RF Microneedling vs HIFU – which is best?
With so many technologies available to lift, tighten and smooth your skin it’s difficult to know what to go for. One of the most popular questions I get asked is – RF Microneedling vs HIFU – which is best?
I carry out both of these treatments regularly in my clinics, and am going to help you understand what they do, without the jargon.
RF Microneedling
This stands for Radiofrequency Microneedling – and is basically two treatments cleverly combined into one.
Radiofrequency on its own – uses flat or circular plates to send out waves which heat up the second layer of the skin. This causes a chain reaction of activity. It makes your skin cells reproduce more quickly, making more collagen and making your skin firmer.
Microneedling on its own – uses tiny needles which puncture the skin, causing little channels. The needles damage the top layer of the skin on purpose – to make it shed and heal, and become smoother.
RF Microneedling – is the same as Microneedling, however the needles used also send out the Radiofrequency wave at the same time. So you get the controlled damage, plus the heat which now goes deeper because it’s ‘shot’ out of the needles when they’re in the skin. This has a much better effect that performing the 2 treatments separately.
This treatment has become really popular thanks to before and after photos of tennis Mum Judy Murray. She underwent a transformation after 3 Radiofrequency Microneedling treatments. The brand of treatment she had was Morpheus8 (which uses Radiofrequency Microneedling technology). However there are many brands which offer this, including Focus Dual, DuaLift, Dermaforce etc.
What will it improve
RF Microneedling will improve lines, wrinkles, open pores, scarring, stretch marks, and loose/crepey skin.
HIFU
This stands for High Intensity Focussed Ultrasound. It’s known as the most advanced non-surgical facelift in the world – with virtually no downtime.
This treatment goes much deeper than RF Microneedling. The ultrasound waves ‘hit’ a layer called the SMAS layer, which lies underneath all of the skin. It causes ‘hot spots’ at the SMAS layer which makes it shrink, tighten and lift the face.
Ultherapy is a brand name (in case you’ve heard of this instead) which is almost the same as HIFU. It uses ultrasound and also targets the SMAS layer of the skin.
What will it improve
HIFU will improve jowls, sagging skin, lines and wrinkles, and it can also reduce fat.
So now to the question RF Microneedling vs HIFU – which is best?
Well based on what I’ve just told you – the answer is that if you want complete anti-ageing you should actually have both! It’s not one against the other, because they actually complement each other.
As this has become apparent – there are now systems which offer both of these treatments in combination. For example Focus Dual and DuaLift both have RF Microneedling and HIFU. They can both offer treatment plans which mix between the two, in a particular order depending on your age and skin.
So you may have RF Microneedling on one day, and on your next treatment you’d have HIFU. Then you may go back to RF Microneedling. It’s not as simple as a one treatment fits all approach – which is actually much better.
These treatments are becoming more and more tailored to the client, which is how it should be. What you don’t want – is to be offered a treatment because that’s the only option!
I hope this has helped you understand the differences, and how RF Microneedling vs HIFU is actually better worded RF Microneedling plus HIFU – for anti ageing anyway.