Considering a body or face tightening treatment, such as HIFU Skin Tightening, to rejuvenate your appearance? Understanding the process from start to finish can help you feel more confident and prepared for the journey ahead. Some of the main apprehensions patients have, especially for first-timers, are what to expect, how to prepare, aftercare, and safety.
As technology advances, innovative non-invasive skin tightening treatments have gained popularity for their ability to tighten the skin without surgery. High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is one such treatment that has garnered attention for its remarkable results.
In this blog, we’ll take you through the journey of a HIFU skin tightening treatment from start to finish. We’ll cover what you can expect before, during, and after the procedure. We hope the information below helps to ease any concerns and give you a guideline of what you can expect. If you have questions about HIFU Skin Tightening or want to speak to a skin specialist directly, contact our friendly team in Essex.
Choosing the right Skin Tightening treatment
As you may be aware, many different skin tightening treatments are available for both body and face. There are some invasive procedures that require surgery and some non-invasive methods, both offer exceptional results. Depending on your preference and desired outcome, an experienced practitioner can recommend the right treatment option for you.
Some of the skin-tightening options we offer at our clinic in Essex include RF Microneedling, HIFU Treatment, ClearLift & ClearSkin, and also Non-Invasive Lipo. For this guide, we’ll be focusing on what to expect from HIFU skin tightening, however, our experienced team will be able to help with any questions or information about all skin tightening treatments available at Maldon Skin Clinic.
Before your treatment
Consultation with a skin specialist
The journey begins with a consultation with a certified dermatologist or licensed practitioner. During your initial consultation, you’ll discuss your skin concerns, medical history, and desired outcomes with an experienced skin specialist. Your practitioner will assess whether you’re a suitable candidate for HIFU treatment based on your skin type, condition, and overall health.
You will also have an opportunity to ask any questions about the treatment. An experienced practitioner can answer your queries and give you peace of mind that your treatment will deliver your desired results.
Pre-treatment preparations
There might be specific pre-treatment instructions provided to you during your consultation. These include avoiding the use of skin products containing chemicals for at least a week prior, and if you are taking prescription medicines, make sure your HIFU session is booked at least two weeks after the completion of the prescription.
Your practitioner will guide you through this process, ensuring your desired results are achieved. If you are unsure whether something will impact your results, you must consult your practitioner.
Setting expectations
It’s essential to have realistic expectations about the results you expect to achieve. HIFU is effective for mild to moderate skin sagging and provides consistent noticeable improvements. Each person is different and results can vary from person to person.
Your results will improve for up to 12 weeks following the treatment due to refreshed collagen production. As this treatment is bespoke on a patient-to-patient basis, specific results may vary in length.
During your HIFU Skin Tightening
Warm welcome and final preparations
When you arrive at the clinic, you’ll be welcomed and made to feel comfortable. Your practitioner will provide an opportunity to answer any final questions and talk you through the procedure step by step.
Please allow approximately an hour from start to finish for your treatment. HIFU Treatment length using the Focus Dual device usually takes around 30-60 minutes on average. Specific treatment time is dependent on the size of the area being treated.
Cleansing & applying gel
Once you are settled, the area of the skin being treated is cleansed to remove any makeup, oils, or dirt. This ensures the ultrasound energy is delivered directly to the skin’s targeted layers.
Following your cleanse, a conductive gel will be applied to the treatment area. This gel helps the ultrasound waves penetrate the skin and ensures optimal results.
Applying the HIFU Device (Focus Dual)
At Maldon Skin Clinic, our practitioners use the industry-leading Focus Dual to deliver focused ultrasound energy to the deeper layers of your skin. A sensation of heat will be felt as the energy is delivered to your skin. This is generally well-tolerated by most individuals and should not cause much discomfort if any at all.
Your practitioner will carefully move the device over the treatment area, targeting specific zones that require skin tightening. Treatment with the Focus Dual is highly customisable, allowing the practitioner to address your unique concerns.
After your treatment
Immediately after treatment
You’ll be pleased to know that results are visible the instant you leave the clinic. However, as previously mentioned, your full results will become more apparent over the following weeks as your natural collagen production is stimulated.
Side effects
Side effects of Focus Dual are generally mild and usually include light bruising that lasts up to a week. There may also be slight edema, redness, and mild to moderate tingling or tenderness lasting 3-5 days. Not to worry, this should not affect sleep or everyday activities.
No downtime
One of the key advantages of HIFU is that it’s a non-invasive procedure with minimal downtime. You can typically resume your daily activities immediately after the treatment, with no special recovery measures needed. This is why HIFU has earned the name ‘lunchtime facelift’.
Results & follow-up sessions
Over the next 2 to 3 months, you’ll notice gradual skin tightness and texture improvements. Depending on your goals, you might need a series of sessions for optimal results. We recommend booking follow-up sessions in advance to ensure that you can maintain your results at the right rate and on a day that is suitable for you.
Aftercare for HIFU Skin Tightening
Before you leave the clinic, your practitioner will provide suitable and detailed aftercare instructions, which include things such as avoiding sun exposure, using gentle skincare products, and staying hydrated.
For more information about full aftercare for this treatment, our Aftercare Guide for Skin Boosters is an extremely helpful summary.
Book your HIFU Skin Tightening with an aesthetic skin specialist in Essex
Overall, High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) Skin Tightening is an excellent choice for those who wish to restore skin laxity and prefer a non-surgical approach to tightening skin. Feel confident that you can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines with a non-invasive procedure with outstanding results.
We hope the information above helped you to understand what to expect before, during and after your HIFU Skin Tightening. If you still have questions about this treatment or any other, please get in touch with our friendly team.