HIFU
Elevate Your Beauty with HIFU Treatment: Experience Advanced Skin Tightening for a Youthful Appearance
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a relatively new cosmetic treatment for skin tightening that some consider a non-invasive and painless replacement for face lifts. It uses ultrasound energy to encourage the production of collagen, which results in firmer skin. The procedure is also used for overall facial rejuvenation, lifting, wrinkles, tightening, and body contouring in areas such as love handles, inner and outer thighs, tummy, bingo wings, buttocks and more.
Our skin remains tight when there is a high concentration of collagen and elastin in the dermis layer. When the body lowers its production of collagen, the upper layers of skin begin to wrinkle and sag. To reverse this process, HIFU is used to stimulate collagen growth by sending ultrasound thermal energy to the dermis layer.
The wave of energy causes a small injury to the tissue. The tissue heals and produces new collagen that tightens the skin naturally. HIFU skin lifting treatment is a safe, effective approach for those who aspire to reverse the signs of aging and to evenly tighten and tone their skin by focusing on re-energizing the deeper structural layers beneath its surface. It can effectively invigorate the quality and appearance of the skin and improve your self-esteem. The regenerating, long-lasting effects can be accomplished without the invasive risks and long recovery time associated with traditional face lift surgery.
What we offer at London Body Centre
- The reduction of fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin
- A safe, non-invasive, pain-free, face-lifting alternative
- Revitalizing and improving the shape of your face
- Lifting, tightening and toning on eyebrows, frown and forehead (lines), cheeks, nasolabial folds and chin
- Lacrimal sac reduction
- Tightening and toning the décolletage areas of the body (upper chest, neck, face)
- Post-liposuction skin-smoothing treatments
FAT REDUCTION: Unlike weight loss surgery or other non-surgical weight loss procedures, the results with HIFU Body Lipolysis treatments do last, because once the fat cells are destroyed they are gone for good. Even if you don’t weigh less, you’ll be trimmer and your clothes will not only fit and feel better, but you will look better too.
WEIGHT LOSS: When losing weight, your fat cells only become smaller; they will never disappear, the number of cells is still the same. When you gain weight, your fat cells become larger again. After the procedure, the treated areas have fewer fat cells permanently, and unlike what happens with other procedures, there is no change in fat cell distribution in untreated areas.
The treatment can be used in many areas of the body including the stomach, inner and outer thighs, back, love handles, and upper arms, providing there is over 2.6 cm of fat in the targeted area to be treated.
How Does HIFU Treatment Work?
Understand the science behind HIFU treatment and its remarkable skin rejuvenation benefits. Learn how focused ultrasound energy penetrates deep into the skin, stimulating collagen production and lifting sagging tissues for a youthful appearance.
How does it work?
HIFU is the use of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound to permanently destroy fat cells without harming the surface of the skin. It also combines a skin tightening element to the treatment, unlike any other procedure.
During a treatment, the high-intensity focused ultrasound heat targets fat cells. The heat passes through the skin, and these cells beneath the surface are permanently destroyed. The procedure is suitable for both men and women.
During a treatment, high-intensity ultrasound energy is focused on the targeted fat, similar to the way a magnifying glass works. The energy passes through the skin, and the targeted fat beneath the surface is permanently destroyed. Over the next few weeks and months, the body naturally removes the destroyed fat, which is drained to the liver via your natural lymphatic channels and circulation, leaving you with a thinner, more contoured waistline and tighter skin in the treated area.
Before the HIFU treatment
Week before treatment:
- Avoid sun exposure and sunless tanning. Sunburned or tanned skin will not be treated.
- All skin irritants must be stopped (glycolic/salicylic acids, benzoyl peroxide, retinol products such as Retin A, Tazorac, Triluma, Differin, and Vitamin C) on the area being treated.
- Advise staff when taking antibiotics. Certain antibiotics (Tetracycline, Doxycycline) can make a patient photosensitive; therefore, treatment may not be able to be done until two weeks after completion of the antibiotic.
Day before treatment:
Please let the staff know if you have a history of cold sores/fever blisters PRIOR to treatment, so an antiviral medication can be prescribed. Treatment cannot be done if you have an active cold sore or skin infection and will be rescheduled.
During the HIFU treatment
If this is your first treatment, please arrive early to your appointment to take photos and make sure consents are signed. Do not wear any makeup or moisturizers on the area being treated; however, we have cleansers that can be used for you to remove them in the office. If a patient chooses to use a topical numbing (anaesthetic) cream or take an anti-anxiety medication, please arrive 45 minutes prior to treatment. Please purchase the topical anaesthetic PRIOR to treatment from our staff. Instructions will be given to the patient at the time of purchase to ensure proper application. Additionally, if you choose to take an anti-anxiety medication, we suggest that you have someone drive you home after your treatment.
We will first cleanse the target area. The area is then covered with an ultrasound gel. The HIFU device is placed against the skin. Using an ultrasound viewer, we will adjust the device to the right setting. Ultrasound energy is then delivered to the target area in short pulses for roughly 30 to 90 minutes. The device is removed. If additional treatments are needed, you will schedule the next treatment.
While the ultrasound energy is being applied, you might feel heat and tingling. You can take a pain medication if it’s bothersome.
What results can I expect to see and how many do I need?
Excellent results can normally be expected after just one HIFU skin lifting treatment. Additional treatments may be necessary if severe sagging, deep wrinkles, or other serious issues are present. If so, an additional treatment can be administered 8-12 months after the first.
Facts you need to know
- HIFU may not be appropriate for everyone. If your skin is too young for the treatment, you might not see any changes to your skin.
- Some face shapes might not be suitable to undertake a HIFU treatment.
- When the ultrasound waves cause inflammation on our skin tissue, this inflamed tissue will send a signal to our collagen to let it know that the skin needs repairing and healing. Hence, with the help of the HIFU machine’s energy penetrating into the skin, it helps our internal collagen to boost up the speed to heal and repair our inflamed tissue. Through the regeneration process of collagen, it helps the skin to firm and tighten, thus eliminating the wrinkles.
- Usually, one can progressively see results up to 4 months, but some up to 6 months.
- Since the ultrasound beams are focused on a specific area/tissue below the skin’s surface, there are no damages done on the upper layer of the skin. You might see some redness on your skin due to the heat or some swelling, but it will subside rapidly.
- If you are looking for a safe, quick, non-invasive procedure to tighten and lift your skin, HIFU is the best option compared to facelifts and fillers.
Treatment overview
PROCEDURE TIME: Between 1 hour – 1.5 hours
DOWNTIME: None, you are good to go immediately post-treatment.
DURATION OF RESULTS: Long Term
Pre & Post Care
Download Pre & Post Care Instructions HIFU (PDF)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many treatments are needed for effective results?
As noted, excellent results can normally be expected after just one HIFU skin lifting treatment. Additional treatments may be necessary if severe sagging, deep wrinkles, or other serious issues are present. If so, an additional treatment can be administered 8-12 months after the first.
What are the side effects?
Minimal side effects result in some cases as follows:
- Swelling or slight redness may occur, and if so, should quickly subside.
- There may also be a slight sensitivity to touch and light tingling sensation, which can persist in some cases for a few weeks.
- In rare instances, bruising and temporary local numbness may occur. These side effects usually disappear after a few days.
What exactly is the HIFU skin lifting treatment?
The High Intensity Focused Ultrasound therapy is a relatively new cosmetic, skincare procedure. However, many experts find its long-term results to be comparable to the old style, surgical skin lifting techniques, minus the recovery time, discomfort and other risks. It’s safe for all skin types, however, it generally works best for people over 30 with moderate skin conditions. Therefore, if you’d like to firm up and enliven your appearance, please read on as it is indeed possible with HIFU therapy.
How does it work to renew your skin?
The HIFU skin lifting treatment generates and circulates heat using ultrasound waves as directed to stimulate collagen and elastin production. Which in turn lifts and stretches the skin producing a highly visible, revitalizing effect and more youthful appearance. Many of the treatment protocols are backed by the approval of the US FDA, along with countless scientific research studies and case histories, which confirm its positive, long-term results.
Who is suitable for treatment of HIFU on the face?
A suitable candidate is someone who is aged 30+ who has noticed that the skin on their face or neck has become more lax and wishes to lift and tighten the relevant area. For patients in their 30s, it is typically used to stimulate collagen production and hence help delay the ageing process. Patients in their 40s and 50s are the most common age group who have this treatment. It is also suitable for those 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.
What can be treated using HIFU?
- Brow lifting
- Jowl lifting
- Mid face lifting
- Nasolabial fold reduction
- Neck lifting and tightening
- Overall skin tightening and rejuvenation
- Body contouring
- Weight loss
How long until I see results?
Clients may witness some initial effect, but ultimately lifting and firming will take place over approximately 3 months, as collagen is renewed and replaced with new, stronger collagen. As this collagen building process continues, continued improvements can appear for up to 6 months.
Does it hurt?
Most people do not report pain. There can be slight aching over bony areas or a warm sensation in the skin during treatment.
Is it safe?
Thousands of treatments have been performed worldwide using HIFU technology without significant adverse events. In addition, ultrasound energy has been used safely in the field of medicine for more than 50 years.
How long does the treatment take?
Between 30-90 minutes, depending on the area to be treated.
Is there any downtime?
There is normally no downtime or recovery time needed. Most people return to normal activities right away.
Are there any side effects?
There may be slight redness following the treatment. A small amount of patients report swelling, tingling or tenderness to touch. All potential side effects will be discussed by the practitioner prior to treatment.
How much weight can I expect to lose from a single treatment?
Clinical studies and from our own treatment experiences, demonstrate that on average, clients lose up to an inch in the waist circumference (for some, this can mean down one dress size). Some clients have been known to lose more, while others achieved less.
Can I resume my normal activity straight after the treatment?
There is no downtime procedure for body fat reduction. Most of the “recovery” happens unnoticed to the client, therefore there is no need to take time off work or stop your usual regime. We do recommend taking care straight after the procedure and of course not to consume any toxins, caffeine, alcohol and cigarettes and drink plenty of water after the procedure.
If I want to obtain additional fat removal, can I have a second treatment session?
Our clients have been enjoying the improvements with only one treatment. To fully determined improvements from the first treatment we do not recommend another treatment for at least 9 to 12 months afterwards. By that time the second procedure can be planned and customised for better overall results and ensure they have got the most out of their initial treatment before proceeding with another in the same zone.
Is HIFU a good treatment for a small amount of excess fat?
Clients for HIFU must have a minimum of over 2.6 cm of “pinchable or grabbable” fat. If you have less, then your fat layer will be rather thin, and the programmed treatment depth will treat other tissues and not fat. During the consultation, body areas will be examined and measured, and a customised treatment plan established to ensure it is safe and suitable to have the treatment.
What happens to the body fat that HIFU Body Lipolysis removes?
Over the next few weeks & months, the body naturally removes the destroyed fat which is drained to the liver via your natural lymphatic channels and circulation, leaving the client with a thinner, more contoured waistline and tighter skin in the area treated.
Will the fat that has been treated return?
No, the fat cells that are removed through the treatment will not come back, because adults have a limited number of fat cells, whatever is gone will not regenerate. However, the remaining fat cells still can expand and contract, increase in size and decrease in size, depending on many factors such as diet, exercise, genetics, age and use of medications.
