HIFU in Medellín

HIFU stands for high-intensity focused ultrasound. You may also see it called microfocused ultrasound, or advertised as a “nonsurgical facelift,” though it doesn't replace a facelift. The device concentrates energy into small points beneath the surface of the skin, at a set depth, with no needles or incisions. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), ultrasound delivers heat to the deep layers of the skin, and that heat can prompt your body to make more collagen. The FDA describes these devices as a treatment for temporary changes in appearance.

There are several HIFU devices. Some include ultrasound imaging to show the layers of the skin and confirm the treatment depth, as noted in an FDA clearance. In Colombia, aesthetic devices need a sanitary registration or marketing authorization from INVIMA, the country's national health regulator, and INVIMA has warned about ultrasound devices sold online without that registration (Alert 151 of 2024, in Spanish). You can verify a registration with INVIMA's public search tool (in Spanish). Your doctor decides the depth and the areas to treat at your consultation, based on your skin.

According to the AAD, ultrasound usually gives modest lifting and firming, and if you have a lot of loose skin, tightening may not help. For the neck, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reserves nonsurgical tightening for subtler changes: the results are temporary and don't match the improvement in sagging that surgery achieves.

• Significant sagging in the cheeks, under the chin or in the neck: we'll evaluate you for a facelift and neck lift.
• Fat buildup under the chin: we'll evaluate you for chin liposuction.
• Other nonsurgical options for mild sagging: a thread lift, collagen biostimulators or radiofrequency.

At your consultation, we'll tell you what makes sense for you.

According to the AAD and the FDA, HIFU isn't a good fit, or isn't used on that area, if:

• You're pregnant.
• You have a skin infection, or open wounds or lesions in the area, including severe or cystic acne.
• You have metal implants or an active implanted device, such as a pacemaker, in the area to be treated. The FDA says the device should not be used over them.
• You take certain medications. Tell your doctor everything you take.
• You have a lot of loose skin. In that case, tightening may not be useful.

Having no needles or incisions doesn't mean there are no risks. According to the AAD, the most common effects are some temporary redness and swelling. For this type of device, the FDA identifies risks that include:

• Heat injury (thermal damage).
• Mechanical damage to tissue from the ultrasound.
• Eye injury: the ultrasound must not reach the eyes.
• Inflammation or a foreign body reaction.
• Errors in how the device is used.

Before we treat you, we go over each one with you so you can make a fully informed decision.

Before your session, tell your doctor what medications you take, whether you're pregnant, whether you have implants and what treatments you've had on your face or neck. Afterward you go back to your routine with no time off work, and according to the AAD, you can often put on makeup right away. The effect builds gradually over 2 to 3 months. The AAD notes that the best results are seen in people who keep a healthy weight, don't smoke, drink little alcohol, protect their skin from the sun and don't use tanning beds. If anything worries you after your session, message us.