Non-surgical facial and skin rejuvenation with HIFU

HIFU machine for body and face professional is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure that utilizes ultrasound technology to lift, tighten, and rejuvenate the skin. It is a safe and effective treatment for non-surgical skin tightening, targeting areas such as the face, neck, and décolletage. By stimulating the production of collagen and elastin deep within the skin, HIFU helps improve skin laxity and reduces the signs of aging.

HIFU stands for “High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound” and is a relatively new cosmetic technology, having only been introduced for use in recent years. HIFU facial machine as a form of facial treatment employs the use of concentrated ultrasound energy to the face and neck by a handheld device. HIFU face lifting is a non-invasive treatment that helps stimulates the cells, resulting in tissue rejuvenation and collagen production. The overall effect of the treatment is to promote tightening and lifting of the skin in these areas. HIFU treatment can help stimulate tissue rejuvenation and collagen production, resulting in the tightening and lifting of saggy skin, and can also be used to break down fat deposits. In the hands of a skilled practitioner, this can produce results akin to facial sculpting (but without the need for surgery).

Should you consider HIFU treatment?

There are a number of indications for applying HIFU treatment for the face, which include the following:

1.Fine lines and wrinkles.

2.Sagging skin along the cheeks and eyelids.

3.Skin that is thin and with a texture like crepe paper.

4.Drooping skin around the mouth area.

5.Undefined jawline.

As a skin rejuvenating procedure, HIFU can help women lift and tighten the neck, chin and brow, and improve lines and wrinkles on the chest.

The procedure of HIFU

There are no special preparations needed prior to the HIFU consultation and treatment. In the doctor's office, the physician will take the patient's complete medical history and perform a thorough physical examination, especially the face and neck. With the exception of a diagnosed skin infection or existing skin problem that would require treatment at a later date, the HIFU procedure can be performed immediately after the doctor's interview. Most HIFU treatments follow the same procedure outlined below:

1.Specially-trained nurses will perform a full facial cleansing and preparation for the patient.

2.The doctor applies ultrasound gel to the patient's face and neck.

3.A hand HIFU device is glided over the patient's skin. This delivers ultrasound energy to the skin, stimulating the skin cells to produce collagen and promote tissue healing, repair and rejuvenation.

4.Depending upon the patient's skin condition, the physician adjusts the skin depth setting of the hand piece. As this procedure is being done, the patient may feel heat under the skin or a slight prickling. For an absolute pain-free experience, sedation can be performed by a qualified anaesthetist in the clinic.

5.Each HIFU treatment lasts between 30 and 60 minutes depending upon the severity of the skin problem.

After HIFU treatment

Some patients have reported mild soreness, which typically resolves itself. In the presence of these symptoms, the doctor may prescribe pain medications. Some physicians will also prescribe special facial creams to protect the skin from the UV rays of the sun and other harmful factors in the environment. The patient does not need any downtime following HIFU treatment. She can immediately resume her daily activities. But again, she is required to apply sun protection creams to protect her skin. To get the best results, it is advised to have HIFU treatments done for four to six weeks, followed by maintenance sessions at three to four month intervals. Collagen production is expected to reach its optimum level at two to three months. It is during this period that a patient can already see her facial skin becoming younger-looking, healthier, softer, and supple.

Non-surgical face lifting done with HIFU technique

Among the techniques of facial rejuvenation or firming, HIFU technique which affects the deep layers of the skin with a controlled high intense heat effect, can cause a limited lifting effect by triggering wound healing. This preferred cap which shows effects in depth of 4.5mm, has shrinkage impact on anatomical structures which are called facial fascia and slung in the face lifting surgeries, so that the result is reached. However, the absolute results obtained by the surgery cannot be reached by HIFU for any procedures.

Is the HIFU treatment painful?

The HIFU procedure is a little painful as it is performed close to the jaw, particularly near the tooth roots, and close to the bone especially on the upper lip, and in the treated areas such as dental implant, sensitive tooth root, root canal treatment. No local anesthetics are required for the procedures other than these areas.

Which patients have advantages from HIFU technique?

The effect is more apparent in patients who do not have heavy or oily skin, or parchment skin (dry and thin skin) and particularly in patients who can be performed combined procedures for other layers of the skin. Due to holistic approach, PRP, Meso, Radiofrequency and IPL procedures can be added to the face lifting protocol respectively for rejuvenation and lifting of superficial and middle skin.

Which body and facial areas are used with HIFU treatment?

HIFU technology has separate facial and body caps. Caps are selected according to the skin thickness. The 1-5mm – range caps are effective for eyebrow and supraorbital areas which the skin is thin and the effect in this area is eyebrow lifting, and superficial skin wrinkles can be greyed, and the neck and skin lift can be provided by using 3-mm depth caps for medium thick skin areas (cheeks, jaw, low-neck area, back of the hand, and particularly breasts, abdominal, arm cracks). The 4.5-mm caps are preferred for face firming and hip, abdominal and leg cracks and silhouettes, and arm, double chin and neck sagging.

How many sessions does require for the HIFU procedure? When do the results show effect?

HIFU procedures are single-session, the effect can be reinforced with a second session for heavy and oily skins. The effect mechanism which is based on the reoccurrence of wound healing after collagen stimulation, are observed at the end of 2 weeks following the 24 hours after the edema occurring immediately after the procedure, and the final results are obtained at the 3rd month.

How is HIFU applied?

Before HIFU procedure, the concealer, makeup, cream and sun cream on the face is wiped and the gel with cooling and lubricant effect is applied to the skin. The selected cap is moved over the skin depending on the predetermined area, and the procedure is completed. A mechanical barrier can be made in the mouth with a sponge or wooden abeslang (abaisse langue) to reduce the sensitivity for the skin and dental areas. The procedure period is approximately 20-30 minutes depending on the width of the area that the procedure is applied. Then, the skin is smoothened by using soothing mask or moisturizer for redness. The patient may return to work immediately after the procedure. It is recommended that the patient should avoid from sunny environments without protection, lying on facedown, wipe out face with a towel and extreme hot environment such as bathhouse and sauna. The patient can make up, swim or travel after 1 day.

What is the HIFU impact range?

Reduction in facial asymmetry, pore crack treatment, silhouette symptoms, supraorbital wrinkle treatments, double chin fixing, the correction of breast, arm, knee skin sagging occurred due to sudden and quick weight loss (laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy) and genital aesthetic procedures

Does the HIFU outcomes are permanent?

Although the wound healing with HIFU provides a long-lasting persistency with collagen production and new connective tissue formation (neogenesis), the results with HIFU technique are never permanent due to lifestyles of the people such as signs of aging, gravity, smoking, nutritional habit, sleeping pattern. In the patients with high health-conscious, taking into account the factors abovementioned, the signs of aging can be permanently solved/removed with fortification procedures to be performed if necessary after the annual general health and skin evaluation. The studies and reports have stated that the effect achieved with HIFU can be sustained for up to 2 years when considering the above variables.

What are the other procedures to combine with HIFU procedures?

HIFU procedures can reduce the persistence effect of substances such as fat grafts, filling materials, rope which have been previously performed to the deeper layers of the skin, and can also solve the effects of neurotoxins. They can be combined easily with other non-invasive rejuvenation and regeneration procedures to the superficial layer and middle.