Sofwave is a skin treatment that uses ultrasound technology to stimulate collagen and elastin production. I’ll explain how it’s done (along with what makes it so new compared to other ultrasound devices), but first I’d like to give a quick overview of why we’re targeting collagen and elastin in the first place.

Collagen and elastin are the main structural proteins of your skin. Collagen keeps the skin firm and toned, while elastin gives the skin elasticity, firmness and elasticity. Together, they are responsible for many of the characteristics we associate with healthy, vibrant skin. At some point in our mid-20s, the balance between how much skin is making and how much is being lost tips off in our favor. At this point, our natural supply of both diminishes and we begin to see many visible signs of aging, such as sagging skin and fine lines.

Much of what we do in skin care is aimed at revitalizing skin production, so our skin looks and feels like it did in our 20s.

Which brings me back to sofwave. “After 25 years, collagen production decreases. Anything we can do to restore collagen production and regain full physiology is a good thing. There are many technologies that can improve collagen production in this layer of skin, but they all do not work. This will help you get back to life quickly,” says board-certified dermatologist Amy Lewis, MD, clinical adjunct professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine.

Lewis explains to me that he uses seven parallel beams that bypass the epidermis (the surface of the skin) and enter the middle layer of the skin. This is where collagen and elastin are produced, so it more effectively supports their production.

This is not the first ultrasound treatment to appear on the market, but it is the most advanced. “Because of the way the energy is delivered to the skin, it is more effective than the ultrasound therapy of the past. It’s a fixed depth, so it only targets the dermal layer where collagen and elastin are produced,” says physician assistant Rebecca Manzi at the office of Amy B. Lewis, MD.

The procedure is approved for the full face (especially above the eyebrows and jawline), neck, chest and body (to fight cellulite). It doesn’t have any downtime, but you’ll have to wait between one and three months before you start seeing results, with the full benefits kicking in around six months. It’s recommended for a once-a-year treatment, but it’s really up to you and your dermatologist.

Oh, and it’s expensive: depending on the surface area you’re treating and the doctor you go to, it’ll cost you anywhere from $1,500 to $4,500. A full face (which is what I got) starts at $2,500.

In full disclosure, mine was arranged because I’m a beauty journalist, but it came with no strings attached. What you read here is my honest assessment of the experience.