Ultraformer HIFU effectively treats the superficial and deeper skin layers, as well as the Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System (SMAS) with a triple layer lifting effect. The treatment heats up and stimulates existing collagen fibres, causing them to thicken and shorten, giving you a long-term tightening and lifting effect.
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound is currently the only non-invasive medical device that allows the deepest penetration of energy, targeting depths of 1.5mm, 3mm and 4.5mm, for skin lifting and tightening.
Due to the high amount of energy that the Ultraformer HIFU emits, it is also used to melt facial fats while tightening the area. This is particularly useful for lower facelifts, double chins, neck tightening, and especially jowl reduction (fats around the corner of the mouth).
At this depth, the High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound is able to lighten pigmentation and brighten the skin. The amount of melanin in the skin will reduce by a fair amount after a few weekly treatments with the Ultraformer HIFU.
At 3mm, the heating of skin tissue is targeted mainly at skin tightening. Radiofrequency procedures, like Thermage and the Sylfirm X, are often used for skin tightening via heating the skin. The Ultraformer HIFU is also able target this depth, where structural collagen is situated, and deliver precise energy to stimulate collagen production.
4.5mm is where the lifting effect takes place. The Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System (SMAS) is usually situated at this depth. This is the layer surgeons tighten when performing a surgical face lift. This means stimulation and tightening of the SMAS layer with the Ultraformer HIFU will provide excellent lifting results.
Other than the usual 1.5mm, 3mm, and 4,5mm, the Ultraformer III HIFU has also developed new handpieces to target the double chin and areas on the body.
The new handpieces come in depth of 6mm, 9mm, 13mm. these handpieces are deep enough to target deep fat pockets such as those around the arms, inner thighs, bra fat, tummy, and the double chin.
The Ultrafomer HIFU is a comfortable procedure. Patients might feel a mild ache along bony areas, like the jawline. This is due to the ultrasound energy reflecting off the facial contours.
Ultrafomer HIFU takes approximately 60 minutes and has minimal downtime. Your skin may appear slightly flushed immediately after the treatment, but any redness will subside within a few hours.
Skin tightening and face lifts are standard offerings at the majority of clinics. Dr. YZ Tan believes that facial rejuvenation procedures should be individualised, from lasers to HIFU non-surgical face lifts. What would be an ideal approach for one patient is not necessarily the same for someone else. During consultation, Dr. YZ Tan will perform an examination to help you better understand the areas that can benefit most from HIFU.
Dr. YZ Tan has had the honour of being invited by Ultraformer manufacturer, Classys, to Seoul, Korea for a one-to-one discussion and training with renowned Seoul aesthetic doctor Dr Cho Chang-hwan of Dongan Centre Clinic. This allowed him to move away from standard protocols and develop his own techniques for individualised HIFU procedures.
At the same time, he was invited to Seoul for the International Microaesthetic Surgery Anatomy Masterclass (IMSA) hands-on practicals. This helped him recognise the specific anatomy of the facial SMAS layer, crucial in helping him formulate his own technique of facial tightening and lifting. From his training, Dr. Tan has developed a technique that yields impressive results. Patients typically experience visible jowl and double chin reduction in one treatment*.
*Results may vary from patient to patient
There are only a handful of HSA (Health Science Authority)-approved HIFU procedures that are certified to be operated by a trained doctor in Singapore. Although beauty salons also offer ‘HIFU’ procedures, these are not medical grade machines or HSA-approved for medical use by a doctor. A HIFU procedure performed at beauty salons might not only yield unsatisfactory results, but could also cause more damage than benefits if performed incorrectly.
The HIFU procedure in our clinic is done with a Ultraformer HIFU. Dr. YZ Tan’s preference for using this HIFU stems down to its effectiveness, safety and it being the most popular HIFU procedure in Korea. Another popular HIFU procedure, more popularly known as Ultherapy, is also available at Mizu.
