Ultherapy HIFU

Collagen is a compound made by the skin that combats cellular damage & promotes skin resilience, hydration, & suppleness. As we age, our collagen stores dwindle, leaving skin depleted & lax. 

Using Ultherapy, can help to gently stimulate & contract collagen, restoring the skin’s elasticity & resilience.

HIFU (High intensity focused ultrasound) has a therapeutic window of lifting, & skin rejuvenation namely –

• Improvement of mild to moderate skin laxity of the mid to lower face
• Jawline & neck contouring in suitable patients 
• Chest rejuvenation in suitable candidates

Off label treatments that we employ include-

• Elevation of upper eyelids in suitable patients
• Eye rejuvenation for mild to moderate wrinkles
• Treatment of jowls in suitable candidates

Good candidates are patients with mild to moderate skin laxity, with good dermal thickness & average to above average facial fat content. It is best used to address the signs of early aging.

Poor candidates are those with a thin dermal layer, photodamage/ poor skin quality & or those with low facial fat. Patient selection is critical for both results & safety, read more to understand.

Using deep visual guidance, Ultherapy & Ultraformer positions ‘shots’ of high intensity focused ultrasound in the deep, mid & superficial layers of skin. This contracts collagen, & & stimulates cells to produce new collagen. This provides new scaffolding for your skin. The result is tighter & firmer skin. 

The depths that Ultherapy reaches are comparable to those that a surgical facelift can zone in on. However, Ultherapy is completely non-invasive and has no downtime.

Collagen contraction takes 1 week; however, the result is modest. The magic happens at 3 months when you can see the fruits of collagen stimulation. You should notice firmer skin, with less laxity. 

Typically, only one session is recommended, remembering it takes up to 3-4 months for the best results. HIFU can be repeated every 12-36 months if required.

Our specialist team at Cutis are very selective on who we recommend for this treatment. Patient selection is critical for good results. Book a FREE consultation with our nursing team to see if Ultherapy is right for you. 

*T&C applies

Yes, as this is not a laser, it is colour blind. In fact, darker skin types will usually obtain better results than fair skin patients because-

• Collagen is better quality (less sun induced breakdown)
• Collagen is thicker
• Contraction of collagen is more brisk

Our team employs many different methods to tighten skin, including-

• Collagen stimulating dermal fillers including calcium hydroxyapatite & PLLA.
• RF devices including Tempsure & Pelleve.
• RF microneedling devices such as Infini & Genius RF
• Laser resurfacing with CO2 & hybrid lasers
• PDO threads in vectors.
• Deep chemical peels including Jessner TCA & Phenol

The ideal treatment depends on your age, ethnicity, dermal thickness, skin quality & many other factors. If you are unsure, book a FREE consultation with our nurses. T&C apply. 

The longevity of your results will vary depending on how much collagen your body produces, as well as your age, ethnicity, diet & most importantly, genetics. 

Most of our patients still see noticeable results two years after their initial procedure and continue to undergo follow-up treatments to maintain their appearance. 

Lasers are great for improving skin quality, namely sun damage, pigmentation, fine lines, & wrinkles. They are used to address conditions ON the surface of the skin. Conversely Ultherapy is used to address conditions under the surface, including laxity. 

In Brisbane / Queensland, most patients will have a mix of both sun damage & skin laxity, hence may benefit from both treatments.

Learn more (link to laser resurfacing in the anti-aging section)

Dermatologists use microneedling for conditions like hair loss & dermal delivery of drugs. In the context of skin rejuvenation, there are far better treatments. Microneedling targets superficial concerns, HIFU spares the upper layers of skin to treat deeply. 

Our team performs the following combinations, here is the logic. 

HIFU + laser resurfacing. The former treats deep to contract, the latter addresses superficial skin quality issues. 

HIFU + dermal filler. HIFU tightens, fillers address volume loss.

HIFU + PDO monos: Both stimulate collagen, one tightens deeper, PDOs cause superficial fibrosis. Both are synergistic. 

HIFU + Deep peels. The former tighten & contracts, the latter addresses skin quality issues & contracts. Again, synergistic treatments. 

Treatments are well tolerated, however if it extends beyond 15 minutes, we do provide nitrous gas to ensure that you maintain your comfort levels. 

Side effects are rare with HIFU as it focuses energy in the deeper layers of skin, sparing the skin’s surface. Adverse events include-

• Bruising
• Numbness
• Atrophy(divots)

Yes, if used incorrectly. Like any energy device, settings matter. Cases of volume loss can be attributed to-

• User error
• Inappropriate patient selection
• Tightening without volume replacement

Broken collagen does not contract. Sun/UV induced elastosis is a term we use to describe fragmented collagen. Patients with significant skin quality issues & laxity are best treated with a combination of collagen stimulating dermal fillers & laser resurfacing. 

Learn more (link to hybrid laser resurfacing)