HIFU Treatment Benefits, Applications & Contraindications

Benefits of HIFU Treatment

HIFU treatment is one of the most advanced non-surgical and non-invasive facelift techniques with many benefits and advantages, including:

• Wrinkle reduction
• Tightening loose skin on the neck and double chin areas, lifting the jowls and eyebrows
• Enhancing jawline definition
• Tightening and smoothing of facial skin
• Lifting neck and the décolletage
• Correcting the smile lines
• Applicable to all skin colours anytime
• One to three therapeutic sessions are enough to achieve desired results
• HIFU last for about 12 to 18 months
• Treatment sessions are short, between 30 up to 90 minutes
• It does not require injection and incision to the skin
• It is a painless technique that does not cause bleeding and does not require wound dressing.HIFU can increase the durability of surgery results
• HIFU can be accompanied by other therapeutic methods, such as microneedling
• HIFU costs are much less than surgical methods

HIFU Applications

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), HIFU and other non-surgical rejuvenation methods can be good alternatives to facelift surgery.
Since 2008, HIFU has become more popular and has been extensively used in recent years including services such as HIFU body sculpting. The use of HIFU treatment increased by 60% in the recent five years.

Who Can Benefit from HIFU?

Generally, individuals aged between 30-75 years with mild-to-moderate skin laxity who want to delay the aging process of their skin can primarily benefit from this method.

The main objective of HIFU treatment is to slow down the aging process; therefore, younger clients show a better response to the treatment. Clients over 25 years can also benefit from this method as one of the most effective skin aging prevention techniques.

Individuals whose skin is damaged by constant exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet rays or suffer from severe skin laxity need several treatment sessions to achieve the desired results.

Older people with severe skin laxity are typically not good candidates for HIFU treatment and probably need cosmetic surgeries. It is also not useful for individuals with lesions, infections, cystic acne, and metal implants.

What to Expect During HIFU Treatment

• The physician or technician cleans the target area.
• A topical anesthetic cream may be applied to the target area.
• The physician or technician uses an ultrasound gel on the skin. This gel is applied like a lubricant in sonography.
• The HIFU device is placed on the skin before starting the treatment.
• The physician or technician adjusts ultrasound waves using the device's monitor. Ultrasound waves are delivered to the target area in short pulses. Each treatment session takes between 30 and 90 minutes.
• The feelings of heat and tingling may be experienced while the ultrasound energy is being applied.
• You return to your normal daily activities right away after HIFU treatment.

Contraindications of HIFU

Age

The best time to start HIFU treatment is usually in the mid-thirties when the skin shows signs of aging. The skin usually loses its elasticity and firmness at this age, although it may still look young and wrinkle-free.

Increasing collagen production with HIFU treatment after the age of 30 guarantees that you can keep your skin in the best possible condition. Patients who have severe looseness of the skin, or who need extensive anti-aging treatments due to old age, cannot benefit from HIFU treatment and cosmetic surgery may be a more realistic option.

Skin Condition

Although age can be a good guide to the best timing for having HIFU treatment, each person's skin ages differently. Some of us may need HIFU treatment earlier while others may need it later. Therefore, it is important to consider the condition of your skin. HIFU treatment can make the skin firmer and younger.

Increasing collagen production strengthens its elasticity and tightens it. HIFU treatment will be effective when the skin is aging and the production of collagen decreases. You may have noticed loose skin around your forehead or jaw. In fact, your skin no longer has the elasticity it used to have. You will get the best results if these skin problems are mild to moderate. But if the severity of skin looseness and wrinkles is high, other treatments will be more effective.

General Health

HIFU is one of the most popular and safest facelift techniques and is approved not only by makeup and beauty experts but also by clients. But if you are in any one of the following conditions, you need to consult your therapist before having the treatment:

• Open wounds and lesions on the face or neck
• Severe or cystic acne on the face or neck
• Pacemaker or electronic devices in the treated area
• Cardiovascular problems
• Active skin disease that may delay wound healing
• Herpes
• Autoimmune disease
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Bell's palsy (paralysis of half of the facial muscles, which is often sudden and temporary.)
• Skin infections or open wounds and cysts
• Metal implant in the treated area
• Blood disorders
• Silicone injections
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Final Word

HIFU treatment is considered as one of the most powerful and effective alternatives to cosmetic surgery. Through the application of HIFU therapy, body fat can be targeted and the skin can be tightened. HIFU can also be used to rejuvenate the face and lift the skin. HIFU treatment is a non-invasive procedure the effect of which is similar to lift surgery but comes without the multiple side effects.