Thermage VS HIFU: Which Suits Me Better?

Thermage VS HIFU: Which Suits Me Better?

In the accompanying article we will talk about a significant point that is “Thermage VS HIFU: Which suits me better?” and will actually talk about it completely inside the article: 

As we age, there are commonly 3 classes of aging styles we fall into, with each aging style displaying or exhibiting distinct aging traits or attributes. While we will almost certainly have a mix or combination of features, this is a useful and valuable guide or manual to explain how different treatments may be more suitable for different sorts of individuals.

The 3 maturing styles are: “The Sinker”, “The Sagger” and “The Wrinkler”.The 3 aging styles are: “The Sinker”, “The Sagger” and “The Wrinkler“.

• “Sinkers” are described by volume loss around key zones of the face, for example, the sanctuaries, mid-face and cheeks. This can cause an sunken, “hollowed out” or withered/gaunt appearance. Between Thermage and HIFU, Thermage is presumably more suitable for sinkers because it does not melt fats as well as accelerate or quickens the gaunt appearance. Sinkers may also see more advantage with a combination or mix of skin tightening treatments including dermal fillers to combat or battle the volume loss. 
• “Saggers” normally complain of loose skin as well as tissue. This is because of the loss of elasticity in addition to collagen. HIFU is useful or valuable to stimulate skin tightening of the SMAS layer to achieve or accomplish a deeper or more profound lifting effect; while melting some excess fat as well as tissue in the lower face helps or assists to turn back the clock too.
• “Wrinklers” have predominantly wrinkly skin, often located around the brows, eyes as well as lips. Botox would be able to achieve or accomplish nice, immediately-visible results for these, however for a longer-lasting treatment, Thermage and/or HIFU can actually be used. An individual with multiple or several wrinkles as well as fine lines on the brows, around the eyes and also the face may actually benefit more from Thermage, while one with wrinkles and even saggy skin may actually be more suitable for a HIFU.

How Thermage / HIFU really works

Both Thermage and HIFU systems use energy to actually invoke as well as restore collagen production in the dermal layer of the skin. However, the sort of energy used is quite different: Thermage actually uses radio frequency (RF) energy while HIFU actually uses ultrasound (US) energy.

The heat energy generated from both Thermage as well as HIFU are able to penetrate or infiltrate the surface of the skin to the dermis layer to stimulate or invigorate the production of collagen. 

Thermage

The very 1st tissue tighening device to debut in the USA as well as approved by FDA since 2002, Thermage actually uses monopolar radio-frequency technology to deliver heat to the deep dermis. Moreover, it actually uses a technique referred to as bulk heating to tighten saggy skin, smooth wrinkles and at the same time stimulate new collagen production.

The primary response from the radio-frequency energy is actually immediate collagen contraction.  This actually gives the tightening effect, followed by a secondary response of wound healing, which further involves collagen remodelling as well as new collagen deposition. This causes the treatment effect to actually last for months after the initial skin tightening treatment.

Bulk heating by radiofrequency is usually considered diffused under the skin. This further enables Thermage to give an effective full-face rejuvenation as well as tightening effect.

Thermage actually heats the skin downwards from the surface (“top-down”); this makes it  to treat superficial skin problems well such as enlarged pores, very fine early wrinkles, superficial scars as well as acne. Thermage is therefore useful for improving skin texture too.

HIFU

HIFU machines, like Classys’ Ultraformer as well as Ultherapy uses high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), also referred to as micro-focused ultrasound (MFU), to actually deliver heat to deep facial tissues (heating from “inside-out”, as opposed to “top-down” for Thermage).

This actually allows HIFU to further target multiple or several depths under the skin, ranging from 1.5mm, 3.0mm to 4.5mm. The depth of 4.5mm reaches the sub-dermis as well as subcutaneous tissues and is actually deeper than what Thermage can achieve. Therefore, HIFU can actually tighten deep tissues in addition to the skin.

At the depth of 4.5mm, HIFU targets the SMAS short for superficial musculoaponeurotic system which is a thin, band-like muscle which spans the lower half, sides of face as well as the neck. The SMAS is also the same muscle which is actually targeted by plastic surgeons when doing a surgical “face-lift”! This further makes HIFU systems very efficient and effective in lifting saggy lower face as well as neck tissues.

Due to the ability of HIFU to actually reach depths of the subcutaneous tissue under the skin as well as the heat energy accumulated at such depths (approx. 60 to 70 degrees Celsius), this thermal-coagulation effect achieved is actually able to induce volume reduction of selected or particular target areas. This is particularly so, in the lower face like the jowls. Moreover, this actually makes HIFU systems a good choice for those with excess tissue as well as saggy areas. Conversely, those with little facial fats may actually achieve more advantages with Thermage.

How Long Does Thermage / HIFU Last?

The beauty of Thermage as well as HIFU systems is that their results are actually completely genuine and are also permanent (unlike fillers or threads, which can “dissolve” away) this is because they actually stimulate your body’s own mechanisms of collagen production. Collagen produced through this means is thus natural, safe (they are actually manufactured by your own fibroblast cells after all!) as well as long-lasting.

Of course, we continue to age and eventually, our collagen levels actually decrease again and alao signs of aging appear. This generally happens in about 12-18 months and this may actually be when a repeat skin tightening procedure may be quite beneficial.

Scientific studies as well as clinical trials have actually been performed to evaluate the effectiveness of both radiofrequency and also HIFU-based treatments for skin tightening as well as lifting. Furthermore, it has been found that skin as well as tissue tightening continues for about three months after the end of radio-frequency treatment, and that subsequent remodelling as well as re-orientation of collagen bundles and also the formation of new collagen is actually achieved over months after treatment.