HIFU — high-intensity focused ultrasound — is the leading non-surgical treatment for lifting and tightening. It works at depths that creams, peels and even most injectables cannot reach, including the same connective tissue layer a surgeon tightens during a facelift. At ELM Aesthetics HIFU is carried out by Georgia Abrams, Skin & Laser Therapist (Level 3 qualified), or by Melody Steel, a Nurse Prescriber with over 19 years’ experience and a background in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery unit at St James’s Hospital. Both practitioners are fully insured.
How it works
The device delivers precisely focused ultrasound energy to specific depths beneath the skin — typically 1.5 mm, 3 mm and 4.5 mm — creating tiny points of controlled heat in the deeper tissue while leaving the surface untouched. The body responds by producing new collagen and elastin and by contracting existing fibres. The result is a gradual lifting and tightening that develops over the following two to three months as that new collagen matures.
What it treats
- Sagging along the jawline and early jowls
- Loose skin on the neck and beneath the chin
- Drooping of the brow and heaviness of the upper eyelids
- Loss of definition in the cheeks and mid-face
- Overall skin laxity and loss of firmness
It is often combined with Profhilo or polynucleotides to improve skin quality alongside the lift, or with filler where volume has also been lost.
What to expect
The full face takes around an hour; face and neck up to ninety minutes. You will feel heat and a prickling or tingling as the energy is delivered, more noticeable over bony areas — manageable for most people, and your practitioner adjusts the settings to your comfort. The skin may be slightly pink or feel tender for a few hours; there is no downtime. Two sessions three months apart are recommended for full results, with a discount when both are booked together.
Honest limitations
HIFU is a treatment for mild to moderate laxity. It cannot achieve the result of a surgical facelift in someone with significant loose skin, and results develop slowly rather than being visible on the day. Outcomes vary from person to person, depending on age, skin quality and how well your body produces collagen, and typically last 12 to 18 months.
What it costs
A discount is offered when both recommended sessions are booked together. A deposit will be required to secure your appointment.
Your questions answered
Does HIFU hurt?
You will feel heat and a prickling sensation, more so over bony areas. Most people find it manageable, and settings are adjusted to your comfort.
When will I see results?
Some people notice a little tightening immediately, but the real result develops over eight to twelve weeks as new collagen forms, and continues to improve for up to six months.
How long does it last?
Typically 12 to 18 months. A maintenance session once a year is common.
Is it a replacement for a facelift?
For mild to moderate laxity, HIFU offers a meaningful lift without surgery. For significant loose skin, surgery remains the more effective option, and we will tell you honestly which category you fall into.
Why two sessions?
The second session, three months after the first, builds on the collagen response already underway and gives a fuller, longer-lasting result.