Dr. Amy J. Alderman

What is Ultherapy?
Ultherapy is the only FDA-approved, non-invasive treatment for lifting the skin and reducing lines and wrinkles of the brow, chin, neck, and décolletage. It uses ultrasound technology to tighten the underlying soft tissues of the face and neck and smooth the skin. It involves no surgery, no needles, and no downtime. It can help patients receive a fresher look from the brow to the chest!

The ultrasound energy focuses on the deep tissue of the face and neck without disturbing the overlying skin. As a result, there is no downtime. Patients can leave after Ultherapy and head straight to work or the PTA meeting without anyone knowing they had just received an anti-aging treatment.

What is so great about Ultherapy?
It is non-invasive and effective; focused ultrasound waves activate collagen production immediately and support additional collagen for up to six months! The results get better and better with time. Collagen is our natural protein that tones and firms skin. As we age, collagen loses its strength. Ultherapy starts a natural process to produce fresh, new collagen that provides support to our skin.

Ultrasound has been used in medicine for more than 50 years and has proven to be safe and effective. With Ultherapy, the ultrasound energy provides a youthful appearance. The ultrasound energy is delivered with precise imaging technology, allowing targeted delivery to optimize results.

Can I Benefit from Ultherapy?
A good candidate is usually someone with mild to moderate skin laxity that desires firmer and lifted skin. It is a great option for those seeking non-surgical options. It is also ideal for those who want to maintain a youthful appearance and be pro-active with managing the natural aging process.

Ultherapy vs. Laser Skin Treatments
These two technologies use different types of energy that treat different depths of tissue. They can often be used in combination to optimize a youthful appearance by treating both the deep and superficial layers of our face. Ultherapy targets the tissue under the skin. The ultrasound technology, along with the advanced visualization technology, provides precise delivery of the ultrasound energy to the deep tissues where collagen is stimulated. Laser, on the other hand, uses light energy and cannot pe*****te the deep tissues.

Can Ultherapy Replace a Facelift?
Ultherapy does not replace surgical correction of facial aging. However, Ultherapy does stimulate your natural collagen production and tightens the tissue from brow to neck with no downtime. It is a great option for those wanting a fresher look without surgery and downtime. The results of Ultherapy are less aggressive and more subtle than surgical correction. Ultherapy is also a nice option for patients after a facelift to maintain their youthful appearance.

One of the most common skin problems in middle-aged and older adults is wrinkle formation and laxity caused by photoaging, the combined effect of long-term sun exposure and intrinsic aging. Over decades, UVA/UVB progressively damage collagen and activate matrix-degrading enzymes; this overlays age-related declines in fibroblast activity, reduced estrogen and sebum, and a more fragile barrier. Lifestyle factors—smoking, poor sleep, high-sugar diets, and chronic inflammation—further accelerate changes, culminating in deeper fine lines, rough yellowish texture, more dark spots, and sagging. High-risk groups include people with extensive outdoor exposure, those who skip daily sunscreen, individuals with lighter skin, and perimenopausal/postmenopausal patients. Management starts at home with a “sunscreen + retinoid” foundation: use a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ daily with reapplication as needed; introduce low-strength retinol gradually at night; pair daytime care with vitamin C and barrier-repair ingredients (ceramides, squalane, hyaluronic acid); add gentle AHA/PHA/BHA exfoliation; and support results with smoking cessation, regular sleep, resistance training, and an antioxidant-rich diet. In-office care emphasizes personalized, staged combinations: neurotoxins for dynamic lines; non-ablative fractional lasers or RF microneedling in series for fine lines and roughness; hyaluronic acid fillers or biostimulatory agents to rebuild support for etched lines; IPL/picosecond lasers for uneven tone and sunspots; and ultrasound/RF tightening for mild to moderate laxity. If lines deepen rapidly despite good care, new prominent spots appear, or suspicious lesions develop (bleeding, scabbing, ill-defined borders, rapid growth), seek prompt evaluation. In short: midlife wrinkles reflect the sum of sun exposure plus age-related change—build a solid base of sunscreen and retinoids, and pursue staged combination treatments under medical guidance to achieve natural, stable, and sustainable improvement.

Beauty You Can Predict: Clarifying Risks, Expectations, and Outcomes
Choosing cosmetic plastic surgery is an important and personal decision, and safety and outcomes should always come first. As a U.S. team committed to “credentials-first” aesthetic care, we put evidence-based medicine and patient safety at the center of everything we do. Our procedures are performed by ABMS-board-certified specialists in accredited medical settings. Whether you’re considering injectables, energy-based devices such as lasers and radiofrequency, or facial and body surgery, our goal is to help you achieve natural, sustainable results through thorough communication and individualized planning.

In the United States, any licensed physician can technically offer some cosmetic services. However, being board-certified means a doctor has completed rigorous, structured specialty training and examinations—and continues to meet ongoing quality and ethical standards. Widely recognized specialty boards include the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), American Board of Dermatology (ABD), and American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (ABOHNS). Professional societies and continuing-education communities such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), The Aesthetic Society, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS), and the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) provide authoritative guidance for safe, effective care. Some surgeons also hold FACS (Fellow of the American College of Surgeons), signaling an additional standard of surgical training and professional conduct.

To keep your treatment on the safest, most scientific track, we work only with board-certified surgeons and supervised anesthesia teams, and we operate in facilities accredited by AAAASF, AAAHC, or The Joint Commission. Before any procedure, we complete a comprehensive evaluation—medical history, physical exam, and any needed labs or imaging—so indications, contraindications, and alternatives are clear. Intraoperatively, we follow standardized anesthesia and perioperative safety protocols. Post-procedure, we provide staged follow-ups, scar and sun-protection strategies, and rhythmical maintenance with energy devices or injectables to stabilize and consolidate your results.

We encourage every patient to do a quick “qualified surgeon” check: verify board certification on the ABMS website or the relevant specialty board; confirm license status and any disciplinary actions with your State Medical Board; check that the surgeon holds appropriate hospital privileges; ensure the outpatient surgery center is accredited by AAAASF/AAAHC/TJC; ask who provides anesthesia (a board-certified anesthesiologist or a CRNA under physician supervision); review ample, same-lighting/same-angle, unedited before-and-after photos; and make sure the surgeon explains risks, recovery timelines, follow-up cadence, and backup plans. Transparent, thorough informed consent is the foundation of a good doctor–patient partnership.

We also believe great aesthetic outcomes depend on realism and predictability. Rather than chasing “faster, more aggressive” solutions, we respect anatomy and healing, prioritize long-term maintainability, and align medical treatments with lifestyle optimization. Based on your skin type, age, prior treatments, and day-to-day schedule, we build from core fundamentals—sun protection and barrier repair—then layer injectables, energy-based procedures, and surgery as appropriate. With quarterly and annual maintenance, collagen strengthens more steadily, texture improves progressively, and contours lift naturally.

Our promise is simple: safety first, evidence as the standard, communication as the bridge, and natural, lasting value as the goal. Whether this is your first aesthetic treatment or you’re seeking a more systematic, reliable plan after prior care, we’ll support you—carefully and empathetically—through every step from pre-op evaluation to post-op maintenance, helping you achieve results that feel authentic to you.

I’m a board-certified plastic surgeon, Amy J. Alderman (MD, MPH, FACS). I began my medical journey in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and a first shadowing experience in the operating room at 16 set my life’s calling. I graduated with honors from Birmingham-Southern College and the University of Alabama School of Medicine, then completed an integrated plastic surgery residency at the University of Michigan, where I was a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar and earned a Master of Public Health.

My clinical work and research have always centered on surgical technique and patient safety. To date, I’ve delivered 200+ national presentations, published 75+ papers, and written 10+ textbook chapters. I’ve co-chaired the ASPS Aesthetica meeting and serve as an oral examiner and director of the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

In 2010, I moved to Atlanta to be closer to my family while continuing to advance my career; in 2018, I co-founded North Atlanta Plastic Surgery with Dr. Aida Joiner. I specialize in skin reconstruction and high-demand aesthetic surgery, tailoring natural, safe, and sustainable treatment plans for women and men at every life stage. What fulfills me most is seeing patients regain their confident smile after meticulous planning and careful surgery.