Ulthera

What Ulthera does

Ulthera, Inc. is a U.S.-incorporated medical technology company that develops and commercializes non-invasive microfocused ultrasound devices with real-time visualization for aesthetic skin lifting. Founded in 2004 and headquartered as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merz North America, Inc. (within the Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA group), the company's flagship platforms — Ultherapy and the next-generation Ultherapy PRIME (FDA-cleared 2024) — target the same deep tissue planes (SMAS) as a surgical facelift using patented DeepSEE transducers that simultaneously visualize and treat at 1.5 mm, 3 mm, and 4.5 mm depths, producing thermal coagulation points at 60–70°C to stimulate neocollagenesis (clinical data shows a 42% increase in collagen synthesis). Successive FDA clearances have expanded indications from brow lift (2009) to neck and chin (2012), décolleté (2014), and arms and abdomen (2025).

Name

Ulthera

Legal name

Ulthera, Inc.

Website

https://ultherapy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ulthera develops and sells FDA-cleared Ultherapy PRIME, a microfocused ultrasound platform with real-time visualization for non-invasive skin lifting, sold via direct enterprise sales to dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and MedSpas across 80+ countries as a Merz Aesthetics subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy-based Aesthetic Medical Devices

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (3391)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (ENT) (HLAKAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wound Care & Ulcer Management (HLAKACAN), Spa Body Treatments & Massage (Oils, Scrubs, Wraps) (CRABALAG)

Keywords

• Aesthetic ultrasound devices
• Non-invasive skin lifting
• Medical aesthetic equipment
• Microfocused ultrasound systems
• Collagen stimulation therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Mesa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Capital Equipment Sales: Ultherapy PRIME device sold to licensed physicians, dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and MedSpas. Practices must purchase the capital equipment to offer treatments. The Merz Advantage Loyalty Program rewards providers for device and consumable purchases.
2. Transducer Consumables: Multi-patient-use transducers are consumable components that must be repurchased. Providers earn points through the Merz Advantage Loyalty Program for consumable purchases including transducers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ulthera designs, manufactures, and sells FDA-cleared non-invasive microfocused ultrasound systems (Ultherapy and Ultherapy PRIME) used by licensed physicians to lift and tighten skin on the brow, neck, under the chin, décolleté, arms, and abdomen. The company sells capital equipment and recurring replacement DeepSEE transducers, supported by clinical training, practice marketing, and a provider loyalty program.

Product overview

Ulthera offers a portfolio of non-invasive aesthetic ultrasound devices centered on two core products: Ultherapy PRIME (the advanced platform) and Ultherapy (the original Gold Standard device). Both use microfocused ultrasound with real-time DeepSEE visualization technology to stimulate collagen production and deliver personalized skin lifting treatments. The product line includes patented DeepSEE transducers for multi-depth treatment, the Selfie Simulator for patient visualization (powered by third-party partner Crisalix SA), and provider support tools including My Merz Portal and the Merz Advantage Loyalty Program. The system is FDA-cleared to treat the brow, neck, chin, and décolleté, with recent 2025 clearance expanding to arms and abdomen.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ultherapy PRIME: The latest advanced platform for non-invasive microfocused ultrasound skin lifting treatment with real-time visualization, featuring 20% faster treatment times and enhanced ergonomic design.
• DeepSEE

Products and services

• Ultherapy PRIME Next-generation FDA-cleared non-invasive microfocused ultrasound device with real-time visualization for personalized skin lifting on the brow, neck, under chin, décolleté, arms, and abdomen. Sold to licensed physicians and MedSpas.
• Ultherapy The original FDA-cleared Gold Standard non-invasive microfocused ultrasound device with real-time visualization for lifting skin on the brow, neck, under the chin, and décolleté by stimulating the body's own collagen production. Sold to licensed physicians.
• DeepSEE Transducers Patented multi-patient-use transducers for the Ultherapy system providing simultaneous visualization and treatment at three separate depths (1.5mm superficial dermis, 3mm deep dermis, 4.5mm SMAS/platysma), with collimated ultrasound visualization up to 8mm. Sold as recurring consumable components to providers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% patient satisfaction at year one
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Merz AestheticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerz Aesthetics acquired Ulthera in 2015 and serves as the parent company behind Ultherapy PRIME. Merz provides corporate brand awareness marketing, practice support, sales tools, clinical training, and ongoing platform development. The partnership represents a significant aesthetic company integrating an established non-invasive lifting technology into its portfolio.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sciton: Sciton's SkinTyte (BBL) and Joule platform compete in non-invasive skin tightening and rejuvenation, targeting the same physician practice and MedSpa customer base as Ulthera.
• Cynosure: Cynosure (Hologic) markets energy-based aesthetic devices including TempSure and Potenza that overlap with Ultherapy in skin tightening and rejuvenation, distributed to the same aesthetics provider base.
• InMode: InMode offers a portfolio of energy-based aesthetic platforms (Morpheus8 RF-microneedling, Forma, BodyTite) that compete with Ultherapy in skin tightening and rejuvenation, sold through the same physician and MedSpa channels.
• Solta Medical: Solta's Thermage FLX system competes with Ultherapy in non-invasive skin tightening and lifting using radiofrequency energy, sold into the same aesthetics practice channels with a similar capital equipment + consumable (tip) model.
• Sofwave Medical: Sofwave competes directly with Ultherapy in non-invasive ultrasound skin lifting through its Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam SUPERB technology, marketed to the same dermatology, plastic surgery, and MedSpa customer base.
• BTL Industries: BTL's Exilis and Emface platforms compete with Ultherapy in non-invasive skin tightening and facial muscle toning, sold through the same aesthetics practice channels with recurring consumable revenue.
• Cutera: Cutera's truSculpt and Secret RF systems compete with Ultherapy in body contouring and skin rejuvenation, sold to dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and MedSpas with similar capital + consumable economics.
• Alma Lasers: Alma's Accent, Soprano, and other platforms compete in non-invasive skin tightening and rejuvenation, sold into dermatology and MedSpa channels with comparable capital equipment + consumable business models.

Broad incumbents

• AbbVie (Allergan Aesthetics): AbbVie's Allergan Aesthetics division (CoolSculpting, SkinMedica) competes as a broad incumbent in the medical aesthetics market, sharing Ulthera's dermatology and plastic surgeon customer base and overlapping in skin rejuvenation.
• Galderma: Galderma is a broad incumbent in aesthetic dermatology (injectables, skincare, and growing energy-based device presence), competing for the same physician mindshare and MedSpa budgets as Ulthera.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Ulthera
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Ultherapy
• Facebookfacebook.com/Ultherapy
• Instagraminstagram.com/ultherapy
• Pinterestpinterest.com/Ultherapy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ulthera