HIFU
TREATMENT EXPLANATION
How Does It Work?
The HIFU heats the skin up to 60-70 degrees and penetrates deeper and will induce more coagulation and activate the skin’s natural healing process which stimulates tissue and collagen remodelling for the lifting and tightening effect where wrinkle and sagging skin is more pronounced.
Ultraformer III is a non- invasive, face lifting and tightening, body tightening and contouring device that delivers uniform ultrasound energy to induce thermal coagulation in the face and contraction in the tissue.
Ultraformer III range of cartridges and its functions includes: Micro-Focused Ultrasound Cartridges for facial lifting and tightening, generating heat into the dermal and SMAS layers to stimulate collagen renewal.
Micro-Focused Ultrasound Cartridges for body tightening and contouring transferring heat into subcutaneous tissue to induce contractions and dispose of stubborn fat cells.
Individual results may vary.
What To Expect During And After Ultraformer ||| Treatment
A consultation will be conducted before the treatment to perform a comprehensive skin assessment and address any potential contraindications.
Your practitioner will usually begin HIFU facial rejuvenation by cleaning the chosen area of the face and applying a gel. Then, they use a handheld device that emits the ultrasound waves in short bursts. Each session typically lasts 30-90 minutes. During the treatment you will feel warm pulses of ultrasound energy being delivered deep under the skin, causing the collagen and tissue layers to contract. Some people may find this uncomfortable depending on the pain sensitivity level of each individual, the area to be treated and the size of the area to be treated.
During your consultation the practitioner will check your skin and will be able to advise on the amount of treatments needed for a desired result. Most of the time (for the face and neck) you only need 1 treatment, and the results last for up to 1-2 years, others may need one full face session and a few months after may want a top up session on the expression areas to maintain the result. For severe laxity, 2 treatments in the first 6 months is recommended, and maintenance treatments every 12-24 months after that.
The full effect of the treatment generally takes around 12 weeks. Many clients may only require one treatment. However, everyone’s skin is different and some people may require multiple treatments to get the desired effects.
PRE TREATMENT ADVICE:
- Avoid injectables 4 weeks in or near treatment areas before treatment
Avoid any facial peels 4 weeks before treatment - Avoid microdermabrasion 2 weeks before treatment
- Avoid having any laser treatments on the area 2 weeks before treatment
- Avoid sun exposure 2 weeks before treatment (sunburned or tanned skin will not be treated)
- Avoid skin care containing active ingredients 7 days before treatment 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 go ahead until two weeks after completion of antibiotic; treatment can not be done if you have an active cold sore or skin infection and will be rescheduled
- On the day of the treatment do not wear any make-up or moisturisers on the area being treated
POST HIFU TREATMENT ADVICE:
- Avoid using tweezers, waxes, depilatory creams on area for 7 days
- Don’t laser the treated area for min 2 weeks
- Don’t exfoliate the skin for 7 days
- Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours
- Avoid skin care containing active ingredients 14 days after treatment (i.e. Vitamin A, Vitamin C, chemical peels, AHA’s and BHA’s)
- Avoid hot baths, steam rooms and massage for 24 hours; avoid sun exposure for 2 weeks
- Apply SPF 30 daily (best with Zinc Oxide) – if the skin feels hot or sensitive, apply also aloe vera
- Drink plenty of water and Vitamin C to assist with healing
- A review of your progress is recommended after 6-12 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions:
You may feel a slight sensation of energy being delivered to precise depths. This indicates that the process of collagen building has been initiated. While the comfort levels may vary from person to person, it’s worth noting that this sensation only lasts for the duration of the ultrasound energy delivery.
HIFU has been used safely in over 250,000 treatments worldwide, and ultrasound energy has been safely used in the medical field for over 50 years.
The frequency of HIFU treatments will depend on several individual factors, such as skin condition, treatment area, and desired results. Most people may experience visible improvements after just one session, the results are not permanent due to natural ageing processes. As a result, some individuals opt for maintenance treatments every 12 months.
After a single HIFU treatment, immediate results can be seen, with continuous improvement over the next 6 months due to stimulated collagen production. This unique characteristic makes HIFU a long-lasting solution, with results that can last up to 2 years, depending on individual lifestyles. Most people only need 1-3 HIFU sessions.
It’s advisable to wait 3 to 6 months before scheduling another HIFU treatment to assess the need for additional sessions. This allows for a comprehensive evaluation of whether further treatments are necessary, as the full impact of the previous treatment may take up to 12 weeks to become fully apparent.
What makes HIFU different is its continuous enhancement of results, particularly at the 6-month mark, due to the internal inflammatory response that triggers collagen production without visible swelling. As time progresses, the body’s collagen production continues to rise, explaining why results not only endure but often exceed expectations long after the final procedure.
A 6-12 week review is scheduled after your treatment where “before” and “after” pictures will be compared.
Risks And Potential Side Effects From Ultraformer III Treatment
- Your skin may appear red for a few hours after HIFU treatment and this typically resolves within a few hours of treatment.
- Edema (swelling) the treated area may exhibit mild edema and typically resolves within a week.
- Soreness & slight pain of the skin (with pressure) or constant discomfort disappears after 2-4 weeks.
- Scaring: In rare cases, HIFU facelift treatment can cause scarring, which can be permanent. This occurs when the skin’s natural healing process is disrupted, leading to the formation of scars.
- Nerve effects: Transient local muscle weakness may result after treatment due to the inflammation of the motor nerve. Transient numbness may result after treatment due to inflammation of the sensory nerve. Transient pain and burning, tingling or prickling sensation may be experienced. Temporary loss of sensitivity of some skin areas can last 5-7 days. No permanent injuries to facial nerves have been reported.
- You may experience temporary mild bruising caused by damage to soft tissue blood vessels that may occur occasionally and typically resolves within a few days.
- Welts (hives) might appear for a few days after treatment
- As with any heat based treatment, there is a slight risk of burning the skin which can lead to scabbing.
- Hyper-pigmentation. While rare, this is a side effect that is potentially permanent. Hyper-pigmentation causes the skin to change colour and become darker. Although we have never experienced this before with any of our clients, nor heard of this happening with any aestheticians we know, we still need to make our clients aware that is still an incredibly rare yet possible risk with HIFU.
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