HIFU lifting in Hanoi

MiniLift or C Lift — and how many shots

MiniLift works on one area you choose — both cheeks, or the jawline, for example — with 300 shots. It suits slackness that has started in one place, or anyone who would rather begin with a smaller area.

C Lift covers the whole face and the neck in one session, with 900 to 1,200 shots depending on the size of the area. It suits slackness across the cheeks, jaw and neck together, handled as a whole rather than one area at a time.

Which one fits is decided at the consultation, once your skin has been looked at — not picked from a menu.

What happens in the session

Our doctor looks at where the skin has loosened and settles the area and the energy level with you. Tell us at this point if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a metal implant or an electronic device in your body.

The skin is cleansed, the area is mapped and a thin layer of gel goes on so the handpiece sits evenly. The doctor then passes the HIFU handpiece over each area in turn; the energy works on the layer beneath the skin without breaking the surface. Say so the moment it feels like too much, and the energy is adjusted.

The gel is wiped off, the skin is soothed and sunscreen goes on before you leave, together with what to avoid over the following week or so.

Aftercare, and fitting it around a trip

For the first days, avoid massaging the face, washing it with hot water or scrubbing the treated area, and skip exercise that makes you sweat heavily — gym, swimming, sport. Leave out alcohol and smoking, eat normally rather than dieting, moisturise if the skin feels dry, and wear sunscreen outdoors.

For the first 7 to 10 days, avoid sleeping face-down and limit sleeping on your side. A hydrating mask helps in the first week. Some redness, bruising or swelling can appear that week; if it does, message us and we will tell you how to handle it.

If you are visiting Hanoi, it is a single session, so it fits a short stay. Plan it so the days after it do not include beach or pool days or heavy exercise.

What it will and will not do

The change builds gradually, because it works through the skin's own renewal — it is not there the next morning. Studies of micro-focused ultrasound report a clear improvement at around 90 days that is still there after one to two years, with a repeat session every 12 to 18 months to maintain it (Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology). Those are figures for the technology in general; how much changes for you is assessed in person.

It is not surgery and it does not give a surgical result. It is a non-invasive option for skin that has started to loosen.

When to wait

Get it checked at a hospital first if you are taking oral acne medication or stopped it less than six months ago; if the skin is infected, blistering, broken or sunburnt; if you have had a peel, laser or microneedling in the last two weeks; or if inflamed acne is spreading and painful. Tell us beforehand if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.