HIFU can be used almost anywhere skin laxity shows on the face: it can lift the brow and smooth forehead lines, tighten the delicate skin around the eyes, firm the mid-cheek and soften nasolabial folds, refine the jawline and jowls, and contour the sub-mental/under-chin area—and many clinicians extend treatment just below the mandible onto the upper neck to complete the tightening effect.

A cool ultrasound gel is applied to the skin first, soothes the skin's surface and allows for the conductions of the ultrasound energy. The handpiece is applied to the skin and delivers several highly focused shots of ultrasound energy into the skin. This can feel a little uncomfortable in certain areas, such as the forehead, but is not generally described as painful. It is more often described as a dull toothache in the skin that settles within a few minutes.

Like any medical intervention, there are potential risks associated with having a HIFU treatment; however, most are mild, such as pinkness to the skin for a few hours and a minor sensitivity. As part of your consultation with us, you will be advised on these in more detail before proceeding with any treatment. Our team expertise and experience mean that we can assist you with side effects should you experience them. You should plan your treatments around social events in case you experience any effects that could affect your appearance, such as bruising. You will be given our out-of-hours mobile telephone number if you require urgent advice.

This is one of the most common questions we are asked, and the answer is no; it is very unlikely to happen unless we specifically want fat to break down, such as reducing fat from under the chin. The original technologies that used HIFU were often provided by poorly trained aestheticians and medical professionals with too aggressive devices, often requiring sedation during the procedure. The Ultraformer III and Ulfit could not be further away from that original technology, allowing us to customise treatments to individual patients’ facial shaping, ageing and fat in the face. We can treat at a variety of depths so that we can keep away from important facial fat structures, keeping within the SMAS and dermis yet targeting areas of fat that require reducing, all with minimal discomfort.

Many patients will see a good improvement in skin laxity and tightening after only one treatment; however, some people will require further treatment three months later. Body contouring may require three treatments for maximum contouring and fat reduction. You can have a maximum of three treatments on the face in a 2-year period.

The results of HIFU take up to 3 months to develop, during which time your skin and/or body will evolve.

The effect of duration can vary from person to person and depends on the degree of skin ageing. Treatment results can last up to 2 years and deteriorate at the rate of ageing. Therefore we do recommend an annual treatment to maintain. Fat contouring is considered permanent; however, lifestyle will also affect how long the effects will last.

Yes, although these will be discussed in greater detail during your appointment:

-Making a conscious effort to stay hydrated and eating a healthy diet to support your body in its regeneration. Below are some collagen a skin-boosting foods that may be useful:

• Water: Drinking 2 litres of water today helps flush post-treatment thermal injury toxins from building within the tissues and assists with healthy skin function and hydration.

• Antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables: As a natural consequence of inflammation from surgery, the body will temporarily produce higher levels of free radicals. You can help combat this and support oxidative balance by eating more antioxidant-rich foods such as spinach, kale and other leafy green vegetables, along with fruits like strawberries, blueberries and blackberries.

• Vitamin A-rich foods: Vitamin A is essential for epidermal (skin) growth, aiding in the reproduction and differentiation of cells. It’s also an immune-booster and anti-inflammatory nutrient. Vitamin A-rich foods include kale, spinach, beet greens and other leafy greens, carrots, and squash.

• Vitamin C-rich foods: You may already know that vitamin C promotes collagen synthesis. During wound healing, it also plays an additional role in helping to stabilise the structure of collagen. And on top of this, vitamin C boosts your immune function, sending in special immune cells that can assist with the wound healing process. Vitamin C-rich foods include bell peppers, citrus fruits, tomatoes and tomato juice, mustard, spinach, broccoli, kale, parsley, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower.

-Avoid UV sun exposure for 2 weeks after treatment, and wear a daily sun protectant with a broad spectrum SPF 30 or above.

Your skin will gradually return to its natural state for your age and quality of skin.