Technology guide
HIFU, the non-surgical lift
High-intensity focused ultrasound heats precise points beneath the skin to tighten the facial contour, neck and décolleté, with no injections or scalpel.
What is HIFU?
HIFU stands for High Intensity Focused Ultrasound. The ultrasound energy is concentrated beneath the skin, at 1.5, 3 or 4.5 mm depending on the protocol, without damaging the epidermis. It is a non-invasive technique that leaves no marks or scars.
Which clients is it for?
Women and men, often from the age of 30, who notice laxity, wrinkles, sagging cheeks or jowls, and want to redefine the facial contour and firm the neck and chin. Some beauty therapists also use it for the eye area and brow lifting.
How does the ultrasound work?
At the focal points, the temperature briefly exceeds 47°C and creates small coagulation zones that are regenerated by new, more elastic tissue. The surrounding tissues do not heat up. The action is mechanical (contraction and collagen stimulation), cavitational and thermal at the same time.
And for the body: LipoHIFU
Fitted with a dedicated handpiece, some devices use focused ultrasound on abdominal fat to reduce waist size and firm the skin of the body.
Sensations and side effects
Most clients describe a sensation of heat that is somewhat unpleasant but not painful; you adjust the settings if necessary. Redness, slight tenderness, tingling or slight swelling may appear and disappear within two to three days.
How a session unfolds
Cleansing, marking the areas to be treated and those to avoid (jawline, Adam's apple, navel, nerve pathways), choosing the head and settings, then delivering the ultrasound shots. Allow 20 to 45 minutes for the face and 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes for a body area.
After the session
The client resumes her activities. She protects her skin and avoids the sun for a week; laser and radiofrequency are not advised for 15 days.
Results and number of sessions
An effect is visible from the session itself and improves gradually, fully after about 12 weeks: tighter skin, a better-defined facial contour, softened wrinkles on the neck and décolleté. Two to three sessions are usually needed, followed by two to three maintenance sessions a year.