Sagging Face and Jowls or a Double Chin? Which is Better – Ultherapy or HIFU?
At b clinic, we understand that no two faces are the same. It’s the reason we tailor bespoke, personalised treatment plans to address client’s individual needs, especially non-surgical facial rejuvenation and contouring. Two popular treatments we’re comparing today are Ultherapy and HIFU.
Reality Check
Honesty is the best policy in life. We want to be clear that no non-surgical treatment benefits can make you look 30 years younger. That being said, people who are unhappy with heaviness and/or jowls in the lower face may find Ultherapy or HIFU an ideal option to:
- Improve facial contours, including jawline definition
- Reduce heaviness in the lower face
- Reduce the appearance of jowls in the lower face
- Reduce the appearance of a double chin
Ultherapy – The Basics
At b clinic, we have been treating our clients with Ultherapy successfully for the last 7 years. It is a non-invasive skin treatment that penetrates deep into your skin to trigger the production of collagen and elastin.
Heat is the science behind Ultherapy. The treatment harnesses the power of micro-focused ultrasound waves (MIFU) to generate a thermal effect. This, in turn, galvanises your body’s natural ability to create collagen and elastin. As you already know, collagen and elastin production slows as we age, leaving skin weak and less elastic.
Real Imaging is a Real Plus in Ultherapy
Ultherapy is prized for its ability to go deeper than other skin rejuvenation treatments and provides visible benefits … and in a single treatment too! Another standout benefit to Ultherapy is its use of real-time imaging. This game-changing improvement enables our treating practitioners at b clinic to visualise dermal and subdermal tissue layers. This improved imaging means your practitioner can deliver treatment energy to areas that need it most.
The final results of an Ultherapy treatment are achieved after 3-6 months. You may see some gradual improvements over this period as the body produces more collagen and elastin.
Common Side Effects of Ultherapy Facial Skin Tightening
Millions of Ultherapy treatments have been performed successfully. Side effects are rare and temporary and may include:
- Skin redness
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Tingling
An Introduction to High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)
Originally developed for medical purposes, High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) joined the field of aesthetic tools in 2008. Since then, it has been a popular treatment for stimulating collagen and lifting tissues. It is similar to Ultherapy but different in several significant ways.
An important thing you should know about HIFU is that it does not provide practitioners with real-time imaging and visualisation. It is known as a blind treatment. In some cases, this can mean decreased safety and inconsistent results. As the layer being treated is not seen, there is an increased risk of heating or damaging important structures (bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels).
Like Ultherapy, HIFU uses ultrasound energy to heat the skin. The difference is that HIFU triggers cellular damage in the tissue just beneath the skin’s surface rather than the deeper layers reached by Ultherapy. HIFU is often recommended to younger patients whose skin laxity is mild.
Who Wins in HIFU vs Ultherapy? YOU!
You may be wondering why we haven’t pointed to which of these two treatments is better. Better means something different to everyone we treat:
- HIFU is often recommended to younger patients whose skin laxity is mild.
- Ultherapy is generally a better option for mature patients who have skin laxity because it can do deeper with real-time imaging, and better results can be achieved.
Another consideration is cost. Ultherapy treatments generally begin at $900 for a neck treatment or just under $2000 for a lower face treatment, with only one treatment being required. Facial rejuvenation with HIFU averages from $950 to $2800, with three treatments being required.
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Common Side Effects of HIFU Skin Treatment
HIFU treatments are generally well-tolerated by patients. Common short-term complaints include:
- Blotchy skin
- Swelling
- Numbness
- Hyperpigmentation
Caution: Know Your HIFU and Your Practitioner
There are several brands of HIFU devices in the market, but not all of them are made to medical-grade standards. With no regulations in place, many spas and salons are equipped with generic HIFU devices. Beware! There is no way of knowing if these machines and the treatments they deliver are safe or effective.
In the hands of a professional, a medical-grade HIFU treatment can be beneficial. In the hands of an amateur with a knock-off device, HIFU can be extremely painful and/or neo-collagenesis (the process of building collagen) may not occur. Adding to the HIFU controversy is the fact that these treatments are not regulated. That means they can be performed by either doctors, nurses or beauticians, who may or may not have received sufficient education and training. This has led to cases where the HIFU treatment was too shallow or too deep, resulting in less desired outcomes.
The Verdict
While HIFU is often seen as the more affordable of the two, many people don’t realise that they need more than just one treatment session. Ultherapy only requires one treatment to provide results at a much deeper level.
After performing Ultherapy for the past 7 years on 1000’s of happy patients, we have come to appreciate why it’s the gold standard for facial rejuvenation and skin lifting.
We love You at b clinic
Whatever your aesthetic concerns, whether you want to tighten and contour your lower face, you are looking for the latest in rejuvenating treatments, or need home skincare products from trusted brands … you’ll find what you’re looking for at b clinic. Book now online for a no-obligation, free consultation.