Ultrasound in Skin Treatments: How It Works and Where We Use It

Most of us know ultrasound from hospital scans, but the same sound-wave technology has a place in skin care too. At Avismo we use it in two quite different ways: focused deep beneath the skin to lift and firm with HIFU skin tightening, and at the surface to support firmness and tone as part of the Profacial Deluxe. Here is how each one works, and how our team decides which is right for you.

What is ultrasound?

Ultrasound is sound at a frequency too high for us to hear. As it travels through the body it carries energy, and depending on how that energy is delivered it can create an image, a gentle vibration or a precise point of heat. In skin treatments, it is the vibration and the heat that matter.

HIFU: focused ultrasound for lifting and firming

HIFU stands for high intensity focused ultrasound. The handpiece focuses ultrasound energy at set depths beneath the skin, creating tiny points of heat in the deeper supporting layers while leaving the surface intact. That controlled heat encourages your body to make new collagen, so over the following 8 to 12 weeks the skin gradually becomes firmer and more lifted.

We use HIFU on the lower face and jawline, the neck, the eyes and forehead, and on some body areas. It suits people with mild to moderate laxity who want a subtle, natural lift without needles or surgery, so it is often part of the conversation if you come to us about volume loss and sagging or a softening neck and jawline. It is not a replacement for a surgical facelift, and we will tell you honestly if your skin is unlikely to respond.

On the day, a layer of ultrasound gel is applied and the handpiece is passed over each area in lines. You feel warmth and brief tingling as the energy is delivered, and most people go straight back to their day afterwards. Results generally last 9 to 12 months, and many clients repeat the treatment once a year. Every course starts with a free consultation and test patch, and prices begin at £295 for the lower face, the neck, or the eyes and forehead (see our price list).

Ultrasound in the Profacial Deluxe

The Profacial uses ultrasound in a much gentler way. After your skin has been cleansed, exfoliated, cleared of congestion and hydrated, the Deluxe (£95) adds three finishing technologies: ION lifting, multipolar radiofrequency and an ultrasound handpiece. The ultrasound works at the surface, using sonic vibration to stimulate fibroblasts, the cells that produce collagen and elastin, to support firmness and tone.

There is no downtime, so a Profacial Deluxe fits easily into a lunch break. The Express (£70) covers the cleanse, extraction and hydration without the extra technologies, and is a good choice if clearer, brighter skin is your main goal.

HIFU or a Profacial: which is right for me?

They answer different questions. If you are noticing looser skin under the chin, along the jawline or around the brow, HIFU works on the deeper layers where that support comes from. If your skin looks dull or congested and you would like a boost in firmness at the same time, the Profacial Deluxe is the better fit. If texture, fine lines or crepey skin are part of the picture, HIFU can be paired with SkinPen microneedling or polynucleotides, which improve the quality of the skin's surface while HIFU works on firmness.

Is ultrasound treatment safe?

Both treatments are non-invasive, but they are not right for everyone. We do not offer HIFU during pregnancy or breastfeeding, to anyone with a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, over metal implants in the treatment area, or where there is an open wound or active infection. Recent dermal filler or threads in the area are assessed individually. That is why every treatment starts with a full medical history and a conversation about what you would like to achieve.

Who carries out ultrasound treatments at Avismo?

HIFU and the Profacial are carried out by Andrea, a registered nurse with more than 40 years of healthcare experience, including in dermatology, and by Lorna, an HCPC-registered operating department practitioner. You can meet the whole team before you visit, and our Save Face accredited clinic on Edison Road is an easy drive from Huntingdon, St Neots and Cambridge.

Not sure which treatment suits your skin? Book a free consultation and we will talk you through the options, with no pressure to go ahead.

General information, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Suitability is decided in person after an assessment, and the consultation for that is free.