HIFU, aka the perfect body!

In an era of perfect faces and bodies, the neck and hands can give away your true age if it's wrinkled, sagging or covered with age spots. Youthfulness not only indicates beauty but vitality and good health as well. Besides, it is not easy to keep your neck and hands hidden at all times. Looking young and staying young is one of the biggest aspiration of the people now so much so that we do not hesitate to undergo invasive operations. However staying young no longer be associated with pain. ULTRAcel Technology is the new revolutionary non-invasive procedure which allows access to all skin levels. It includes the focused ultrasound treatment.

HIFU or High Intensity Focused  Ultrasound is a  face-lifting technique using the power of ultrasound waves. It affects the  fat and muscles beneath the skin and results in an ultimate lift.

ULTRAcel is a safe, relatively painless technique. However  it should be carried out only after a consultation with the dermatologist. There is no major downtime as it is a painless procedure which does not require anaesthesia.

It is highly recommended for the tightening and lifting of skin on the neck, under the chin, below the jawline, the cheeks and beneath the eye. It triggers the collagen production, and thus used to treat sagging cheeks, facial and jowl sagging. The treatment enables the skin to get firmer, eliminates sagging  and giving an ultimate result of anti-ageing.  This procedure does no damage to the overlying skin. A gel is applied to the target area and a hand piece is moved systematically over the area with parameters set according to the patients needs and comfort. A mild pricking sensation may be felt during the procedure.

Do’s: A dermatologist must be consulted before going for the HIFU treatment for skin for assessment and a discussion on your expectations with the treatment. USG jelly should be used on the target area before the treatment starts.

Dont’s:Avoid the bony prominences of the face. Don't use HIFU for wrinkles too close to the eyes .

Immediately post treatment there may be mild erythema   and skin may feel warm to touch. Facials are to be avoided for about four weeks and good sun protection is advised. The objective of the procedure is to focus the ultrasound waves below the skin surface and cause creation of new collagen. Daily life is not interrupted and there is only slight heating and stinging sensation felt immediately post procedure.

Though the results are known to start immediately after treatment but the visible results appear in 90 days and subsequently a sitting in four to six weeks is recommended. Effects may last upto 1 to 1.5 years. Cost for the treatment may depend on the target area of the face and type of equipment used.

–The writer is a Delhi-based dermatologist and skin specialist