New technologies provide clients with minimally invasive options for skin tightening and lifting of sagging skin, without having to resort to cosmetic surgery.
HIFU
What is it?
HIFU (also known as High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) is a technique of skin tightening and lifting using focused ultrasound pulses that penetrate deep into the dermal layer of the skin. These high energy pulses cause a tightening of existing collagen bundles and also stimulate new collagen formation. This treatment is commonly known as a non-surgical facelift.
HIFU is a new-generation skin tightening treatment that is rapidly gaining in popularity as it is non-invasive and there is no downtime. HIFU is based on the same technology as Ulthera (Ultherapy) which is considered the gold standard in skin tightening treatments on the face and neck and is a favourite of Hollywood celebrities. The new-generation HIFU is much less painful and less expensive than previous treatments with the same technology.
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What conditions is it used for?
HIFU is ideal for those who have sagging skin but don’t want to go under the knife, or who want to delay having a face lift for a few years. Although unable to give the same results as a face lift, many people opt for a HIFU treatment rather than have a face lift.
All skin types can be safely treated. A HIFU treatment will not prevent you from having a facelift at a later stage
What does a treatment entail?
The treatment area will be cleansed, examined, documented, and photographed. A topical anaesthetic is applied for approximately 45 minutes, and then removed. A thin layer of gel is applied to the treatment area and the HIFU handpiece is applied to the skin where it releases a burst of pulses that penetrate 4,5 mm down to the dermal layer of your skin. The entire area is treated in a systemic manner, and then re-treated at a more superficial depth. Afterwards, a soothing lotion will be applied.
Is there pain and downtime?
The treatment may be mildly uncomfortable in certain areas. It will feel like a dull needle prick deep in the skin but only lasts for a second and then disappears.
There is absolutely no down time with a HIFU treatment. Afterwards, you may have mild redness which settles quickly and minimal swelling for a day or two, but it will not be noticeable to others.
When can I expect to see results?
The micro injuries caused by a HIFU treatment deep in your dermal layer will heal with new collagen formation. Collagen fibers takes about 30 days to form and then gradually re-organise over a few months, causing tightening and lifting in the area. You can expect to see results in 4-6 months, which may improve for up to a year after treatment.
How many treatments do I need and how often?
Results from a treatment usually last for 2-3 years but this is obviously influenced by your individual genetic aging process and environmental factors which accelerate collagen break down, such as smoking, diet, and sun exposure.
Some patients like the results so much that they do a treatment once a year. Others return for smaller, top up treatments every 6-12 months.
Recommended Supplements:
Taking an oral collagen supplement may help you get better results. Your treating practitioner is able to advise on optimal skin care.
HIFU is used to treat:
- Jowls
- Sagging jawline
- Wrinkled and crepey necks
- Sleep lines and thin skin on the decolletage
- Lines around the eyes
- Lines around the mouth
- Heavy eyelids
- Sagging skin in other parts of the body can also be treated, eg inner arms, inner thighs, above the knees, and abdomens.
PDO Threads
What are they?
PDO threads are small threads made from polydioxanone acid. When inserted under the skin, they cause an inflammatory reaction which results in intense collagen stimulation. This helps to increase tissue thickness and improve skin laxity in the treated area.
What conditions are they used for?
PDO threads are ideal for use in areas where the skin is lax and crepey. Typical areas treated include cheeks, necks, upper arms, above knees, buttocks, breasts, and abdomens. The resultant collagen stimulation in the treated area leads to an improvement in tissue quality and tightening of the skin.
All skin types can be safely treated and treatment cost is determined by the size of the area to be treated and the number and type of PDO threads used.
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What does a treatment entail?
The treatment area will be cleansed, examined, documented, and photographed. Your doctor will choose the ideal length and type of thread according to the area being treated. You will feel a small prick as each thread is inserted. Typically, threads are inserted parallel to each other at 1cm intervals. Anything from 3-50 threads may be used in a treatment. To achieve a lift (such as in buttocks and breasts), a grid-like pattern is used.
Is there pain and downtime?
A small prick is felt with the insertion of each thread. There may be a small amount of discomfort but most patients find the treatment very easy and rate discomfort as very mild. A topical anaesthetic may be applied prior to treatment but most patients find that this is unnecessary. Rarely, bruising may occur which lasts for a few days. Usually this is just a small, pin-prick bruise at the area of thread insertion. Some patients experience mild tenderness for a few days in the treated area. There may be mild inflammation but this is usually not visible to anyone else.
When can I expect to see results?
Most patients can see a difference within a week of treatment. Treatments can be repeated after a month for added results. Final results take about 4 months to become evident.
Is there any specific aftercare?
Please do not apply makeup immediately after PDO thread insertion. Avoid saunas and steam rooms for 24 hours. There is no need to avoid exercise.
How long do the results last?
The amount of collagen deposition stimulated by PDO threads and duration of effect is influenced by factors such as genetics, how quickly your body breaks down collagen, previous sun damage, nutritional status, and smoking. Typically, results last for 6-12 months after treatment. Many patients have 2-3 treatments at monthly intervals to achieve maximum results.
Recommended Supplements:
Taking an oral collagen supplement may help to improve results of a PDO thread treatment. Your treating practitioner will advise on aftercare and make skincare recommendations.
Benefits:
- Collagen stimulating threads
- Ideal for crepey skin
- Helps improve tissue laxity
- Cheeks
- Necks
- Abdomens
- Above knees
- Upper arms
- Breast lift
- Buttock lift
Thread Lift
What is it?
A thread lift is a minimally invasive procedure used to lift sagging skin and jowls in the mid and lower face, elevate brows, and lift the skin on the neck. The threads used have special modifications that help to lift tissue, including barbs, cogs, screws and bidirectional cones. Threads are inserted under the skin to elevate and improve mild to moderate sagging and laxity and to stimulate collagen production.
The tissue lifting effect and the collagen stimulating effect of the threads are both important factors which help to achieve a pleasing result. Whilst the threads themselves only last for a few weeks-months, they are intense collagen stimulators and leave behind a collagen framework which lasts for much longer. More and more patients are choosing a thread lift instead of resorting to plastic surgery, or are using them to delay having surgery until a later stage.
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What conditions is it used for?
A thread lift is ideal for patients with mild to moderate sagging who want to improve the appearance of their jawline, lift sagging cheeks, improve jowls, and improve the appearance of nasolabial lines. They are also used to lift sagging skin on the neck and to lift heavy brows. Often, a combination of threads and soft tissue fillers are used to achieve optimal results. Not all patients are good candidates for a thread lift. Your doctor will be able to assess you and give you guidance.
All skin types can be safely treated. A thread lift will not prevent you from having a facelift at a later stage.
What does a treatment entail?
The treatment area will be cleansed, examined, documented, and photographed. Markings are made on the skin with a ruler and local anaesthetic is injected into a number of different sites. The treatment area will then be covered with a sterile sheet. 1-3 threads are inserted under the skin in precise locations as determined by your doctor. Your skin is then be pulled gently upwards over the threads, giving you a lift in the desired area. The entire procedure usually takes 30-90 minutes.
Is there pain and downtime?
The injection of local anaesthetic is uncomfortable for about a minute. Thereafter, your skin is numb and discomfort during the procedure is usually mild to moderate. Oral analgesics are not needed. A small puckering of skin caused by the lift will be visible after the procedure for 3-7 days. In rare cases, this may be visible for up to three weeks. Bruising is rare but may occur.
When can I expect to see results?
You may look a bit ‘pulled’ and have a small dimple until the skin settles. The lifting effect of the thread is visible immediately but results from collagen stimulation take a few months to become evident. The overall effect is very natural looking. More threads can be inserted if a further lift is desired.
Is there any specific aftercare?
Please avoid strenuous exercise and exaggerated movements for 2-3 weeks after your treatment to prevent tension on the area which can cause skin to “slip down”. These movements include yawning, throwing one’s head back to laugh, chewing on tough foods and opening one’s mouth very widely. Please also avoid facials, saunas and steam rooms for 4 weeks after your procedure.
How long do the results last?
Threads are intense collagen stimulators. Whilst they dissolve within a few months, the collagen deposition stimulated lasts for much longer and is influenced by many factors. Longevity of results varies from patient to patient and is affected by factors such as genetics, how quickly your body breaks down collagen, previous sun damage, nutritional status, and smoking.
Recommended Supplements:
Taking an oral collagen supplement may help to improve results of a thread lift. Your treating practitioner will advise on aftercare and make skincare recommendations.
Benefits:
- Minimally invasive skin lifting procedure
- Ideal for sagging skin
- Lifts jowls, tightens jawline
- Lifts heavy brows
- Lifts and tightens skin on neck
- Stimulates collagen production
- In-office procedure
- Minimal downtime
- Natural-looking results
