HIFU Treatment: Is It As Effective As Surgical Facelift? (2024)
Facial treatments are all that people are looking for these days to ensure healthier, glowing, younger-looking skin. This is even if you’re not suffering from a skin issue and getting pampered through facial treatment is not a harm.
HIFU treatment was first used for treating wrinkles and sagginess in 2008. Since then, it has found many uses.
It is being touted as a non-surgical alternative to a surgical facelift. The treatment aims to reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the face for a youthful look.
Understandably, not many people are willing to go under the knife. This is especially so when they believe that they can achieve the same results with another treatment.
What Is HIFU Treatment?
High-intensity focused ultrasound – HIFU – is a non-invasive, non-surgical aesthetic facial treatment that tightens the skin to reduce the signs of ageing.
It got Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance in 2014 for wrinkles and fine lines on the upper chest area and neckline.
As we age, it’s only natural to experience different signs of ageing; not many are welcomed, though. The loss of skin elasticity, droopiness, wrinkles and fine lines can make a person look older than they really are.
The HIFU treatment works by stimulating the production of collagen in the skin, which makes it firm and elastic.
In one study published in the Annals of Dermatology, the skin of 20 Korean patients with wrinkles and laxity was analysed after a HIFU treatment.
It found that HIFU was most effective around the jawline while comparatively less effective around the cheeks and perioral areas (skin right around the mouth). It was considered safe.
What Is The Procedure of HIFU for Face?
HIFU facial involves the use of a device that delivers ultrasound energy in short bursts. The procedure is highly targeted.
That means it doesn’t harm the upper layers of the skin and the surrounding tissues. This heats the skin cells in the target area, damaging them. However, in order to repair those cells, the body produces collagen, which firms up the skin.
First, the physician will clean the target area and apply a local anaesthetic to the face because the treatment can cause pain and discomfort. Following that, the ultrasound gel is spread over the area, and the device is placed there.
You may experience heat along with a tingling sensation during the treatment. The whole session lasts for anywhere between 30 mins to 1.5 hours.
And you may need multiple sessions of this treatment. Since the procedure has no downtime, patients can continue with their routine activities soon after.
What Does HIFU Facial Treatment Feel Like?
HIFU facial treatment usually feels like a warm, prickling sensation on the skin. It can also be described as feeling like tiny electric shocks or small bursts of heat.
The sensation felt is usually mild and tolerable, although some people may experience some discomfort and this will depend on their pain tolerance along with the intensity of the treatment.
After the treatment is finished, some people may experience mild redness or swelling, but this usually goes away within a few hours.
What Are the Side Effects of HIFU Treatment?
Although HIFU for the face is safe, it can cause some temporary side effects such as:
Swelling
Bruising
Erythema (redness)
Numbness
Purpura (bursting of blood vessels, leaving brown, red or purple spots)
Itchiness
Breakout
Keep in mind that you may need multiple sessions of this treatment, so you’d be experiencing these side effects and recovering from them more than once.
How Long Does It Take For HIFU to Show Results?
A HIFU facelift will not give you instant results. The body doesn’t repair damaged cells immediately. It can take anywhere between 1-3 months before you see the final results of the treatment.
According to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, the results of an ultrasound skin tightening treatment can last for as long as a year if good care is taken of the skin. Keep in mind that HIFU treatment will not give you permanent results.
During the recovery process, you may be asked to avoid prolonged sun exposure and any tanning beds.
Additionally, you should not take any hot water baths. You also shouldn’t tweeze, wax, or pick at your face. Make sure to stay hydrated and refrain from consuming caffeine or alcohol. Lastly, make sure to keep the skin of your face clean.
How Much Does HIFU Treatment Cost?
HIFU treatment costs will vary depending on the number of sessions that the person needs and the target area (jawline, full face, neck, or face and neck).
One session can cost anywhere between £200 to £700. If you need multiple treatment sessions, it can cost you more than £2,000.
Keep in mind that the price of the medical plan can vary depending on the location of the clinic and the person who is performing the treatment.
Since the results of this treatment are not permanent, you’d also need multiple treatments, which will add to your total cost.
HIFU Facelift vs Surgical Facelift: Which One Is Better?
There are many differences between HIFU face treatment and surgical facelifts.
You should know that even though they’re both anti-ageing, their results look different. There are significant differences in the recovery periods of these procedures.
HIFU
Facelift
Procedure
Ultrasound energy heats the skin cells and stimulates the production of collagen
An invasive, surgical procedure in which the excess skin is removed after incisions are made; it also tightens the underlying facial muscles and repositions the fat
Treatment goal
Get rid of wrinkles and fine lines
Eliminate mild to severe sagging skin and smooth out any wrinkles and fine lines
Surgical time
30 minutes to 1.5 hours
2-3 hours
Results
Can minimise the appearance of mild wrinkles and fine lines in 1-3 months
Can dramatically make the skin appear firm and tight right after the procedure but you’ll have to wait for 6-9 months to see the final results because of swelling
Longevity
Lasts for 1-year
Permanent results
Downtime
None
2-4 weeks
Good candidate
For younger people who have early signs of ageing
For people who have moderate to severe sagging and wrinkling
Number of sessions
1-6 sessions
One-time procedure
Cost
£200 to £700 per session
£10,000 in the UK
£2,250 in Turkey
HIFU vs facelift is something that many people are confused about. They don’t know if the results of the two procedures are equally effective.
It’s always a good idea to check out (genuine) before and after images of patients who have had both procedures to get an idea of the results.
Although a HIFU facelift can work, it has its limitations. There are different side effects of this treatment that you’d have to experience repeatedly if you end up needing more than one treatment.
It cannot get rid of excess skin since it’s not being surgically excised. So, if you have poor skin laxity, you should not get HIFU treatment for your face.
Is A HIFU Facial Worth It?
The way HIFU treatments work, they can make your skin smoother. The ultrasound energy from the device penetrates the deeper layers of the skin, and collagen production is stimulated to repair the cell damage.
In one study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 75 patients had HIFU treatment for rejuvenation of the skin on the face and neck. The research showed an 80% improvement in the skin. Additionally, the treatment had a high satisfaction rate of 78%.
However, keep in mind that HIFU therapy is best suited for those people who’re only showing early signs of ageing. If you have deep skin wrinkles, fine lines, sagging, and extensive photodamage, you’d see better results from an invasive, surgical procedure like a facelift.
If you do get a HIFU treatment for severe signs of ageing, you should expect the results to not be as dramatic. It can help improve the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines temporarily, but the changes will be quite subtle.
It is best if you get yourself examined by a dermatologist as they’d be able to recommend you a suitable treatment depending on your needs and expectations.
Before And After A HIFU Facial Treatment
To get a better idea of the results of HIFU facial treatment, here are a few pictures:
What Is HIFU For Prostate Cancer?
Other than getting rid of signs of ageing, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has also been used for the treatment of prostate cancer.
The heat of the ultrasound waves is used to kill the cancer cells. This is not like radiation therapy, and it leaves the healthy cells unharmed.
According to Cancer Research UK, HIFU for prostate cancer is safe, although more research is needed on this. The treatment is highly targeted and non-invasive (no incisions are made or stitches are needed).
However, HIFU for prostate cancer is only recommended if the cancer hasn’t progressed to an advanced stage and spread to the other areas of the body.
Concluding Remarks
HIFU treatment has been around for a while. It is suitable for those who have mild wrinkles and fine lines on the face, neck or upper chest. It is safe, although it can cause some temporary side effects.
These may be quite inconvenient since a person might need more than one treatment. Still, it has no downtime, and the results should become visible after a maximum of 3 months.
You should keep in mind that this facial lifting procedure doesn’t give permanent results. Also, if you have moderate to severe sagging or wrinkling, the results will not be dramatic or satisfactory.
A surgical facelift might suit you better in that case. Regardless, you should consult with a professional medical doctor (dermatologist). They’ll have to examine your skin first and then recommend a suitable treatment plan accordingly.
HIFU is considered a safe, effective, and noninvasive procedure for tightening the facial skin. Its advantages over a surgical face lift are hard to deny. There are no incisions, no scarring, and no required rest or recovery time. HIFU is also far less expensive than a face lift.
The most noticeable effect is always firm and loose skin. Not only is the skin firmer, but most of the time HIFU treatments make the skin smoother. Firmer skin and fewer wrinkles result in an overall lift in facial appearances, such as lifting cheeks, eyelids, or eyebrows.
Some people may experience slight swelling and redness right after their treatment. Which will usually disappear quickly. The treatment area may also feel slightly sensitive for a week. Hifu is most suitable for mild to moderate skin laxity.
HIFU uses precise beams of ultrasound energy to tighten the skin's connective tissues, thus lifting the skin. By heating up and stimulating existing collagen fibers, the fibers thicken, resulting in a long-term tightening and lifting effect. HIFU is also effective for age prevention and reversing sagging jowls.
If you want immediate results yet can tolerate several needles going into your face, threadlifting is a better choice over HIFU. The reason why HIFU takes a longer time to see results is because it penetrates deep into the skin to stimulate natural production of collagen GRADUALLY.
Which is better: Ultherapy or Hifu? Ultherapy® has been around much longer than Hifu and has been more rigorously tested and verified for its efficacy. It is also much safer than Hifu thanks to its patented ultrasound imaging technology.
This was the most common side effect reported by patients during a study researching the effectiveness of HIFU. Treated areas can become red and blotchy, particularly if your skin is sensitive and prone to redness. This side effect is not permanent, usually going away a few hours after the treatment.
In general, the procedure works best on people older than 30 with mild-to-moderate skin laxity. People with photodamaged skin or a high degree of loose skin may need several treatments before seeing results.
The 40's and 50's age group is the most common age for this treatment. The treatment is suitable if you are aged 60+, provided the degree of laxity is not too great. It is also for those who have had surgery in the past to prolong the effects of surgical facelifts.
Ultherapy is the number one treatment for jowls and is FDA approved meaning it is clinically proven to lift the face. Ultherapy uses micro-focused ultrasound to create micro-wounds into the deep tissues (SMAS) of skin.
Ultherapy (FDA approved to treat sagging jowls by lifting and tightening muscle and skin tissue ) or thread lift treatment are widely regarded as the best non surgical treatment for jowls.
Most people only require a single HIFU treatment session. The procedure takes between one and three hours depending on the areas being treated and the severity of skin laxity. The results will appear gradually and last for two to three years depending on your skin's natural ageing process.
For most problems, the HIFU treatment needs to be repeated 2-3 times to achieve the ideal result. The ideal intervals are 1-3 months. At the same time, it is worth realizing that the effects of the treatment cannot be seen immediately. The skin will be slightly tighter after the session.
Side effects and complications following HIFU can include: More frequent urination with an urgency to urinate. Urine leakage or urinary incontinence. Erectile dysfunction.
The socialite admits that she often uses thread lifts and is one of the first to come forward and accept them. According to her, she considers them to be her secret for young and healthy skin. She uses them along with her traditional filler and injection treatments.
Patients report the procedure not being very painful due to its non-invasive qualities, meaning there are no needles involved and nothing is piercing the skin surface, making it a mostly pain-free experience.
Due to the non-invasive nature of HIFU treatments, there is virtually no downtime. You may experience slight redness following the treatment, and a small percentage of our clients do experience minor swelling, tingling or tenderness. These symptoms are mild and temporary.
You can't judge if the treatment is suitable or not by your age. Some young people may show early signs of skin sagging and vice versa. We lose collagen production as we age. On average, we lose about 40% collagen by age 65.
People who can't get HIFU skin treatments include anyone with an active skin infection, open wounds or visible acne lesions in the treatment area. People with pacemakers or other electronic implants are not able to undergo this type of treatment, and those who are pregnant are also excluded.
HIFU is a complex technology, and it is not easy or cheap to manufacture one of these machines. If a company is selling them for a cheap price, that means that they have cut corners during manufacturing, quality control, or efficiency of treatment.
With HIFU, some people don't get the desired lifting effect. In rare cases, if the HIFU energy is directed into the fat rather than at the collagen layer, it can cause the loss of fat beneath the skin, leaving it sagging further than it did before.
Another setback of the HIFU system is the susceptibility of nerve damage compared to that of skin, fat, or blood vessels during treatment. Damage to the facial nerve can cause facial paralysis and severely alter patients' esthetic appearances and speech functions.
HIFU is best known for facial contouring, double chin removal and to tighten face skin. It lifts the face, creates an eye lift, tightens the skin and contours the cheekbones & jawline. It also permanently destroys excess fat to get rid of double chins & turkey necks.
HIFU GLOW is a complete treatment working on forehead, eyes, including eye lift, eye bags, lips wrinkles, face, jawline, chin and neck. ULTIMATE HIFU is designed for deeper ageing concerns and older clients so anywhere from 40/45+ to 80+.
To get long-lasting results, we recommend two HIFU treatments in the first year spaced six months apart. You can then get one treatment a year afterwards to maintain the results of the treatment. For trickier areas, you may need a few extra treatments 3 months after the first treatment.
A person with multiple wrinkles and fine lines on the brows, around the eyes and face may benefit more from Thermage, while one with wrinkles and also saggy skin may be more suitable for a HIFU.
Brow Lift – When you have major furrows and lines on the forehead, undergoing a brow lift is a great option for tightening skin and smoothing those lines away. Lower Facelift – Jowls tend to become more pronounced with advanced age, which is why the lower facelift is such a great option to consider.
Considered one of the best non surgical facelift options, NovaThreads use absorbable sutures to lift and tighten the skin to improve facial aging concerns, like sagging jowls and droopy skin, resulting in a noticeably younger appearance.
Deep Plane Facelift. The deep plane facelift is generally considered the most comprehensive and long lasting type of facelift. This facelift involves the layer of muscles under your facial skin. These muscles are responsible for much of the drooping or sagging you may experience in your face as you age.
While jowls are harmless, some people may feel uncomfortable about how they look. Many medical options exist to treat them, including neck lifts, injectable fillers, and radiotherapy. Less invasive alternatives are becoming more popular, as well. These include acupuncture, facial massage, and facial yoga.
Surgical procedures, such as neck lifts, can tighten your skin and make it look less saggy. Nonsurgical procedures, such as thermage, lasers, and peels, can change the composition of the collagen in your skin. Fillers can be used to camouflage hollow areas around the jowls.
Less wrinkles – a major benefit of HIFU treatments are that they assist in noticable wrinkle reduction. Tighter skin – the most noticeable of results is always the tightening of sagging skin. Not only tighter skin, but overall smoother skin (who needs filters with smooth skin).
A highly-effective non-surgical way to reduce eyelid and brow sagginess without any negative side-effects is to target the dermal layer using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU).
Rejuvenates the collagen levels, tightens loose skin and greatly reduces wrinkles and the signs of aging. Used by leading medical expert's results will last between 12-18 months from a single session.
A High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) facelift typically takes under an hour to complete, and no anaesthesia is required. Those who have undergone a HIFU skin tightening treatment sometimes notice a light, warm prickling sensation in the skin.
You should always look after yourself in the days after a HIFU procedure. This means drinking plenty of water to stay well hydrated. If you are experiencing any mild side effects post treatment, you may also consider avoiding strenuous exercise, hot showers and baths and steam rooms for at least 24 hours.
We understand that HIFU is an expensive procedure. Unlike some other treatments for prostate cancer, it is not yet covered by insurance. That is because it typically takes about 5 years from FDA approval of a procedure to the time when insurers pay for it.
It is a non-invasive technique that uses the body's own generated collagen fibres as a stimulation, whereas botox and fillers involve injecting foreign substances to achieve the same results. Hence HIFU is more natural and long-lasting when compared to botox and fillers.
For many people, a thread lift is ideal for their needs. Some pros for opting for a thread lift include: Since there is no incision, people experience less scarring and easier recovery with a thread lift as compared to a Facelift. A thread lift is quicker than a facelift often taking around one hour.
During an interview with Vogue, Kardashian explained, “It was this or nothing. [In the weeks leading up to the Met Gala], I would wear a sauna suit twice a day, run on the treadmill, completely cut out all sugar and all carbs, and just eat the cleanest veggies and protein. I didn't starve myself, but I was so strict.”
Both the Kardashian sisters are workout-enthusiasts and resort to consistent, daily exercise routine. According to Melissa Alcantara, Kim K's personal trainer, the billionaire works out six days a week, with no excuses.
After your HIFU Treatment, you may see some initial effect, but the ultimate results will take place over 2-3 months, as your body naturally regenerates collagen.
Rejuvenates the collagen levels, tightens loose skin and greatly reduces wrinkles and the signs of aging. Used by leading medical expert's results will last between 12-18 months from a single session.
Most people will need between one and six treatments to see results. This means it will take about 2-3 months for HIFU to improve the appearance of your skin. People with sun-damaged skin may need more treatments.
For most problems, the HIFU treatment needs to be repeated 2-3 times to achieve the ideal result. The ideal intervals are 1-3 months. At the same time, it is worth realizing that the effects of the treatment cannot be seen immediately. The skin will be slightly tighter after the session.
Still, researchers have found that the procedure can firm sagging skin, smooth wrinkles, and improve skin texture. With good aftercare, the benefits of a HIFU facial can last for about 1 year.
HIFU is suitable for people aged approximately 25+ years with mild to moderate skin laxity or sagging. However, a mandatory consultation is required prior to treatment with one of our skin specialists to ensure suitability for treatment.
Compared to other non-invasive treatments like Botox and fillers, HIFU provides a more natural and subtle result. Rather than freezing or filling the wrinkles, HIFU tightens the skin and stimulates collagen production, giving a more youthful and refreshed appearance.
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