Why HIFU isn’t one-size-fits-all, and what that means for you

From the jawline to the delicate skin around the eyes, different concerns call for different treatment depths and settings, explains Dr Gerard Ee of The Clifford Clinic

HIFU uses focused ultrasound energy to stimulate collagen production beneath the skin, potentially improving firmness and facial contours.

PHOTO: THE CLIFFORD CLINIC

Published Oct 23, 2026, 04:00 AM

Fine lines, a less defined jawline and sagging skin are among the more visible signs of ageing.

For those looking to address these concerns without undergoing invasive surgery, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is one option, says Dr Gerard Ee, medical director and co-founder of The Clifford Clinic .

“HIFU works by directing focused ultrasound energy beneath the skin, creating controlled heat that causes collagen fibres to contract and stimulates the body’s natural repair response.”

“This may lead to gradual improvements in skin firmness and contour,” explains Ee, who has performed HIFU treatments since 2012.

What makes HIFU noteworthy is that the treatment approach can vary depending on what the patient hopes to address.

“The depth at which ultrasound energy is delivered, the areas targeted and the amount of coverage can all be adjusted according to the patient’s anatomy and concerns, allowing the treatment to be tailored to individual skin needs and preferred results,” adds Ee.

HIFU treatment depth and coverage are tailored to each patient’s anatomy and concerns. PHOTO: THE CLIFFORD CLINIC

HIFU treatment depth and coverage are tailored to each patient’s anatomy and concerns.

How HIFU is customised for different skin concerns

HIFU may be considered for patients with mild to moderate skin laxity who are looking to improve firmness or facial contours without surgery.

Depending on the technology and treatment settings, it may be used on areas such as the cheeks, jawline and under the chin. Certain approaches may also be considered for fine lines and delicate areas around the eyes.

Ee assesses skin thickness, facial volume, the degree of sagging, areas requiring support and any previous aesthetic procedures before deciding on the treatment approach.

“The face has broad surfaces, narrow areas and changing contours, so having different tools helps with adapting the treatment,” he says.

One consideration is how deeply the ultrasound energy needs to reach, as different skin concerns may require different treatment approaches.

For patients whose concerns involve deeper tissue support and facial contours, one option offered at the clinic is Tightan 2 .

“It delivers ultrasound energy at three depths: 1.5mm, 3mm and 4.5mm, allowing different tissue layers to be targeted depending on the patient’s concerns.”

“Shallower depths may be used to address concerns closer to the skin’s surface, while deeper treatment can target the tissue layers that help support facial contours,” explains Ee.

“The deepest setting targets the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), a layer of tissue that helps support the face. As ageing affects deeper tissues as well as the skin’s surface, treatment depth can matter when addressing sagging skin or a less defined jawline.”

Patients may experience tingling or a deeper aching sensation during treatment, depending on the area and settings. Numbing cream may be used to manage discomfort.

Beyond treatment depth, the number and placement of ultrasound shots also matter. Energy settings and treatment coverage can be adjusted according to the patient’s anatomy, with additional precautions needed for delicate areas such as around the eyes.

“Too few shots may leave insufficient coverage, even when the shots delivered are well placed. Think of sewing a seam; the stitches must be correctly positioned, and there must be enough of them to support the whole seam,” explains Ee.

The Clifford Clinic offers aesthetic treatments tailored to individual needs, with consultations to assess patients’ concerns and suitability. PHOTO: THE CLIFFORD CLINIC

The Clifford Clinic offers aesthetic treatments tailored to individual needs, with consultations to assess patients’ concerns and suitability.

Who is suitable for HIFU and what can it realistically achieve?

Not everyone is a suitable candidate for HIFU.

Ee notes that patients with very lean faces may be at risk of unwanted facial fat reduction, while those with significant acne scarring may benefit from addressing the scarring through a different treatment approach.

For more pronounced sagging, HIFU may not provide sufficient improvement. “A facelift or neck-lift consultation may be more appropriate in some cases,” he says.

HIFU may also be considered for selected body areas, including the abdomen, upper arms and inner thighs, using appropriate treatment equipment. “However, it is not intended as a weight-loss treatment,” adds Ee.

Even for suitable patients, improvements are generally modest and may take time to develop.

“Any changes tend to develop gradually over the following months, although the extent and duration of improvement vary depending on the patient and treatment,” he says.

Some patients may see little visible change. Temporary redness, swelling, tenderness, bruising or changes in sensation can also occur.

Ee adds that rather than comparing treatments by price or device name alone, patients should understand what is included, the potential risks and the degree of improvement that may reasonably be expected.

“Your HIFU consultation should explain the expected improvement, limitations, risks and alternatives. The aim is to choose an appropriate treatment and deliver enough of it, carefully, to give the patient a reasonable chance of benefiting,” says Ee.

Find out more about The Clifford Clinic’s HIFU treatments.

Plastic surgery/Aesthetic treatment

克利福德诊所的杰拉德·伊医生解释说，从下颌线到眼周娇嫩的肌肤，不同的皮肤问题需要不同的治疗深度和参数。

高强度聚焦超声（HIFU）利用聚焦超声能量刺激皮肤下胶原蛋白的生成，从而可能改善皮肤紧致度和面部轮廓。

照片：克利福德诊所

发布于 2026 年 10 月 23 日 上午 4:00

细纹、下颌线条模糊和皮肤松弛是衰老过程中比较明显的迹象。

克利福德诊所的医疗主任兼联合创始人杰拉德·伊医生表示，对于那些希望在不进行侵入性手术的情况下解决这些问题的人来说，高强度聚焦超声 (HIFU) 是一种选择。

“高强度聚焦超声（HIFU）的工作原理是将聚焦的超声能量引导到皮肤下，产生可控的热量，使胶原蛋白纤维收缩，并刺激身体的自然修复反应。”

“这可能会逐渐改善皮肤紧致度和轮廓，”自 2012 年以来一直进行 HIFU 治疗的 Ee 解释说。

HIFU 的显著特点在于，治疗方法可以根据患者希望解决的问题而有所不同。

“超声能量的输送深度、目标区域和覆盖范围都可以根据患者的解剖结构和需求进行调整，从而使治疗能够根据个人皮肤需求和理想效果量身定制，”Ee补充道。

高强度聚焦超声（HIFU）治疗的深度和覆盖范围会根据每位患者的解剖结构和具体需求进行个性化定制。图片：克利福德诊所

高强度聚焦超声治疗的深度和覆盖范围是根据每位患者的解剖结构和具体需求量身定制的。

HIFU如何针对不同的皮肤问题进行定制

对于皮肤松弛程度较轻至中度，希望在不进行手术的情况下改善皮肤紧致度或面部轮廓的患者，可以考虑使用高强度聚焦超声 (HIFU)。

根据所采用的技术和治疗方案，该技术可用于面颊、下颌线和下巴等部位。某些方法也可用于治疗眼周细纹和娇嫩肌肤。

Ee 会评估皮肤厚度、面部容量、下垂程度、需要支撑的部位以及任何先前的美容手术情况，然后再决定治疗方案。

“面部有宽阔的表面、狭窄的区域和不断变化的轮廓，因此拥有不同的工具有助于调整治疗方案，”他说。

需要考虑的一个因素是超声波能量需要达到的深度，因为不同的皮肤问题可能需要不同的治疗方法。

对于那些关注深层组织支撑和面部轮廓的患者，诊所提供的一种选择是 Tightan 2。

“它可以在三个深度（1.5毫米、3毫米和4.5毫米）输送超声能量，从而可以根据患者的具体情况针对不同的组织层进行治疗。”

“较浅的治疗深度可以用于解决靠近皮肤表面的问题，而更深的治疗则可以针对支撑面部轮廓的组织层，”Ee 解释道。

“最深层的治疗目标是表浅肌腱膜系统（SMAS），这是一层支撑面部的组织。随着年龄增长，衰老不仅影响皮肤表面，还会影响更深层的组织，因此在改善皮肤松弛或下颌线条不清晰等问题时，治疗深度至关重要。”

根据治疗部位和治疗参数的不同，患者在治疗过程中可能会感到刺痛或更深层的疼痛感。可以使用麻醉膏来缓解不适。

除了治疗深度之外，超声波照射的次数和位置也很重要。能量设置和治疗范围可以根据患者的解剖结构进行调整，对于眼周等敏感区域，则需要采取额外的预防措施。

“即使投篮位置很好，投篮次数太少也可能导致覆盖范围不足。想想缝衣服；针脚的位置必须正确，而且数量必须足够支撑整个缝线，”Ee解释道。

克利福德诊所提供根据个人需求量身定制的美容疗程，并会进行咨询以评估患者的顾虑和疗程是否适合自身情况。图片：克利福德诊所

克利福德诊所提供根据个人需求量身定制的美容治疗，并提供咨询服务以评估患者的顾虑和治疗方案的适用性。

哪些人适合接受高强度聚焦超声（HIFU）治疗？它实际能达到什么效果？

并非所有人都适合接受高强度聚焦超声治疗。

Ee 指出，面部非常瘦削的患者可能会面临面部脂肪减少的风险，而那些有严重痤疮疤痕的患者可能会受益于通过不同的治疗方法来解决疤痕问题。

对于更明显的皮肤松弛，高强度聚焦超声（HIFU）可能无法提供足够的改善。“在某些情况下，咨询面部拉皮或颈部拉皮手术可能更为合适，”他说道。

使用合适的治疗设备，HIFU 也可用于治疗特定身体部位，包括腹部、上臂和大腿内侧。“但是，它并非旨在减肥，”Ee 补充道。

即使对于合适的患者，疗效通常也比较有限，而且需要一段时间才能显现。

“任何变化往往都会在接下来的几个月里逐渐显现，尽管改善的程度和持续时间因患者和治疗方法而异，”他说。

有些患者可能几乎看不到明显变化。也可能出现暂时性的发红、肿胀、触痛、瘀青或感觉异常。

Ee补充说，患者不应仅仅根据价格或设备名称来比较治疗方法，而应了解治疗方案包含哪些内容、潜在风险以及可以合理预期的改善程度。

“您的 HIFU 咨询应该解释预期效果、局限性、风险和替代方案。目标是选择合适的治疗方案，并谨慎地给予足够的剂量，以使患者有合理的获益机会，”Ee 说。

了解更多关于克利福德诊所的HIFU治疗信息。

整形外科/美容治疗