Ultraformer takes only 2 to 25 minutes to perform, depending on the targeted area. It is 2.5 times faster than Ultherapy & more comfortable.

1-3 sessions, depending on the concern. 

1 session for mild skin laxity, whilst 2-3 sessions are advisable for facial contouring & fat destruction. 

The Ultraformer MPT is by far the most comfortable HIFU device on the market, far more comfortable than the previous model & Ultherapy. For super sensitive patients, we offer nitrous laughing gas.

Ultraformer & HIFU can target double chins by destroying fat & tightening the fibroseptal network. The ideal patient should have-

• Stable body weight
• Low to medium volume of under chin fat
• Mild to moderate skin laxity
• 2-3 sessions for optional results

Both devices use ultrasound energy to lift, tighten & rejuvenate the skin. Ultherapy has an ultrasound guide (for depth reading, however this is rarely used). Ultraformer MPT has-

• Faster treatment times
• Micropulsed technology for better results
• Linear coagulation zones 

Ultherapy is approximately 10 years old, Ultraformer 3 is 6 years old, Ultraformer MPT is new for 2024.

Cutis Dermatology Brisbane uses Ultherapy, our clinic in Sydney uses the Ultraformer MPT.

Dr Van Park & I employ HIFU – Ultraformer MPT & Ultherapy to precisely target fat pads of the face, including jowls & nasolabial pads. Results can be seen in 2 weeks, however it will take 3-5 months for best results. Most patients will require 2-3 sessions for maximal benefits. 

Not everyone is a candidate for facial contouring, dermal thickness & subcutaneous fat must be of appropriate depth. This treatment is often combined with lower face injectables for best outcomes. 

The MPT stands for micro pulse technology which is the latest Ultraformer model. MPT delivers superimposed energy 25 times finer than the previous model. The Ultraformer 3 is just over 6 years old. 

Not only is the MPT better at delivering energy, it is nearly 3 times faster than the older Ultraformer 3, and hurts less. 

The two main treatments that I combine HIFU with are-

1. Lower face anti-wrinkle injections. These injections reduce the pull of muscles of the lower face, in turn amplifying the results of Ultraformer. Injections can be performed on the day of treatment.
2. Collagen stimulating injectables. This group of injectables are designed to provide additional collagen in the deeper layers of skin to help reduce facial wrinkles, laxity & provide a non-surgical face lifting option in select patients. The type of injectable depends on facial volume, age, skin quality (measure of dermal collagen), skin hydration & turgor. Dr Van Park  & I employ injectables that include hybrid complex hyaluronic acids, PLLA, CAH, polycaprolactone & polynucleotides. We tailor dilution ratios based upon clinical features. 

Note: Ultraformer MPT Version 4 is only offered in Sydney. Contact the clinic for an appointment. 

Finding the correct treatment for your concerns is paramount for safe & effective outcomes. The skin tightening algorithm is supercomplex with many other treatments available. Here are some of the other methods my team & I employ to treat laxity & tighten skin. 

• Collagen stimulation with biostimulant injectables
• RF microneedling using devices such as Genius RF, Potenza, Morpheus8, Secret RF
• Fractional CO2 lasers
• Thread lifts
• Dermal fillers
• Deep peels
• NuEra, TempSure, & Pelleve
• DMS muscle stimulation, TriLift

Given correct patient selection, side effects are rare. Common ones include bruising, swelling, & prolonged redness. Uncommon side effects include nerve pain & fat loss. More on the latter below. 

Yes, this is why we use Ultraformer & Ultherapy- to target superficial fat for contouring. Despite denial from companies over the years, fat loss is an expected outcome & is the desired outcome when HIFU is employed for facial contouring (as opposed to skin tightening). 

Goto pubmed.com, search HIFU or high intensity focused ultrasound and fat atrophy & you will find lots of publications regarding this energy device & fat loss.  

Fat loss depends on several factors including-

• Treatment area (most commonly superficial fat pads)
• Depth (greater than 1.5 to 1.8 mm)
• Energy levels
• Stacking or overlaps
• Facial anatomy, dermal thickness & fat pad thickness

Whilst there are no specific guidelines, here are my thoughts-

For patients with normal (to low) facial volume, this treatment should be limited to a few sessions every 5 to 10 years. I space mine 7 to 8 years apart. 

Conversely for those with high facial volume, including jowls, 2-4 sessions can be conducted within 12 to 18 months as the primary indication is facial contouring, namely destruction of superficial fat pads (plus collateral skin tightening). 

Ignore the marketing jargon for the next few minutes. Let us look at the evidence as to the chances of you responding to this treatment. This ranges from- 

• Highest satisfaction rate: 81.3%
• Lowest patient satisfaction rate: 51.2%

These studies were conducted as monotherapy (HIFU only, using a variety of ultrasound devices. The 81.3% as a subjective measure of improvement with the Ultherapy device (this, I suspect was a marketing move).

By careful profiling of patients (age, skin condition, dermal thickness, fat thickness, quality of collagen, degree of laxity), we can get real world responses of 70-80%. With combination treatments such as lower face neurotoxin & collagen stimulating injectables, this can nudge 80-85%.

Ultrasound can treat double chins by selectively destroying fat & provide tightening of the  skin under the chin. Depending on the amount of fat & laxity 2-3 sessions are required. 

I much prefer this treatment over deoxycholic acid (Kybella) as HIFU has no downtime, hurts less & provides superior skin tightening. HIFU is often combined with dermal fillers in the jawline to provide better jawline definition & side profiles. 

Ultraformer MPT can also address skin tightening on the neck, chest & decolletage areas.

Depending on the skin quality, we may combine collagen stimulation dermal fillers, skin boosters or fractional lasers in addition to ultrasound. 

Lasers are awesome for textural changes including fine lines, pigmentation, blotchy skin & sun damage. Lasers deliver light energy to the upper layers of skin. Conversely ultrasound energy is delivered to the deeper layers of skin, sparing the upper levels. 

Superficial skin concerns are best addressed with lasers.

Deeper skin concerns such as laxity & jowls are best addressed with ultrasound. 

HIFU using the Ultraformer MPT is more powerful than Morpheus8 RFM. RFM (Radiofrequency microneedling) uses radio wave energy whilst Ultraformer uses ultrasound technology. RFM microneedles break the skin’s surface, whilst Ultraformer MPT does not break the skin’s barrier. This results in faster recovery times & less swelling with Ultraformer MPT as compared to RFM. 

Thermage uses RF or radiofrequency to heat up the skin &, if you are lucky, provide skin tightening. I did use Thermage for 4 years, but I found the results unpredictable & super expensive (mainly due to the consumable costs). Ultraformer MPT & Ultherapy, in my opinion, are much better treatments. 

Softwave is another form of ultrasound, however the depth of penetration is only 1.5 mm. The skin tightening provided by Softwave is less effective (from a depth perspective) as compared to Ultraformer.

A curated anti-aging skin care routine that pairs well with skin tightening devices & injectables include-

AM: Antioxidant mix of ascorbic, ferulic acids & tocopherol. SPF 50+

PM: Retinol + pulsed tretinoin twice a week

For more information on our curated range, book an appointment with Louise at Dr Van Park’s practice in Sydney. 

No. A deep plane facelift is the treatment of choice for moderate to severe skin laxity in all skin types. Ultraformer MPT, laser resurfacing, RFM, threads & collagen stimulating injectables are indicated for mild to moderate skin laxity.

Ultrformer III is over 7 years old, MPT is the latest version. Though Ultraformer III is still effective, the MPT has the following advantages-

• More effective than Ultraformer III in fat destruction
• Faster treatment time
• Less pain
• Better skin texture & skin quality improvements

We have upgraded our old Ultraformer III with the MPT in Sydney. To see if this treatment is right for you, call Dr Van Park’s clinic & make a booking with our dermal therapist, Louise. 

For injectables, book a consultation with Dr Kate Gerathy.