HIFU and ultrasound lift: effect, procedure and results
HIFU stands for high-intensity focused ultrasound. The sound waves are focused at a defined depth, where they create small thermal points that tighten the tissue without injuring the skin surface. The ultrasound lift is therefore regarded as a non-surgical facelift for the cheeks, jawline, double chin, neck and décolleté.
Here you will find answers on effect, cartridges and depths, procedure, pain, side effects, results and durability, along with the comparison with thread lifting and surgery and guidance for studios on cartridge consumption and device selection. The matching SIACSKIN devices are the DERMALIFT (HIFU) and the DERMALIFT PRO with microfocused ultrasound (MFU).
What is HIFU and how does an ultrasound lift work?
HIFU is high-intensity focused ultrasound: sound waves are concentrated, like light under a magnifying glass, and heat a tiny point at depth. At this focal point, about 65 to 70 °C is reached and the tissue coagulates there in a pinpoint fashion. The skin above remains uninjured, because the energy only becomes dense enough at the focus. Collagen fibres contract immediately, and in the weeks that follow the body builds new, firm collagen. One session places several hundred such lines of points side by side.
The SIACSKIN DERMALIFT is a HIFU device with coagulation at about 65 to 70 °C and cartridges for depths of 1.5 to 20 mm. The DERMALIFT PRO works with microfocused ultrasound for face and body.
What is the difference between HIFU and microfocused ultrasound (MFU)?
Both are focused ultrasound, and the difference lies mainly in the size of the heat points and in how the terms are used. HIFU is the umbrella term and comes from medicine, where concentrated sound heats tissue at depth. Microfocused ultrasound refers to the variant with particularly small, precisely placed focal points, as used for skin tightening. Larger focal zones at greater depth, by contrast, target fatty tissue. In everyday use, both terms are often used interchangeably, and the principle of action is the same.
At SIACSKIN, the DERMALIFT is designated HIFU. The DERMALIFT PRO is listed as an MFU system, with focal depths of 1.5 to 4.5 mm for the face and 6 to 14 mm for the body.
Which HIFU cartridge works at which depth, and what is the SMAS layer?
Each cartridge has a fixed focal depth: 1.5 mm reaches the upper dermis, 3.0 mm the deep dermis and 4.5 mm the SMAS layer. The SMAS is the sheet of connective tissue above the facial muscles, which is also tightened in a surgical facelift. Shallow cartridges treat fine lines and thin skin around the eyes and on the forehead and neck. The middle depth firms the skin, and the 4.5 mm cartridge lifts the cheeks and jawline. Cartridges from 6 mm are intended for the body, and the deepest target the subcutaneous fat.
The DERMALIFT has cartridges of 3.0, 4.5, 7.0, 13.0 and 20 mm, with 1.5 mm optional. The DERMALIFT PRO offers 1.5, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.5 mm on the face and 6, 9 and 14 mm on the body.
How does a non-surgical facelift with HIFU work, and what is realistic for the cheeks and jawline?
Treatment of the whole face usually takes 30 to 60 minutes and gives a visible but moderate tightening of the cheeks and jawline. After cleansing, the treatment areas are marked and ultrasound gel is applied. The handpiece then places focal points line by line, usually at 2 to 3 depths one above the other. Realistic outcomes are a clearer jaw contour, slightly lifted cheeks and brows, and firmer skin. HIFU does not achieve the effect of an operation, but there is no incision and no wound.
The applications of the DERMALIFT include the non-surgical facelift and nasolabial folds, and according to SIACSKIN its result builds up over 2 to 3 months. The DERMALIFT PRO is designed for the non-invasive facelift with focal depths of 1.5 to 4.5 mm.
Does HIFU help with a double chin and lax skin on the neck and décolleté?
Yes, double chin, neck and décolleté are among the typical HIFU treatment areas, but each needs a different depth. Under the chin there is usually a small fat pad beneath lax skin. Here the depth of 4.5 mm tightens the tissue, and deeper cartridges can additionally reduce fat. On the neck, the skin is thin, so treatment is shallower and the area over the larynx and thyroid is left out. On the décolleté, the concern is crepey lines, for which 1.5 to 3.0 mm is sufficient. Mild to moderate findings are well suited; a pronounced excess of skin on the neck is not.
Double chin, neck and décolleté appear in the list of applications for both SIACSKIN devices: for the DERMALIFT with HIFU and for the DERMALIFT PRO with microfocused ultrasound.
Can the eye area and hooded eyelids be treated with HIFU?
Yes, the eye area can be treated with shallow focal depths, and with mild hooded eyelids HIFU mainly lifts the brow. Treatment is applied on the bony rim of the eye socket, on the forehead, the temple and under the eye, never over the eyeball. The focal points at 1.5 to 3.0 mm depth firm the thin skin, crow's feet become finer, and the brow can move up by 1 to 2 millimetres. This opens up the eyes. If skin hangs markedly over the lid margin, a surgical eyelid lift is the right route.
The DERMALIFT PRO explicitly names the eye area as an application, for which its SD technology with continuously adjustable depth of 1.5 to 4.5 mm is intended. For the DERMALIFT, a cartridge with 1.5 mm depth is available as an option.
Which body areas can be treated with HIFU, and where are the limits?
On the body, HIFU is mainly used on the abdomen, flanks, upper arms, inner thighs and above the knees. What these areas have in common is a mix of slightly lax skin and a palpable fat pad. The focal points lie much deeper here than on the face, in the subcutaneous fat. The limit is clear: HIFU shapes contours and does not replace weight loss. The fat layer must be thicker than the chosen focal depth, otherwise a shallower depth is used. Treatment is not given over bone or implants.
For this, the DERMALIFT comes with cartridges of 7.0, 13.0 and 20 mm depth. For the body, the DERMALIFT PRO has 6, 9 and 14 mm, with 9 and 14 mm intended for fat reduction.
Who is HIFU suitable for, and who should forgo an ultrasound lift?
HIFU is best suited to mild to moderate skin laxity, typically between 35 and 60 years of age. The skin should still be able to form collagen well, because the result arises from the response of the body's own tissue. Skin colour plays no role, because ultrasound is not absorbed by pigment. Less suitable are very lax skin with a marked excess and very narrow faces in which no fat should be lost. Treatment is not given during pregnancy, in the presence of inflammation or broken skin in the treatment area, over metal implants or in people with a pacemaker.
With the DERMALIFT and the DERMALIFT PRO, the depth is matched to skin thickness and treatment area via the cartridges. This determines whether the energy arrives in the right layer.
When do you see the result after HIFU, and how long does it last?
The full result appears after 2 to 3 months and generally lasts 12 to 18 months. Directly after the session, the skin often already looks somewhat firmer, because collagen fibres contract through the heat. The actual effect comes later: the body replaces the treated points with new collagen, and that takes weeks. How long the tightening lasts depends on age, skin quality, sun, smoking and weight fluctuations. Photos taken under the same conditions make the slow change visible.
SIACSKIN gives these values for the DERMALIFT: the result improves over 2 to 3 months and lasts 12 to 18 months. The DERMALIFT PRO works on the same principle with microfocused ultrasound.
How many HIFU sessions do you need, and how often should the treatment be repeated?
On the face, 1 session is usually enough, with a top-up about every 12 to 18 months. HIFU is not a course-based treatment like laser or microneedling, because one session already places a great many heat points and the remodelling takes months. With more pronounced laxity, a second session after 3 to 6 months can make sense. On the body, it is usually 1 to 2 appointments per area. Repeating earlier achieves nothing while the tissue is still building collagen.
For planning in the studio, this fits the DERMALIFT, whose result lasts 12 to 18 months according to SIACSKIN: this makes a fixed annual appointment for each client. The DERMALIFT and the DERMALIFT PRO both have depths for face and body, so follow-up appointments can be planned for several areas.
Does HIFU hurt, and what side effects and downtime are there?
HIFU is clearly noticeable but tolerable, and as a rule there is no downtime. Each pulse feels like a brief, hot stinging sensation at depth, stronger over bone such as the jawline and forehead than on the cheek. Afterwards the skin is red for a few hours and sometimes slightly swollen. A feeling of pressure like sore muscles can persist for 1 to 2 weeks. Less common are bruises, linear wheals or temporary numbness. With the wrong depth or too much energy, nerve irritation and unwanted fat loss are a risk.
This is why training and the right depth for each area count. The DERMALIFT works with a maximum of 4.0 J and additionally has an in-motion mode. With the DERMALIFT PRO, the depth can be selected continuously from 1.5 to 4.5 mm using SD technology, which helps to hit the right layer on thin areas of skin.
HIFU, thread lift or facelift: what is the difference?
HIFU tightens without incision and without a needle, the thread lift pulls tissue up with threads, and the surgical facelift removes excess skin. In a thread lift, dissolvable threads are placed under the skin. The effect is immediate, lasts about 1 to 2 years and comes with swelling and bruising. The surgical facelift tightens the SMAS layer directly and has the strongest and longest effect, but requires a general anaesthetic and weeks of recovery. HIFU lies at the gentle end: moderate tightening that builds up over months, but as a rule without downtime. It suits early laxity.
The DERMALIFT and the DERMALIFT PRO are intended for this non-surgical lift. Both have a focal depth of 4.5 mm, which targets the SMAS layer.
How long does a HIFU cartridge last, and what running costs does a studio have?
A HIFU cartridge is a consumable with a limited shot count, usually 10,000 to 20,000 lines depending on the manufacturer. The transducer in the cartridge wears out, and a counter shows the remaining count. A facial treatment including the neck often uses 400 to 800 lines, spread over 2 to 3 depths. This gives the material cost per session, which, alongside the ultrasound gel, is the main running cost item. Body treatments need more lines and their own, deeper cartridges.
With the DERMALIFT and the DERMALIFT PRO, each cartridge lasts for 20,000 lines. The DERMALIFT includes depths of 3.0 to 20 mm, with 1.5 mm optional, and the DERMALIFT PRO has separate depths for face and body. With the cartridge price from your quotation, the return per treatment can be calculated in the price calculator.
What should you look for when buying a HIFU device?
What matters are clearly defined focal depths, finely adjustable energy and transparent cartridge costs. A good device has cartridges for at least 3 depths on the face, so that the dermis and SMAS can be reached separately, and deeper ones for the body if you want to offer contouring treatments. Pay attention to the shot count per cartridge, to a handpiece that sits well in the hand, and to induction training and accessible service. Devices without verifiable specifications for depth and energy are a risk to your clients.
The DERMALIFT works with 2 to 12 MHz, a maximum of 4.0 J, a dual handpiece and an in-motion mode. The DERMALIFT PRO offers four depths for the face, three for the body and SD technology with continuously adjustable depth. The free consultation will clarify which device suits your offering.
What is the difference between the DERMALIFT and the DERMALIFT PRO?
The DERMALIFT is the HIFU device with cartridges up to 20 mm depth, while the DERMALIFT PRO works with microfocused ultrasound and more finely graded depths on the face. The DERMALIFT uses 2 to 12 MHz and up to 4.0 J, and its cartridges focus at 3.0, 4.5, 7.0, 13.0 and 20 mm, with 1.5 mm optional. In addition there are a dual handpiece and an in-motion mode.
The DERMALIFT PRO has 1.5, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.5 mm on the face and 6, 9 and 14 mm on the body, with 9 and 14 mm intended for fat reduction. It also offers SD technology with continuously adjustable depth from 1.5 to 4.5 mm, intended for the eye area. If the focus is on body contouring, the depth of up to 20 mm is an argument for the DERMALIFT. For finely graded facial treatments including the eye area, the DERMALIFT PRO is the right choice.
