Should You Avoid HIFU? Expected Benefits and Recommended Treatments

Are you concerned about facial sagging or your facial line? Also, among those actually pursuing care, many may be curious about “HIFU,” a famous beauty treatment.

HIFU is a treatment that can approach deep within the skin without using a scalpel. However, searching online, you may come across opinions like “you should avoid HIFU,” and this may make some of you feel anxious.

To conclude: the reasons HIFU is said to be avoided are that the effect doesn’t appear immediately, and there can sometimes be side effects. However, since individual differences inevitably exist, it’s not something you can uniformly say “you should avoid.” Some people do suit HIFU, so why not try the treatment once?

This article details the reasons HIFU is said to be avoided, the benefits you can expect from HIFU, traits of those it suits, and our salon’s recommended HIFU treatment. Please use this as a reference.

Reasons HIFU Is Said to Be Avoided

As with any treatment, HIFU has precautions worth knowing.

Cases where the expected effect isn’t obtained, or side effects appear, aren’t completely zero. First, let’s introduce the reasons HIFU is said to be avoided.

You May Not Feel the Effect

HIFU doesn’t deliver the same effect to everyone equally. Depending on your skin condition and age, you may not feel as much change as expected.

Especially those in their teens and 20s often still have firm skin firmness and elasticity, so there are cases of feeling “not much has changed” even after receiving HIFU. Receiving HIFU without sagging or deep wrinkles present means there’s little that needs improvement, so change can be hard to notice.

The Lasting Effect Isn’t Permanent

HIFU’s effect doesn’t continue forever once received. Some feel change right after treatment, but in many cases, the effect gradually appears over about a month.

How long the effect lasts varies by the equipment used, ranging from about 3 months for shorter durations to about 1 year for longer ones. If you want to maintain the effect, you need to receive treatment periodically every 3 to 6 months. Since continuous visits become necessary, please also consider the time and financial burden.

There’s a Risk of Side Effects

HIFU is considered a relatively safe treatment, but it’s not completely without side effects. The ultrasound’s thermal energy can temporarily reduce moisture within the skin, sometimes making it more prone to dryness or sensitivity.

For several days after treatment, redness, swelling, or muscle-soreness-like pain can occur. This usually settles naturally within about a week, but if symptoms continue, please be sure to consult a medical institution.

These are the reasons HIFU is said to be avoided. However, HIFU can be expected to deliver various pleasing benefits. We introduce the specific benefits in the next section.

What Benefits Can You Expect from HIFU?

For those considering HIFU, the expected benefits are probably what concerns them most. HIFU can be expected to deliver various effects that greatly influence visual impression. It’s a treatment capable of a wide range of approaches, from targeted tightening to improved skin quality. Here we detail HIFU’s representative expected benefits.

Targeted Fat Reduction

HIFU approaches fat in concerning areas. It’s said to stimulate fat cells with ultrasound energy, aiming for a cleaner appearance in specific areas like the facial line and double chin.

However, unlike whole-body dieting, the main purpose is ultimately “tightening” or “refining the facial line.” It’s not something that expects dramatic weight loss, and can be said to be a treatment suited to those who want to change their visual impression.

Improving Sagging

A representative effect of HIFU is addressing sagging. Ultrasound reaches deep within the skin, supporting collagen production, so a lifting effect for the cheeks and facial line can be expected.

It’s a recommended treatment for those who want to make sagging and nasolabial folds that have started to concern them with age less noticeable.

Improved Skin Quality

HIFU is also expected to deliver an effect of increasing firmness and elasticity from within the skin. The skin’s original regenerative power is activated through ultrasound stimulation, sometimes regulating skin texture or making pores less noticeable.

Some people also feel a brighter overall skin tone, or a plumper feel when touched. Since it can approach deep layers that surface-level care alone struggles to reach, it’s a treatment that can aim for radiant skin from within.

What Are the Traits of People Who Suit HIFU?

As with any treatment, the same effect doesn’t appear equally for everyone.

HIFU’s effect can be felt to the fullest by those with specific concerns or skin conditions. Here we introduce traits of people who especially suit HIFU.

Those with Mild Sagging

HIFU is a treatment suited to those troubled by mild sagging that isn’t yet severe. Care is said to be effective at the stage when you begin to feel your cheeks or facial line have dropped slightly.

By addressing it early before sagging becomes serious, a more natural finish can be expected.

Those Concerned About Marionette Lines

Marionette lines, running vertically from the mouth to the chin, are one factor that makes you feel age. When this line becomes noticeable, it can make your expression look darker or give an impression older than your actual age.

Since HIFU can approach the deep layer around the mouth, an effect of making marionette lines less noticeable can be expected. It’s a treatment suited to those troubled by grooves makeup can’t fully hide, or those who want to brighten the impression around their mouth through a natural method.

Those Concerned About Skin Firmness and Elasticity

HIFU is also a recommended treatment for those who feel “my skin looks saggy” or “the elasticity when I touch it is different from before.” Its characteristic is being able to approach skin firmness and elasticity, which tends to be lost with age, from within.

It’s recommended for those who feel skincare alone isn’t enough, or those who want to restore a plumper skin texture. By working on deep layers that surface-level care can’t reach, an effect of guiding you toward a more youthful impression can be expected.

For HIFU, KADOMORI’s “Small-Face Design HIFU” Is Recommended!

At KADOMORI, we offer “Small-Face Design HIFU” using our own specially developed HIFU equipment. This treatment’s biggest characteristic is performing custom-tailored treatment matched to each individual’s facial shape and concerns.

High-intensity focused ultrasound thoroughly approaches deep within the skin, right down to the foundation layer. It thoroughly works on aging signs like wrinkles and sagging, carefully drawing out a design for achieving your ideal small face, so a more satisfying finish can be expected. Please feel free to contact us!

Curious About Something Regarding Your Face? Consult KADOMORI!

This article has detailed the reasons HIFU is said to be avoided, the benefits you can expect from HIFU, traits of those it suits, and our salon’s recommended HIFU treatment.

HIFU is a popular beauty treatment that can approach sagging and wrinkles without using a scalpel. While various effects can be expected — targeted fat reduction, improved sagging, improved skin quality — it’s also true that individual differences exist in how the effect is felt.

Especially depending on your age or skin condition, the effect can be hard to feel, and since the duration is limited, periodic treatment becomes necessary. Also, since mild side effects can potentially occur, please know this point before treatment.

If you currently have facial concerns, please consult KADOMORI. Let’s improve your concerns around your face together!