Dr Shyna Raj of Shine Medical Cosmetic Clinic in Kenilworth explains to readers what High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is.

According to the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Society, non-surgical facelifts have become one of the most sought after treatments over the last few years.

There are several advantages of non-surgical techniques over a surgical face lift.

There is no anaesthetic, no incisions, no scarring, and no required rest or recovery time.  

Non-surgical techniques are also far less expensive than a surgical face lift.

HIFU treatment is endorsed by renowned UK Plastic Surgeons as a safe alternative to going under the knife. 

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) 

HIFU is the latest non-surgical facelift treatment which uses High Intensity Focused Ultrasound energy to both lift and tighten loose or sagging skin on the neck and the face.  

But what is HIFU treatment and how does it work? What are the benefits of HIFU?

Before we can understand these, we first have to understand what happens to our skin when we age. 

What happens when our skin ages?

The ageing process affects the entire facial structure, including skin, subcutaneous fat, muscles and facial bones.

As we age, the following changes take place within our body:

The outer skin layer (epidermis) thins out. In the dermis, collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid levels decrease gradually over time especially after the age of 30. This leads to loss of structure and elasticity of the skin which causes fine lines and wrinkles, loss of elasticity, pigment changes and sagging of the skin.

There is also gradual loss of subcutaneous fat which contributes to the loss of structure that holds up the skin.

The skin cell turnover slows down - this in turn, slows down the regeneration process of the cell renewal in the deeper layers of the skin. This causes reduction in the density of the skin and uneven texture.

As we age, the outer layer of our skin thins out (image via pixabay)

What is HIFU and how does it work? 

HIFU is the latest innovation in cosmetic treatment for skin tightening that provides a non-surgical facelift.

High intensity ultrasound energy is delivered deep into the skin, which causes the tissues to heat up rapidly.

This stimulates the cells to produce more collagen.

By causing new collagen formation, the procedure increases the structural integrity of the skin and this leads to the beneficial effects seen with HIFU. 

One of the particular benefits of HIFU is that the ultrasound waves are able to penetrate a lot deeper than other techniques/energy devices, being able to penetrate up to 4.5mm into skin tissues and as deep as the SMAS (superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic system) layer under the skin.

By being able to penetrate deeper below the surface, HIFU is able to stimulate the growth of collagen and elastin more effectively and without damaging the outer layer of the skin.

This is what results in the prolonged tightening of the skin for 12-18 months after just one treatment, as opposed to other treatment techniques, which are not able to penetrate as deeply and therefore require multiple and repeated treatments to achieve the same benefits.  

Benefits of HIFU

Some benefits can be seen immediately after treatment, however more benefits are usually seen in two to three months and maximal benefits are seen in four to six months.

The benefits usually last 12 to 18 months.  

HIFU has many aesthetic benefits including: 

• Tightening of the skin 
• Improvement of the skin's elasticity and firmness 
• Reduction in fine lines and wrinkles 
• Tightening of sagging skin on the neck (turkey neck) 
• Lifting the cheeks, eyebrows, and eyelids 
• Enhancing jawline definition and reduction of sagging skin around jawline (jowls) 
• Fat reduction 

For more information, visit the website.

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) Treatment can be used for body concerns as well.

HIFU Body is designed to target and reduce stubborn pockets of fat on our body.

It can be used to treat areas like abdomen, hips, flanks, buttocks, thighs. Benefits are usually seen after three to six months and usually last for 12 to 18 months.

It can also be combined with muscle toning/body sculpting treatment like Powersculpt.  

Before and After pictures – after one treatment (image supplied)

Before and after (image supplied)

If you're looking for a HIFU / Non Surgical Face Lift treatment that is quick, cheaper than other options, safe, effective, non-invasive and with long lasting benefits, HIFU is an excellent option. 

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