HIFU (Focused Ultrasound)
What Is It?
HIFU is focused ultrasound. The device gathers ultrasound energy at a single point in the layers beneath the skin, without touching the surface. Controlled heat forms where the energy gathers. The tissue answers that heat by producing collagen, and over time it firms up.
Laser, radiofrequency, focused ultrasound: we call these energy-based treatments. In all of them we cause a small injury on purpose, with a carefully set dose, and the body’s own capacity for repair does the rest. In a way we are prodding the tissue awake: “You’ve been lazy, you’ve slept long enough, come on, get to work.” What sets HIFU apart from the others is that it can choose its depth. We can deliver the energy separately to different layers of the skin and to the support layer that surgeons also work on. So its effect is different from a superficial skin treatment, and it works on a smaller scale than a surgical lift. It sits somewhere between the two.
How Is It Done?
I start with an examination. I look at the degree of sagging, the thickness of the skin and the fat in the face. We plan which area to treat at which depth from that. If your expectations don’t match the state of the tissue, I tell you so at the outset.
On the day, we cleanse the area, apply ultrasound gel and draw the treatment map. The device delivers its shots row by row at the planned depths. You feel brief heat and a deep tingling while this happens. Face and neck take 45-60 minutes on average. Anaesthesia is usually unnecessary; for more sensitive patients we can use a topical anaesthetic cream. Most people go back to their normal day the same day.
Who Is It For?
It suits people who notice mild or moderate loosening of the skin and don’t want surgery, or for whom surgery is still too early. The result shows more when some skin thickness and tissue support are still there. That is why we usually get the clearest response between the ages of 35 and 55.
With advanced sagging and marked excess skin the expected effect stays limited; in that case we talk about surgical options. Pregnancy and breastfeeding, active infection or an open wound at the treatment site, permanent filler or an implant in the area, uncontrolled systemic disease and electronic implants such as a pacemaker change the plan. We go through each of these at the examination.
Process & Recovery
Examination and treatment map
We look at the degree of sagging, skin thickness and facial fat, and plan which area to treat at which depth. We take photographs.
Treatment day
Gel is applied, the treatment map is drawn and the shots are delivered row by row at the planned depths. Face and neck take 45-60 minutes on average.
First 24-48 hours
There may be redness, mild swelling and tenderness to the touch. Some of our patients describe a mild, deep ache that lasts a few days. We expect these, and they don’t stop you wearing make-up or getting on with your day.
Weeks 4-8
This is when the collagen response starts and the first tightening becomes noticeable. We don’t expect a clear change before these weeks.
Months 3-6
The effect is at its most visible in this period. At the third month we compare photographs, and if a repeat is needed we plan it then.
Results & Duration
What people most often misunderstand about HIFU is the timing. You won’t see a marked difference in the mirror on the day. The collagen response takes weeks. The first tightening is felt at weeks 4-8, and the effect is at its most visible at 3-6 months.
The range generally reported is 1.5-2 years. It depends on the starting condition of your skin, your age, smoking and how much sun you get. The effect is not permanent and needs renewing. Ageing carries on, so at some point the result drifts back toward where you started.
What Is Not Promised
HIFU does not replace a surgical face lift. With advanced sagging it doesn’t remove excess skin. It does nothing for pigmentation or the surface quality of the skin. It doesn’t restore lost volume either; if volume is missing, filler is a separate subject.
No one can promise a set amount of tightening or a set duration. It is normal to see no change in the first weeks, and we don’t judge the result before the third month. If your expectations don’t match the state of the tissue, we talk about it openly at the examination.
Key Benefits
- Skin tightening
- Collagen increase
- Non-surgical lifting
“With HIFU we prod the tissue, and the body’s own repair does the rest. So it takes patience. My patients who look in the mirror after the first month and see nothing see the difference at three months.”
— Dr. Sinan Akyürek
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HIFU surgery?
No. There is no incision; the energy gathers in the deep layers without touching the surface of the skin. Most people go back to their normal day the same day.
How long does it take?
Face and neck together take 45-60 minutes on average.
Is it painful?
You feel it, but it’s brief. During the shots there is a short burst of heat and a deep tingling. Anaesthesia is usually unnecessary; for more sensitive patients we use a topical anaesthetic cream.
When will I see the result?
Over a few weeks. The first tightening is noticeable at weeks 4-8, and the effect is at its most visible at 3-6 months. Don’t expect a marked difference on the day.
How long does it last?
The range generally reported is 1.5-2 years. It varies with the condition of your skin, your age, smoking and sun exposure.
How many sessions are needed?
We usually plan a single session. If a repeat is needed, we discuss it at the three-month assessment.
Can it be combined with filler or Botox?
Yes. The three do different jobs: HIFU for tissue support, filler for volume, Botox for expression lines. We decide at the examination which comes first.
Which situations need separate assessment?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding, active infection or an open wound at the site, permanent filler or an implant in the area, uncontrolled systemic disease and electronic implants such as a pacemaker change the plan. We go through them one by one at the examination.