5 things to know before your first HIFU treatment Newcastle

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The HIFU Face Treatment

HIFU – high-intensity focused ultrasound – is a popular non-invasive skin-tightening treatment that is an affordable and painless alternative to surgical procedures.

If you’re new to HIFU you might have lots of questions about how it works and what to expect at your treatment sessions. In this blog, we’ll outline five key things you need to know before getting your first HIFU treatment Newcastle.

1. HIFU is clinically proven to be safe and effective

With any non-surgical cosmetic procedure, the results can vary from client to client and practitioners cannot guarantee how dramatic the results of HIFU will be. However, HIFU is clinically proven to be effective after being the subject of several studies. One determined that skin elasticity improved significantly 12 weeks after treatment with HIFU. Another determined that HIFU led to an 80% improvement in the skin of the face and neck, and participants reported a 78% satisfaction rate.

HIFU is clinically proven to be safe, too. There are no serious side effects associated with the procedure. Some people experience some discomfort following the treatment but this passes relatively quickly. One study determined that 25.3% of participants experienced pain after having HIFU treatment but the pain improved without any additional interventions. The HIFU device we use here at RT Aesthetics is FDA and CE cleared as a safe and effective treatment for overall skin tightening.

2. It takes time to see the results of HIFU

Unlike some cosmetic procedures which provide almost immediate results, HIFU takes time. Many clients report that the procedure leaves their skin feeling tighter and more toned right away, but the real improvements come gradually as the body works to produce new collagen and tissue regeneration occurs. This process takes place over three to six months after the treatment has been administered.

If you’re looking for a rapid fix for lax skin, don’t rely on HIFU. However, the time it takes to see results is worth it for the long-lasting effects. Many clients find that the results of HIFU last for up to three months with no need to return for repeat treatments during this time. Compared to injectable treatments like Botox and fillers, which require top-ups every few months to maintain results, HIFU is a once-and-done procedure that will rejuvenate your skin for several years.

3. You’ll probably only need one HIFU treatment

Most people only require a single HIFU treatment session. The procedure takes between one and three hours depending on the areas being treated and the severity of skin laxity. The results will appear gradually and last for two to three years depending on your skin’s natural ageing process.

In some cases, and if skin laxity is particularly severe, it can be helpful to have one additional treatment around eight to twelve weeks after the first. Some clients choose to have short touch-up treatments on an annual basis to keep pace with the natural ageing process. It’s important to keep in mind that while HIFU boosts collagen production and regenerates the skin tissues, the skin will naturally begin to sag once again because that’s what happens as we age. Periodic HIFU top-ups can help to slow the skin’s natural ageing process and keep it as firm as possible for as long as possible.

4. You have to prepare your skin for the procedure

Most cosmetic treatments require at least a little preparation to minimise the risk of adverse reactions and make sure the procedure achieves the best possible results. The same goes for HIFU. Before your appointment, you should avoid facial peels for four weeks and microdermabrasion for two weeks. Exfoliation or chemical peels should be avoided for a week before treatment, and you shouldn’t use any active skincare products for five days before. Avoid direct UV exposure for at least one week before the procedure, and do not drink alcohol for 48 hours before. All of this will help to minimise discomfort and inflammation of the skin.

We also advise our clients to increase their water intake in readiness for HIFU. Aim to drink at least 1.5 litres more water each day. This increased intake should continue after the treatment too to help your body to respond as best as possible and give you optimal results. Drinking plenty of water is good for the skin and body in general so increasing your hydration will help you to look and feel your very best.

5. Multiple areas can be treated in a single session

HIFU works incredibly well to lift the skin on various areas of the face and body, and you can have more than one area treated at once. You might have an area of laxity which you feel is worse than all others and treating this single area might be enough to help you look and feel more youthful and confident. However, many clients choose to make the most of their treatment session by targeting multiple areas at once. You can chat with your practitioner about your concerns in your initial consultation so that they can advise which areas are best suited to HIFU and come up with a suitable treatment plan.

The most popular areas that clients have treated are the forehead, the eyebrows, the area around the eyes, the cheeks, the jowls and chin, and the neck. HIFU can help to lift skin on the brow area and reduce frown lines, and when combined with treatment for crow’s feet it can make the eyes look brighter and more awake. Many people like the way that HIFU can help to define the jawline by tackling sagging jowls and double chins. It’s also possible to have HIFU applied to the neck and décolletage which are telltale signs of ageing.

Arrange a consultation for HIFU treatment Newcastle

Interested in getting HIFU treatment Newcastle? Get in touch to arrange a free consultation with one of our HIFU practitioners.