HIFU Skin Tightening in Kent

HIFU stands for high-intensity focused ultrasound. It focuses ultrasound energy at set depths beneath the skin, including the supportive connective layer, briefly heating small zones of tissue. The aim is for your body to produce new collagen over the following months. The energy passes through the surface without breaking it, so there are no needles and no wound to heal.

HIFU works best for mild to moderate looseness, such as a softening jawline, early jowls, or loose skin under the chin, on the neck or on the body. Research suggests results are smaller where skin is very loose or there is more weight in the area. We check your skin's laxity first and tell you honestly if another option would suit you better.

Only in a limited way. HIFU is non-surgical, so it gives modest, gradual firming rather than the lift surgery can achieve. It does not remove loose skin, add volume or improve surface texture such as pores or scarring. For very loose skin, a surgical opinion may be the better route. For texture, treatments such as microneedling work at the skin's surface instead.

It can soften early jowls, but it cannot lift heavy or very loose skin. Jowls often come from a mix of looser skin and volume loss in the cheeks, and HIFU only addresses the first. Where volume loss is the bigger factor, dermal filler may suit better. We look at what is causing your jowls before suggesting any treatment.

Firming develops gradually. Many people notice a change over two to three months as new collagen forms. How long it lasts varies, and some people choose a yearly top-up. Studies show improvement lasting up to about a year, with little research beyond that. Changes are subtle rather than dramatic. We advise on how many treatments suit you at your laxity check.

Most people feel short bursts of heat and tingling with each pass, strongest over bony areas such as the jawline. Many find it uncomfortable rather than painful, though sensitivity varies. A session takes 30 to 40 minutes. We mark the treatment areas first, then work through them in passes.

Most people carry on with their day. Skin may look slightly flushed or feel tender for a few hours, and occasionally for a few days. Swelling and mild bruising can happen. Less common effects include temporary numbness or altered feeling in the treated area. Rarely, burns or unwanted fat loss can occur if energy is placed at the wrong depth.

HIFU is not suitable during pregnancy, over broken or infected skin, or where there are metal implants in the treatment area. We go through your medical history before treatment to check it is right for you. Tell us about any recent treatments, implants or skin conditions in the area you want treated.

HIFU is priced by area. Current prices at our Maidstone clinic are £80 for the full face, £100 for the full face and neck, and £100 for a single body area. These are the prices shown when you choose a time online, and we confirm the price with you before treatment starts.