Editing my paper

DMS 290

03/21/2021

DMS 290

2

The use of HIFU in skin lifting

Abstract (100-150 words)

High intensity focused ultrasound is being used in many clinical settings for different procedures and recently has been approved to be used on skin lifting and face rejuvenating. This technique directly delivers heat energy to targeted layers of the skin to stimulate and renew the skin’s collagen. Therefore it improves the texture and reduces the sagging of the skin. It can be used on the face and body to achieve a facelift or body lift without invasive surgery or injections and does not involve any ointments, injectables, or any type of incisions. It relies on the patient’s body's collagen-building process for natural, noticeable results.

Introduction

HIFU is High-intensity focused ultrasound, is a new non-invasive and painless cosmetic treatment used for skin tightening. As we get older, our skin starts losing elasticity and youthfulness that leads to sagging and fine or deep wrinkles. There are several options to reduce wrinkles and give the skin a youthful look. In this paper, we will focus on one of these treatments, HIFU uses ultrasound energy to encourage the production of collagen, which results in firmer skin. HIFU is considered a safe, effective, and non-invasive procedure for tightening facial skin. The use of HIFU could gain more popularity in skin lifting in the near future, for Its advantages over a surgical facelift. There are no incisions, no scarring, no required rest, or recovery time. Most people see full results three months after their final treatment and are far less expensive than facelift surgery. The procedure is best suited for candidates with mild-to-moderate skin laxity, and they may need to have the procedure repeated in one to two years as the natural aging process takes over. As we age, collagen production that gives the skin its structure and elasticity reduce. HIFU facial treatment corrects facial wrinkles, also tightens facial muscles. The treatment uses ultrasound to penetrate deeper skin tissue layers, creating heat as it penetrates the tissue at a deep level of the skin. As a result, the heat damages targeted skin cells, causing the body to try repairing them by producing more collagen to aid in cell regrowth and gain firmness back.

performing HIFU treatment

Since HIFU treatment is new to many people, you might be asking how it performed? This article explained the procedure, “To start the procedure, an ultrasound gel is applied to the patient’s face, the handheld transducer should be placed on the skin to obtain an ultrasonographic image of each section of the proposed treatment area, and to ensure adequate coupling between the device and the skin. The physician placed multiple exposure lines 2 to 4 mm apart, each up to 25 mm long, in the selected area. The placement of each line took approximately 3 seconds. All facial regions were treated in this standardized pattern (Oni et al.2014). As we can see no preparation is needed, the procedure is similar to getting ultrasound imaging, by applying an ultrasonic gel to the area of interest to get an excellent penetration. Some patients might report a slight discomfort during the procedure, this discomfort can be reduced by applying a numbing cream to the treated area. The attached pictures show the area on the face that can be fixed and treated with HIFU, cheeks, jowls, marionette lines. It defines the jawline, Uplifts brows, eyes, upper lip. It softens fine lines, wrinkles, Reduces the Double Chin appearance. In addition, Hifu can be used on different body areas other than the face like it Can tighten skin on the hands, elbows, break down fatty areas of the body (Buttocks, Abdominal, Arms, Thighs, Knees, etc).

noninvasive treatment

In the past decade, an increase in the popularity and availability of non-invasive treatments has risen above the age of 60. However, an increased number of the young generation also preventing and delaying the appearance of wrinkles by choosing non-invasive methods to see the wanted results. Non-invasive treatment can come at a lower risk than surgical procedures, with no incisions to the skin. As a result, no recovery time is required. Candidates may go back to their everyday life and activity immediately after getting the treatment. Considering busy lifestyles, candidates may save a massive amount of recovery time that an invasive treatment would require. That could be challenging when looking at work schedules, kids' activities, and how much vacation time you have saved up.

HIFU cost less

Cost plays a significant role when it comes to deciding on any type of procedure, especially when it’s uncovered through your medical insurance plan. HIFU skin lifting is considered noninvasive, so that means it has fewer risks than an invasive fix. Also, patients need to remember that results may not last long, and they might need to repeat the procedure.

According to ASAPS, the average price for non-surgical skin tightening procedures in 2017 was $1,707. This is a drastic difference from a surgical facelift procedure, which carried an average cost of $7,562. At the end, the cost will depend on the area being treated and your geographic location, and the total number of sessions needed to achieve the desired results.

HIFU treatment is safe

HIFU uses ultrasound waves to target the desired skin area, ultrasound has been used in clinical settings and it is considered very safe if performed by a trained and qualified professional. The same thing applies to HIFU in cosmetic settings, skin lift treatment with HIFU considered safe with proper use of the machine and the ultrasound frequency, and as with any cosmetic procedure, there is a possibility of skin redness at areas of skin being treated, but it should disappear within a few hours and in rare cases, some clients may experience slight temporary swelling, tingling, or tenderness to the touch. According to another study result that was “Seventy‐five patients (73 female, 2 male) with Fitzpatrick skin phototypes 2‐4 were enrolled in the study. After treatment, improvement in nasolabial, jawline, submental, and neck areas was separately evaluated. The rate of improvement in each area was more than 80% according to the physicians' assessment, while patients' satisfaction degree in each area was over 78%. The most common adverse effect was pain, reported in 25.3% of the patients during the procedure, while transient erythema was reported in 6.7%. Both resolved spontaneously after the procedure”. (Serdar et al. 2019) as we can see from the study results in this article, discomfort and a slight tingling sensation of the treated area may persist for a few weeks. Rarely, patients may experience temporary numbness or bruising, but these side effects usually go away after a few days. Another case study was done showing the overall patients’ satisfaction. Per (et al.2015) study results: Twenty-eight subjects with mild-to-moderate age-related facial laxity were included in the study. The mean age of the subjects was 48 (range 29–74) years. About 32.1% of the subjects showed significant improvement and 57.1% showed improvement of facial laxity in their follow-up photographs. All of them (100%) replied that they were either greatly satisfied or satisfied with the results at three-month follow-up. None of the subjects experienced any serious adverse events, including fat atrophy after the procedure. The statistics provided in the study show patients satisfaction rate was high, and all patients were satisfied with the outcome treatment result. The best part about this treatment is that you are able to resume your normal activities immediately after you leave the provider’s office with minimum to no side effects. The side effect may include tingling, some slight redness, or swelling may occur, but it should subside quickly.

Conclusion

From all the information gathered, In my opinion, the use of HIFU could gain more popularity in skin lifting and rejuvenation in the near future, for its advantages over the procedures already available in the market. According to the article, High-intensity focused ultrasound has only recently made its way in the plastic surgery community, with preliminary studies being promising and exciting. It has been shown to be safe at much higher doses and duration than are typically necessary for the outpatient setting (ML J et al 2011). HIFU could fairly be new because it recently made its way into the cosmetics and beauty community and since its using ultrasonic waves to penetrate the targeted skin tissues, studies proven that its a safe treatment for older and younger generations. Like any cosmetic procedure, candidates may experience tingling, redness, and swelling, those effects should resolve within weeks, and it shouldn’t prevent the candidates from their work or their daily activities.

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