What Is HIFU?

At Omniya Clinic in London

HIFU stands for high-intensity focused ultrasound. This is a fairly new cosmetic treatment, which offers effective skin tightening. Many people are turning to HIFU as a painless and non-invasive alternative to facelifts. With this treatment, the production of collagen is encouraged through the use of ultrasound energy. This results in skin that is a lot firmer. You will be able to get that youthful, radiant, and slim-looking face you dream about without having to go under the knife.

HIFU has been used for aesthetic purposes for around a decade now. However, you may have heard of HIFU before because it has actually been used for tumor treatment. In 2009 it was approved by the FDA for brow lifts. A few years later, the FDA approved this treatment for improving wrinkles and lines of the neckline and upper chest. So, you can be sure that it is a safe and effective treatment.

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What To Consider Before A HIFU Treatment

There are a number of things you should do before the treatment in order to ensure the best possible results! We recommend avoiding sunless tanning and sun exposure for a week before the treatment. You must also stop taking all skin irritants on the area being treated. This includes the likes of Vitamin C, Differin, Triluma, Tazorac, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, glycolic acids, and retinal products, like Retin A.

If you are taking any antibiotics, make sure your practitioner is made aware of this during the consultation. We always start every treatment with a consultation, as this enables our specialist to assess your skin and make their recommendations. It is also the perfect opportunity for you to ask any questions that you may have.

On the day of your treatment, it is good to arrive to your appointment early so that you can sign the consent form and take any pre-photos should you wish to. You should also make sure you do not wear any moisturiser or makeup on the day. However, if you forget about this, don’t worry, as we will have a cleanser in the office so you can remove the products before your treatment.

What Does The HIFU Treatment Involve?

There is no special preparation that is going to be required of you before you have your HIFU procedure, however, we advise that all skincare products and makeup are removed from the target area before you have the treatment, though.

The procedure is pretty straightforward and as it is delivered by highly knowledgeable and experienced clinicians, we are sure you will be delighted with the results. After your treatment is completed, we can also schedule you in for your next treatment should you need another one.

Here’s what you should expect from your appointment:

  • Your specialist will clean the target area.
  • A topical anaesthetic cream will be applied before the procedure begins.
  • The practitioner will then apply an ultrasound gel.
  • The HIFU device is placed against the skin.
  • The person carrying out the treatment will then adjust the device to the correct setting.
  • Ultrasound energy will then be delivered to the target area in short pulses for anything between 30 and 90 minutes.
  • The device is removed.

Am I The Right Candidate For A Treatment?

HIFU is highly effective, yet it could be that a different treatment is right for you. It all depends on the current condition of your skin and your skin goals. Our highly experienced practitioners will be able to assess your skin and make expert recommendations on the right treatment for you.

HIFU is most effective on skin that has become somewhat loose, yet is not extremely loose. It can tighten skin, but it will not tighten skin that has sagged severely. The best thing to do is book a consultation with one of our experienced skin specialists who will be able to give you their expert advice on what treatment is going to be best for you.

With HIFU, the focused ultrasound energy will target the collagen in the skin’s deeper layers, heating it the point that it will contract and tighten. This heat will boost new elastin and collagen formation over the next few months. This is what will really tighten up the skin.

As you probably know, people respond in different ways to aesthetic treatments. This is why it is always best to see a professional and choose a clinic with care. This is something you don’t have to worry about with Omniya.

What Does HIFU Feel Like?

You may encounter a little discomfort while you have this procedure, yet you should not feel any pain. A lot of our patients have described it as a slight prickly sensation. Once you have had the treatment, it is not unusual to experience a bit of swelling or mild redness. This will recede gradually over the next few hours.

The Perfect’Me Machine

Whilst there are many different types of HIFU machines on the market today, we are pleased to partner with Perfect’Me. We believe that their machines are the best in the industry. They are great for skin rejuvenation, skin tightening, and collagen remodelling. We have found their machines to be extremely safe, and have been tested to ISO 13485 medical device standards. The device works in a similar manner to using a magnifying glass to focus sunlight. An acoustic lens is used so that multiple intersecting beams of ultrasound are concentrated on the target skin area. Each individual beam will pass through the tissue with little effect yet on the focal point where the beams converge.

How Long Before I See Results?

With HIFU, highly concentrated ultrasound waves will penetrate deep into the skin, stimulating elastin and collagen. You can see around 20 per cent of the final results straight after the treatment. From three to six months onwards, the final result is visible, and this can last for up to two years depending on your lifestyle.