Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for dermatological treatment by focusing ultrasound energy in a volume of tissue below the dermis to obtain selective heating and thermal damage of certain portions of the volume while sparing other portions of the treatment volume from thermal damage. Selective heating of fibrous septae can be achieved while relatively sparing surrounding fatty tissue, which can lead to some shrinkage of the fibrous septae and reduction in the appearance of wrinkles. The matrix of hair follicles can also be selectively heated to provide relatively safe temporary or permanent hair removal. The superficial musculoaponeurotic system can also be selectively heated to obtain a tightening of the overlying skin.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus are provided for treating dermatological conditions by generating a relatively large amount of thermal damage beneath a skin surface while generating relatively little thermal damage to the skin surface and/or epidermis. For example, the exemplary system, method and apparatus provide for directing a radiation beam onto a target location on the skin surface to thermally damage a volume of tissue beneath the target location, and directing a second radiation beam onto the same target location to thermally damage a different volume of tissue beneath the target location. The radiation beams may include ablative and/or non-ablative laser beams, or they may be generated by, e.g., a flashlamp, a tungsten lamp, a diode, or a diode array. The two beams may be pulsed. Further, they can be part of a single continuous wave beam, which can be rotated around an axis which passes through the target area, or which can be directed at a plurality of angles with respect to the skin surface.