Hifu Facial | What is Hifu Facial and How Does It Work

Have you ever heard of a hifu facial? If you're a fan of skin rejuvenating procedures, it may be high time you asked your dermatologist about hifu.

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How to Look Younger with a Hifu Facial

What Is a Hifu Facial?

A hifu facial is a type of facial rejuvenation procedure that may help lessen the appearance of wrinkles in your face and decolletage.

Hifu is short for high-intensity focused ultrasound, a treatment that was originally used to destroy prostate cancer cells. But in 2008, White and others repurposed the technology to boost collagen production and tighten tissue. It was the first time ever that that high-intensity focused ultrasound was used as a facial rejuvenation procedure.

The treatment then received FDA approval for brow lifting. And in 2014, it was cleared for tightening areas along your neckline and upper chest.

But how is this cancer treatment supposed to make you look younger?

How Does It Work?

Collagen is often described as one of the key building blocks of your skin. They're in charge of keeping your skin elastic and bouncy—hallmarks of youthful skin.

Unfortunately, as we age, we produce less and less collagen. This contributes to the formation of wrinkles and fine lines.

What a hifu facial does is it reaches into your skin's dermis layer and stimulates your skin to produce collagen via ultrasound. The collagen in your skin may help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, essentially turning back the clock.

How Do You Prepare for It?

Unlike most procedures, there's no real need to prepare for a hifu facial.

You do not need to save an entire day for the treatment.

One procedure may take up to an hour. And depending on your skin's condition, it may take a few sessions to get the results you want.

And as it is non-invasive, you don't have to worry about marks or scars.

Ultrasound therapy emits heat, so you may feel some discomfort or pain. If you're worried about the pain, you may want to take a pain killer before the procedure. Some clinics apply a local anesthetic to make the experience more comfortable for you.

If you have a low tolerance for pain, make sure to consult with a doctor before signing up for the procedure! It is also possible that a hifu facial isn't the best route for you. (But more on that later!)

It's important to note that this treatment isn't a cure-all for wrinkles and aging skin. It could take up to 3-6 months before you notice any changes. The effects of this procedure are temporary, so you may need to return to the clinic after a year.

However, it costs much less than cosmetic surgery and has far fewer side effects.

How Much Does a Hifu Facial Cost?

The procedure may cost around $1700. And depending on the condition of your skin, you may need to do it once yearly. While it won't leave any marks and does not involve any downtime, keep in mind that it is not permanent either.

A surgical facelift could cost thousands of dollars, but its effects would last up to 10 years. However, it involves going under the knife and is a major procedure. The surgery could last up to four hours and recovery could take weeks.

There are pros and cons to getting any kind of procedure done.

A hifu facial is only one of the options and may not be the best procedure for you. However, it is important to note that there is no best procedure. The most effective treatment varies case by case.

Before you book an appointment, ask your doctor if this is the right treatment for you.

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What Are the Benefits of Getting a Hifu Facial?

Ultrasound therapy is popular because it's safe (even FDA-approved!), effective, and non-invasive.

One session in the doctor's office only takes approximately an hour to complete. And after your session, you can go about your day-to-day activities with no downtime at all.

And because it does not physically alter your skin and only stimulates the collagen that improves the appearance of your skin, you can expect the results to look natural!

According to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, non-surgical facial rejuvenation procedures like ultrasound may:

• reduce mild jowling (sagging skin along the jawline)
• tighten the neck
• rejuvenate sagging brows or eyelids
• smooth facial wrinkles and folds
• smooth and tighten chest skin (skin along the neckline and decolletage)

However, they also note that significantly sagging, jowling or wrinkled skin may be better suited for facial cosmetic surgery. Surgery is also a more permanent solution, whereas non-surgical treatments may only last up to a year.

One study suggests that high-intensity focused ultrasound may also have a place in fat reduction. However, there are not many studies on this and we will need more evidence.

What Are the Potential Side Effects and Risks of a Hifu Facial?

The best part of getting a hifu facial is that there are barely any risks or side effects.

But let's go over some of the things you may or may not encounter after your procedure.

Some may experience some mild swelling or redness.

There were also some reported cases of bruising and purpura, but these were mild and temporary.

If you're worried about potential side effects, discuss with your doctor what you can do to minimize the effects. And while in most cases, people can walk out of the doctor's office post-treatment and go on with their daily tasks, you may want to set aside an entire afternoon for this.

Who Should Get a Hifu Facial?

If you have an hour and enough cash to spare, you might be a candidate for a facial.

However, it's important to note that the hifu facial is for those dealing with mild cases of fine lines and wrinkles. If you're in your 30s or 40s, you could be an ideal candidate for a facial.

Ultrasound therapy may not be effective against more serious or significant cases of wrinkles and jowling. It is not intended to improve hyperpigmentation either. So far, in addition to treating prostate cancer, high-intensity focused ultrasound may only help improve the appearance of fine lines.

Watch this video from Dr. Ranil Dajani for a comparison of hifu vs RF:

Skincare is a preventive step. It cannot turn back time and may not be effective enough to bring the bounce in your skin. Going under the knife is too expensive, and for many, too scary!

A hifu facial is a great alternative treatment to lessen the sag and tighten your skin. It's a safe and effective form of facial rejuvenation. And best of all, it's FDA-approved!

Are you on board with hifu facials? Are you ready to set an appointment with your dermatologist? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!

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