parts were the most intense for me, but the pain only lasts for a second. Dr. Diaz shared that, while the treatments should only take around two hours, some patients spend almost half a day getting Ultherapy treatment because they ask to have coffee breaks, exercise breaks, or just a time out. It’s that non-invasive — you can get up and look exactly the same way you did when you came in. Within three weeks of the treatment, you’ll see a difference (but maybe not if you look at yourself in the mirror all the time — a.k.a. me); and in three months, you’ll see peak results. “People you have not seen in a while will be the one who’ll notice. They will think you lost weight even if you didn’t. And even if you gain weight, your face won’t,” she said.

Dr. Diaz gets her own Ultherapy treatment once a year; her husband, who is a surgeon, does it for her. Celebrities who do Ultherapy include Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

I’m gonna need that face-mapping technology to tell if my facial proportions are any closer to the Golden Ratio (or Amber Heard’s), but in the meantime, I’ll be on IG stories (@chonxtibajia) while I wait for the third month. 

Dr. Fang-Wen Tseng with Merz Philippines’ Judith Albano, Jorge Libanan and Dr. Venzo Viceral

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Ultherapy is now being offered at authentic treatment clinics in Metro Manila. Visit https://locator.ultherapy.com/philippines for the full list. For information, follow UltherapyPH on Facebook and Instagram, or visit www.ultherapy.com and www.merzaesthetics.com. Ultherapy is a registered trademark of the Merz Group of Companies, imported by Merz Philippines Healthcare Inc.