The short version
Timings in the table come from Cleveland Clinic's pages on ultrasound and radiofrequency tightening. They describe each technology in general, not one device.
| Feature | HIFU | Micro-focused ultrasound with imaging | Radiofrequency (RF) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | Focused ultrasound | Focused ultrasound, with a live picture of the tissue layers | Radiofrequency waves that heat the skin |
| Where it works | Small points at set depths under the skin, surface left intact | Small points at set depths, guided by the picture | The skin and the layers below it, heating from the surface down |
| When results show | Builds over three to six months | Builds over three to six months | Changes within two to six months |
| Sessions | One session at CHAMING, touch-ups later | Touch-ups later to keep pace with ageing | Some people need two to six treatments |
| At CHAMING | Yes | No | No |
Names you will see
Brand names often stand in for the technology. Ultherapy is a well-known brand of micro-focused ultrasound with imaging, and Thermage is a well-known brand of radiofrequency tightening. Other makers sell similar systems under other names. CHAMING offers HIFU, and neither of those two brands.
How HIFU and micro-focused ultrasound work
HIFU stands for high-intensity focused ultrasound. The handpiece concentrates ultrasound into small points at set depths under the skin and heats them enough to start a repair response. As new collagen forms over the following months, loose skin firms a little.
Micro-focused ultrasound is a version of the same idea, delivered through a handpiece with a built-in ultrasound viewer, so the practitioner can see the tissue layers and adjust the energy to them, as Cleveland Clinic describes it. A 2016 review in Clinics in Plastic Surgery adds that, unlike radiofrequency, micro-focused ultrasound can reach deep tissue without heating the skin surface.
How radiofrequency works
Radiofrequency devices use electromagnetic waves to heat the skin and the layers beneath it, which prompts new collagen and elastin, according to Cleveland Clinic. It says changes show within two to six months, that some people need two to six treatments, and that mild redness or swelling should fade within 24 hours. Rarely, the heat can cause burns, so it matters that the person holding the device is experienced.
Devices differ inside this group. A 2022 systematic review of monopolar and bipolar radiofrequency devices (23 articles) found measurable improvement in skin laxity of the face and body, with an acceptable complication profile, mostly minor and short-lived. It also found that major complications were reported more often with monopolar than with bipolar devices.
What the research says about HIFU
A 2025 systematic review of 45 studies reported improvements in skin laxity of roughly 18% to 30% in the lower face, neck and area around the eyes, with fewer than 5% of patients reporting transient redness, swelling or mild discomfort. A 2020 meta-analysis of 17 studies (477 people) found a moderate improvement and short-term safety.
Between them, the reviews say the evidence is not complete: most studies did not follow people for long, and treatment settings are not standardised. Each review in this guide looks at one technology, so none of them can rank HIFU against radiofrequency for your face.
Which one fits you?
None of the three replaces a facelift. Cleveland Clinic, writing about ultrasound lifting, describes the typical candidate as someone with mild to moderate laxity and says it does not replace a surgical facelift. Its page on radiofrequency says the same thing in different words: it works best for people who are just starting to show signs of ageing, and less well on severely sagging skin.
So the choice comes down to a few practical things:
- The area: face, neck, around the eyes or body, because each system lists the areas it is made for
- How much slackness there is, and whether surgery is the honest answer
- The practitioner, and whether they are trained on the exact device in use
- Budget and the time you have in Hanoi
What does each cost in Hanoi?
We offer HIFU only, so these are the only prices we can list. We do not sell micro-focused ultrasound with imaging or radiofrequency tightening, and will not guess at what other places charge. Whatever you choose, ask for the total for the areas you want in writing.
| MiniLift: one area, 300 shots100 min | 5,000,000₫ ≈ $190 |
| Full face: about 800 shots110 min | 10,000,000₫ ≈ $380 |
| C Lift: face and neck, about 1,200 shots120 min | 13,800,000₫ ≈ $524 |
Per session. Our guide to HIFU prices explains shots and works out the price per shot.
Questions to ask before you choose
These work for any of the three, at any studio.
- How many shots, pulses or passes, for which areas, and what is the total?
- Who does the treatment, and are they trained on that device? Some branded systems list their authorised providers on the maker's website.
- Is there a skin check first, and do they ask about implants, pregnancy and recent sunburn?
- What happens if the treatment turns out not to suit your face?