Some of us may have found ourselves doing this in front of the bathroom mirror on more than one occasion …….. Just a little lift upwards to redefine that jawline, get rid of the jowls, tighten the “turkey’ neck and defy the laws of gravity and the ageing process.
Unfortunately, as our skin ages it looses its collagen (the “scaffolding” of the skin) and its ability to effectively produce more, creating a change in its laxity and structure. But if the thought of heading for surgery is too extreme to consider than advanced technology has provided a solution.
HIFU – High Intensity Focused Ultrasound
The Non-Surgical Facelift.
This technology is superior and unique compared to other pre-existing skin tightening treatments due to its ability to penetrate the dermis and the SMAS – Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System.
SMAS is a fan shaped structure which sits between the muscles and the fat within the face- it is the actual area a plastic surgeon would pull and tighten during a surgical facelift.
HIFU stimulates the deep structural support layers of the skin without damaging the surface of the skin.
The Science
HIFU uses multiple beams of ultrasound – individually these beams have no effect on the tissue. However, when these beams converge to a focal point it produces an immediate rise of thermal energy. Heating the tissue below the surface causes it to contract and tighten, whilst forming new collagen fibres.
Heating up the tissues below the surface of the skin to the optimal temperature for neocollagenesis – a natural component of wound repair – this inflammation produces increased fibroblast stimulation and collagen deposits.
This treatment also triggers the body’s own natural healing process, in which new collagen is formed to tighten and lift sagging skin.
Following the treatment, the skin starts to undergo a wound healing process that stimulates collagen synthesis and regeneration – unlike lasers, radio frequency, surgery and other cosmetic procedures. HIFU bypasses the surface of the skin to deliver the right amount of ultrasound energy at the right depths within the skin at the desired temperatures.
The Treatment
During your HIFU consultation we will perform a patch test, enabling clients to feel the treatment and assess the ultrasound level and ensure that no adverse reactions occur. This is completed 48 hours prior to treatment.
For the treatment appointment, it will start with face mapping. We draw and measure specific areas on the face which will be treated and avoided. There are specific areas which we do not treat on the face due to the nerve structure beneath the skin.
Once this has been completed, ultrasound gel is applied to the treatment areas. We use 3 different types of cartridges treating different depths within the skin depending on the area of the face:
1.5mm directly to the epidermis to treat fine lines and wrinkles.
3.0mm dermis layer – activates the process of collagen production and regeneration
4.5mm targets the SMAS – a natural response under the skin to enter into the thermal coagulation zone
Each Ultrasound “shot” is delivered to the skin at 1mm distances, ensuring that the whole of the structure is targeted and treated. Some older and cheaper machines have treatment distance spacing at 3mm and 5mm – however this does not provide enough thermal energy within the structure of the skin to ensure a consistent and beneficial result.
What to expect
HIFU is a one off treatment, some clients can see an immediate lifting effect but over the course of the next 3 – 6 months as the collagen fibres reorganise and restructure themselves will be when the real benefits will be seen. Results last between 12 – 36 months depending on the clients’ current skin laxity and age.
Discomfort levels vary from client to client – there is no downtime, allowing clients to resume daily activities immediately after treatment – most clients tolerate the procedure well – clients with a lower pain threshold can take paracetamol or ibuprofen prior to treatment if they wish to do so.
In some cases clients can experience mild redness, swelling and tenderness which will subside over the next 10 days post treatment.
Pricing
HIFU Consultation £50 (*redeemable against treatment)
Full Face and Neck £900
Full Face £800
Lower Face and Neck £750
Lower Face £600
Upper Face £350
20% off all treatments booked in January and February 2020.
(T&C’s Apply when booking offers)