High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is a non-invasive technique to significantly & safely tighten and contour aging skin. At City Laser Clinic, we use the medical grade & TGA-approved Ulfit HIFU technology. We have chosen this device as it allows us to use Micro Focused Ultrasound AND Macro Focused Circular Ultrasound (7D HIFU).
Macro, micro, what?
Let me try and break it down for you! The micro and macro ultrasounds have different purposes. The micro-focused ultrasound targets the upper layers of the skin. This allows it to focus on stimulating collagen and therefore strengthening & tightening the skin. Whereas the macro-focused ultrasound targets the deeper layers of the skin (where our fat lives!). The macro focused ultrasound is what allows us to target and melt any unwanted fat. By using both micro & macro ultrasounds together, we can melt fat whilst preventing any sagging.
How Ulfit HIFU Works
As mentioned earlier, HIFU uses ultrasound to treat stubborn fat & skin laxity. More specifically, the Ulfit HIFU device uses 65-75°C of HIFU to target your specific area of concern. This temperature will cause skin coagulation to the targeted tissue and trigger your skin to stimulate a wound healing response. The wound healing has three separate phases which all contribute to the breakdown of fat and tightening of the skin. These phases are:
- Inflammation Phase – Red, hot, slightly swollen skin which occurs immediately post treatment and lasts up to 48 hours.
- Proliferative Phase – From the third day until the 6th week after the treatment. This will cause a rapid production of new skin cells & break the tissue into small particles. Consequently causing the wounded cells to contract, and stimulate collagen synthesis.
- The third and final stage of the wound healing process is the remodelling phase. During this stage, the collagen fibres are strengthening and rearranging themselves. This rearrangement causes the skin to visibly lift and tighten, and the fat layer is reduced.
Whilst this might sound intense, you won’t require a numbing cream or any skin preparation. You will also receive an instant as well as ongoing result.
What Can Ulfit HIFU Treat?
Ulfit HIFU can treat most areas on the face and body that stores excess fat and where loss of elasticity is most common. These areas include:
- Forehead and Periorbital
- Eyebrows
- Wrinkles
- Cheek, jowl line and v-line
- Chin and double chin
- Décolletage
- Back and flanks
- Abdomen
- Inner and outer thighs
Treating Body Versus Face
Whilst it is exciting that we can tighten stretched skin and rid stubborn, unwanted fat, it is not favourable for everyone on all areas of the body. Many of us would be happy to lose volume on locations such as inner & outer thighs, stomach, and back of our arms. However not our face!
Volume in the face is responsible for that youthful, rejuvenated, & glowing appearance which many of us strive for and would not want to remove.
The Ulfit HIFU allows us to target specific areas by allowing us to change the cartridges (and therefore depth) for each area. Controlling the depth of the HIFU is important in order to target what we would like to alter in the skin. For example, a 6mm depth is used to reach the subcutaneous layer of the skin to specifically target fat cells. However if we want rejuvenate the skin without losing volume, we would use a maximum of 4.5mm which will be able to focus on firming and lifting the skin whilst retaining the volume. Through the varying changeable cartridges, we can achieve a non-surgical face lift, AKA the Hollywood facial!
HIFU vs Radiofrequency (RF) Microneedling
You may have heard that skin lifting, and tightening can be achieved with RF Microneedling. Whilst this is true, RF Microneedling cannot achieve the same results as HIFU. This is because the results of the treatments are achieved by the amount of heat exerted into the skin. HIFU can deliver temperatures of 65-75 degrees Celsius, whilst RF Microneedling can only deliver temperatures of up to 40-42 degrees Celsius.
To put this into perspective, imagine a hot piece of steak. When you place the steak onto a preheated pan, it begins to constrict and shrink. The hotter the pan is, the faster and more it will constrict. In a similar way, when we deliver heat into the deeper layers of our skin, our skin will constrict – leaving us with tightened, lifted skin. As HIFU delivers more heat, you can expect more efficient results.
However, RF Microneedling can also help with a range of skin concerns that HIFU doesn’t address. For example, in conjunction with skin tightening & reducing fine lines & wrinkles, it assists with acne scarring, stretch mark reduction, pore reduction and uneven skin texture. Therefore, if you have other skin concerns other than fine lines, wrinkles, fat reduction, and skin tightening, RF Microneedling may be a better alternative for you. You may also have both treatments done, at different sittings.
A [free] initial consultation is recommended prior to any skin therapy treatment. In your initial consultation, we will assess your skin concerns and discuss your treatment options. We are happy to help you weigh up your treatment options and answer any questions you may have to establish which treatment will best suit you and your needs. To arrange a consultation, click here, or call us on (02) 9232 8090.
