Battling Signs of Ageing: HIFU Treatment in Singapore

“Lunchtime facelifts” continue to be in demand across all aesthetic clinics in Singapore. A lot of Singaporeans like to keep their faces looking young and fresh, so it is a must to keep those wrinkles and fine lines out of sight. A popular go-to treatment is the high intensity focused ultrasound or HIFU.

If you are looking for ways to achieve firmer skin without having to deal with incisions or punctures, then you may consider trying HIFU.

Curious? This article will give you the information you need about HIFU treatment in Singapore.

HIFU: What is it about?

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a non-surgical and non-invasive aesthetic treatment used for skin tightening. The procedure uses a device that emits ultrasound energy into the deep layers of the skin, which stimulates collagen production resulting in tighter and smoother skin.

The Benefits of HIFU treatments

HIFU is best for treating various ageing symptoms. These are the benefits of a HIFU treatment:

  • Improvement of jaw contour
  • Reduction of fine lines and wrinkles
  • Lifting and tightening of sagging skin on the face, neck, and decolletage

As stated by the health and medical portal Health Ascent, HIFU is best applied to target skin ageing on the following parts of the face and body:

  • Cheeks
  • Chest
  • Chin
  • Eyebrows
  • Forehead
  • Jowls
  • Neck

HIFU treatment: The Works

To start the treatment, the target area will first clean the target area. Next, numbing cream will be applied and left to take effect. The numbing cream helps in keeping the procedure pain-free. As soon as the numbing cream kicks in, a generous amount of ultrasound gel is placed on the skin. The HIFU device is then pressed on the skin, while the doctor uses an ultrasound viewer to put the device into the correct treatment settings. Once the settings are in place, the device emits ultrasound energy through the skin of the target area in short pulses. The heat energy delivered by the HIFU device penetrates through the deep layers of the skin and reaches and activates the SMAS layer to produce collagen. The previous step repeated until the treatment is completed for about 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated and the number of shots required.

HIFU Singapore Cost

There are several brands of HIFU treatment in Singapore which are offered by different aesthetic. The most trusted and common brands are Ulthera, Ultraformer, and Sygmalift. The brand of the HIFU device is one factor that affects the cost of this treatment.

The average cost of a full HIFU facelift treatment in Singapore ranges from:

  • Ulthera – $2,500 to $5,000
  • Ultraformer 3 – $2,000 to $5,000
  • Sygmalift – $600 to $800

Ulthera and Ultraformer 3 will only need 1 session with results that can last for 6 months to a year. Sygmalift, on the other hand, will need at least 3 to 5 sessions, spaced in 3 to 4 weeks, with regular maintenance recommended to maintain results.

Medisave or insurance cannot be used for HIFU treatments as this is considered as a cosmetic treatment.

HIFU Treatment: Expected Results

After the treatment, patients can expect to see an immediate lifting effect on parts of the face or body where sagging skin was initially present. Fine lines and wrinkles will also be reduced, leaving the skin smoother and firmer in appearance and touch. The skin’s collagen will continue to develop even after the procedure is done. Patients can expect to see the full result of their HIFU treatment three months following their last HIFU session.

There is no downtime needed for a HIFU procedure. Patients can quickly return to their daily activities right after a procedure.

HIFU Treatment: Possible Side Effects

There are some side effects that patients may experience after a HIFU treatment. These include:

  • Mild swelling
  • Light tingling sensation on the treated area
  • Skin discolouration or redness
  • Bruising (a rare occurrence)
  • Numbness (a rare occurrence)

The side effects mentioned are only temporary.

HIFU Treatment: Safety

HIFU is a powerful device that should only be used by licensed doctors who have undergone training on how to operate the equipment. Non-doctors or unqualified individuals are not allowed to operate HIFU machines.

There are “Mini HIFU” treatments being offered by some beauty spas in Singapore at low cost. Patients should note that these treatments are not equal to what full HIFU facelift treatments can do. Likewise, these treatments are not guaranteed safe.

When going for a HIFU treatment, do not forget to ask for the brand of HIFU device your doctor will be using to ensure that you are getting only the gold standard device for the price you pay.

HIFU Treatment: Qualified Patients

HIFU treatment is recommended for individuals over the age of 30 with mild to moderate skin laxity. Severe skin laxity can be addressed by procedures other than HIFU.