As we grow older, our bodies change. Our skin becomes thinner and loses its elasticity. This causes our skin to wrinkle and become saggy in certain areas. From head to toe, you may find yourself looking at someone completely different as you glance at the mirror every day. This is the process we call aging.
Until recently, the only way to reverse the signs of aging was to get cosmetic surgery such as a facelift or blepharoplasty. These surgical treatments are expensive and potentially dangerous. Recent technological advancements have made it possible to reverse the signs of aging through non-invasive, non-surgical treatments which have made anti-aging treatments more available and affordable for the average person.
High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) and Plasma Fibroblast treatment are both popular anti-aging treatments. Each comes with its own pros and cons and each is more appropriate in different situations. This means deciding which treatment is appropriate for you will require some research.
In this article we will discuss the key similarities and differences between the two treatments so you can make an informed decision about which path to go down.
If you are in the Sydney, Brisbane or Gold Coast area of Australia you could always give us a call or book a consultation and our lovely staff can recommend which treatment is the right one for you.
Let’s discuss what each treatment involves:
What Is HIFU?
Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that provides structure to the skin. As we get older, our bodies produce less collagen and, therefore, our skin starts to lose its youthful structure. HIFU is a non-invasive, non-surgical skin-tightening method that uses focused ultrasound energy to stimulate collagen production deep in the skin. This is achieved by heating the layers of skin just below the surface to a point where the cells are slightly damaged. While this may seem counterintuitive, the damage actually stimulates the cells to increase collagen production. This increase in collagen production results in firmer, tighter skin producing a younger, rejuvenated look.
What Is Fibroblast Therapy?
Fibroblasts are collagen producing cells contained just below the surface of the skin. Fibroblasts help the skin to heal from wounds as well as maintaining skin firmness and tightness. Fibroblast therapy is a non-surgical skin-tightening technique that stimulates fibroblasts and causes the skin to regenerate and tighten. This is achieved by using a pen-like device that discharges a tiny electric current to the skin. The device doesn’t actually touch the skin itself, the current jumps from just above the skin. The effects from this current cause the skin to tighten.
First, Let’s Look At The Similarities Between The Two:
Both HIFU and Plasma Fibroblast treatment are non-invasive, non-surgical anti-aging treatments that offer alternatives to surgical methods.
HIFU is an alternative to a surgical facelift and plasma fibroblast is an alternative to blepharoplasty, commonly known as an eye lift or eyelid surgery. Because they are non-surgical, they have no downtime (HIFU) or little downtime (plasma) after the treatment, meaning you can continue life as normal afterwards. This is different from surgical methods that can take weeks to recover from.
Both methods are considerably cheaper than their surgical counterparts.
A traditional facelift can cost up to $25 000 whereas HIFU in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast will only cost up to $1250. You can expect to pay somewhere around $4500 – $8000 for a surgical eye lift compared to $1000 for the equivalent plasma fibroblast treatment.
HIFU and Plasma Fibroblast both stimulate the body to produce collagen, a naturally occurring protein.
Though they do it in different ways, the science behind HIFU and Plasma Fibroblast Treatment is similar. Both slightly damage cells beneath the skin to stimulate the body to produce more collagen. Plasma Fibroblast does this through small electric currents and HIFU through heat.
Now, Let’s Look At Some of the Differences Between The Two:
Each Treatment Can Be More Appropriate in Different Situations.
HIFU is more suited when you wish to treat a broad area such as your face, neck or abdomen. On the other hand, Plasma Fibroblast treatment works better for smaller more sensitive areas such as around the eyes, mouth or belly button. At Saba Medispa in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, we also have the ‘HIFU Mini’ treatment which can treat around the eyes and mouth.
(an example of an area that can be treated with Plasma Fibroblast treatment)
Visible Marks on the Skin After the Treatment.
HIFU uses ultrasound and works on layers beneath the skin’s surface. There are generally no visible effects to the surface of the skin after receiving HIFU except occasionally some slight redness or swelling that subsides after a few hours.
Plasma Fibroblast will leave small carbon dots on the skin that will fall off 5-14 days following the treatment. Immediately after the treatment the skin will be slightly red and swollen, which should subside within a few hours. Plasma Fibroblast can also cause depigmentation in the skin, which makes it less appealing for people with darker skin.
(small dots left on the skin after Plasma Treatment)
How Long It Takes To See Results.
You can generally see some results from Plasma Fibroblast treatment straight away and full results should be visible within 2-4 weeks. However, the skin will continue to improve over 2-3 months. Results from Plasma Fibroblast should last for 2- 3 years.
With HIFU you may see some slight improvements straight away, however the full effects of the treatment can take from 3 – 6 months. The results from HIFU can be expected to last for around 2 years following the treatment.
(results after a HIFU treatment)
As you can see, HIFU and Plasma Fibroblast treatment are both non-invasive, non-surgical anti-aging methods that offer an alternative to traditional more expensive and dangerous surgeries. Both are based on sound science and stimulate the body to produce collagen. However, depending on what you are looking to achieve, one treatment may be more suited to you.
