HIFU treatment in Islamabad with Dr. Umbreen Munir Minhas uses focused ultrasound to heat deep layers of facial tissue, so your skin tightens gradually over the following months with no cuts or injections.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Umbreen Munir Minhas, MBBS, FCPS (Plastic Surgery). Last updated October 2026.
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) concentrates sound energy into tiny heated points beneath the skin. These small injuries prompt the tissue to contract and make new collagen as it heals.
Different cartridges reach different depths. A 4.5 mm cartridge targets the SMAS, the firm layer a surgeon lifts in a facelift, and a 3.0 mm cartridge targets the deep skin.
The clean line of the jaw starts to blur as deep tissue loosens with age. HIFU firms the tissue along the jaw before jowls become heavy.
Loose skin around the eyes and a slightly lower brow make you look tired. Tightening this area can give a small, natural lift.
Thin, lined skin on the neck shows age early. HIFU improves firmness here when the skin is loose but there are no thick bands.
Some people cannot take time away from work or family. HIFU leaves no wounds, so you can return to normal life the same day.
Gentle lines of energy above the brow lift it slightly. It suits mild hooding without heavy excess eyelid skin.
Deeper energy firms the lower cheeks and jawline. It suits early jowls in skin that is not yet very loose.
Treating the area under the jaw sharpens the angle. It suits mild softness rather than a large fatty double chin.
Shallower energy improves fine crepey lines on the neck. It suits thin loose skin without prominent neck bands.
Change builds as collagen forms. In one study, every facial area improved by 3 months and held at 6 months, with the jawline and eye area improving most. Photos below are shared with consent.
Illustrative images. See Dr. Umbreen’s patient results in the before and after gallery.
Dr. Umbreen checks how much your skin sags and how thick the fat is. HIFU suits mild laxity, so heavy sagging is directed to other options.
Come with clean skin and no makeup. Tell the clinic about any filler, threads or metal implants in the face, as these change where energy can go.
Ultrasound gel is applied and the handpiece is moved in lines across each area. A full face usually needs about 400 to 500 shots.
The skin may look slightly pink for an hour or so. You can apply makeup and return to work or home straight away.
| Time After Treatment | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Same day | Mild redness and a warm, tight feeling. |
| 24 to 48 hours | Slight swelling or tenderness along the jaw. |
| Week 1 | Any tingling or tender spots settle. |
| Weeks 2 to 4 | Skin starts to feel firmer. |
| Long term | Tightening continues as new collagen forms. |
Use daily sunscreen and a gentle moisturiser. Avoid strong exfoliating products for a few days while the skin is sensitive.
HIFU is low risk in trained hands, but problems do happen. A survey of 1,792 clinics in Japan collected 165 adverse events, so device quality and settings matter.
It cannot remove loose skin, lift heavy jowls or match a facelift. In thin faces, too much energy can make cheeks look gaunt.
Your fee is confirmed after assessment, once the areas are agreed. Ask for one written price before the session starts.
| Factor | How It Affects Your Fee |
|---|---|
| Areas | Full face and neck cost more than one area. |
| Shots | More lines of energy add to the fee. |
| Device | Medical-grade devices cost more to run. |
| Repeat sessions | Yearly maintenance adds to the total. |
Very cheap HIFU often uses fewer shots or a low-grade machine, so ask how many shots and which depths are included.
As a plastic surgeon, she knows where the facial nerves and fat pads lie, which guides where energy is placed. She will also tell you honestly if your sagging is beyond what a device can do.
Radiofrequency microneedling uses fine needles that release heat into the skin to improve texture and firmness.
| Feature | HIFU | RF Microneedling |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | Focused ultrasound | Radiofrequency through needles |
| Depth | Deeper, down to the SMAS | Within the skin |
| Main benefit | Lift and firmness | Texture, pores and scars |
| Skin surface | Untouched | Tiny needle marks |
| Redness afterwards | Brief | A few days |
The two are often combined, with HIFU for deeper firmness and microneedling for skin surface quality such as acne scars.
Dr. Umbreen sees patients privately at Omer Diagnostic & Specialist Clinics (ODC), 12-A, LG Floor, CBC Plaza, G-8 Markaz, Islamabad, Monday to Friday, 3:00 to 5:00 PM.
Tell her about recent fillers, threads, skin infections or a pacemaker, and bring photos if you have had HIFU before.
Choose a doctor-led clinic that assesses your skin first, uses a medical-grade device and explains depths and shot numbers. Avoid offers that promise a facelift result.
You feel short bursts of heat and a prickling ache, strongest over bone such as the jaw. Numbing cream and lower settings make it easier.
Results usually last about 12 to 18 months, as your face keeps ageing. A yearly maintenance session is a common way to keep the effect going.
One session is usually enough for each course of treatment. A second can be considered once the first result has fully developed, which takes several months.
There is no fixed age. It suits people with early laxity and reasonable skin quality. Very loose skin responds poorly, so it works as prevention more than correction.
Heat can affect filler in the treated layer. Dr. Umbreen avoids areas with recent filler or plans HIFU before filler so both treatments work as intended.
Patient guides on skin tightening and lifting from Dr. Umbreen’s blog.
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