Methods for lifting skin tissue

Abstract

Methods for treating skin and subcutaneous tissue with energy such as ultrasound energy are disclosed. In various embodiments, ultrasound energy is applied at a region of interest to affect tissue by cutting, ablating, micro-ablating, coagulating, or otherwise affecting the subcutaneous tissue to conduct numerous procedures that are traditionally done invasively in a non-invasive manner. Methods of lifting sagging tissue are described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a sagging skin, the method comprising:
 acoustically coupling an ultrasound probe system to a skin surface, the ultrasound probe system comprising a therapy element;   using the ultrasound therapy element to treat a region of interest comprising a tissue comprising a portion of at least one of a dermal tissue, a muscular fascia tissue, a fat tissue, and a SMAS tissue;   activating the probe to form a thermal lesion to cause any one of the group consisting of ablation, deactivation, and shrinkage of at least a portion of the tissue,   wherein the thermal lesion facilitates a tightening of the tissue.