High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Technology: Physical Principles, Biological Effects, and Clinical Applications in Facial and Neck Rejuvenation
5 affiliations
- 1Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080001, Colombia;
- 2Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, University of Zulia, Maracaibo 4002, Venezuela (P.D.); (A.S.)
- 3Departamento de Productividad e Innovación, Universidad de la Costa, Barranquilla 080001, Colombia
- 4Facultad de Ingenierías, Institución Universitaria Antonio José Camacho, Cali 760050, Colombia
- 5Facultad de Ciencias Administrativas y Económicas, Tecnológico de Antioquia Institución Universitaria, Medellín 050034, Colombia
Abstract
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) has emerged as a revolutionary non-invasive technology in aesthetic medicine, enabling targeted tissue remodelling and skin rejuvenation through precise thermal and mechanical effects. This narrative review provides a comprehensive examination of the physical foundations of HIFU, including acoustic wave propagation, piezoelectric energy conversion, and transducer design. It also explores its biological mechanisms, including collagen denaturation, neocollagenesis, fibroblast activation, and extracellular matrix remodelling. Clinically, HIFU has shown significant efficacy in improving skin laxity, reducing wrinkles, and enhancing facial and neck contours, with a favourable safety profile supported by multiple studies. The review also examines the limitations of conventional HIFU devices and describes the newest emerging multi-transducer platform with multi-depth cartridges and dynamic applicators. Key gaps in the literature include the scarcity of randomised controlled trials, limited data on higher Fitzpatrick skin phototypes, and the lack of standardised treatment protocols. By synthesising current evidence, this work positions HIFU as an established modality in aesthetic dermatology. A multi-transducer HIFU platform is discussed as a technically interesting emerging platform whose proposed advantages in precision, homogeneity, and comfort remain to be confirmed by independent comparative and randomised studies.
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BibTeX
@article{chacin2026highintensity,
title = {{High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Technology: Physical Principles, Biological Effects, and Clinical Applications in Facial and Neck Rejuvenation}},
author = {Maricarmen Chacín and Ivana Vera and Pablo Duran and Valentina Gutiérrez and Amurabit Santos and Julio Cesar Contreras-Velázquez and Ana Milena Rojas Calero and Lady Giovanna Muñoz and Antony Elias Lombana-Jiménez and José Alban Londoño Arias and Carlos Hernán González Parias and Valmore Bermúdez},
journal = {Biomedicines},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3390/biomedicines14102158},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13701621},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Technology: Physical Principles, Biological Effects, and Clinical Applications in Facial and Neck Rejuvenation
AU - Maricarmen Chacín
AU - Ivana Vera
AU - Pablo Duran
AU - Valentina Gutiérrez
AU - Amurabit Santos
AU - Julio Cesar Contreras-Velázquez
AU - Ana Milena Rojas Calero
AU - Lady Giovanna Muñoz
AU - Antony Elias Lombana-Jiménez
AU - José Alban Londoño Arias
AU - Carlos Hernán González Parias
AU - Valmore Bermúdez
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Biomedicines
DO - 10.3390/biomedicines14102158
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13701621
AB - High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) has emerged as a revolutionary non-invasive technology in aesthetic medicine, enabling targeted tissue remodelling and skin rejuvenation through precise thermal and mechanical effects. This narrative review provides a comprehensive examination of the physical foundations of HIFU, including acoustic wave propagation, piezoelectric energy conversion, and transducer design. It also explores its biological mechanisms, including collagen denaturation, neocollagenesis, fibroblast activation, and extracellular matrix remodelling. Clinically, HIFU has shown significant efficacy in improving skin laxity, reducing wrinkles, and enhancing facial and neck contours, with a favourable safety profile supported by multiple studies. The review also examines the limitations of conventional HIFU devices and describes the newest emerging multi-transducer platform with multi-depth cartridges and dynamic applicators. Key gaps in the literature include the scarcity of randomised controlled trials, limited data on higher Fitzpatrick skin phototypes, and the lack of standardised treatment protocols. By synthesising current evidence, this work positions HIFU as an established modality in aesthetic dermatology. A multi-transducer HIFU platform is discussed as a technically interesting emerging platform whose proposed advantages in precision, homogeneity, and comfort remain to be confirmed by independent comparative and randomised studies.
SN - 2227-9059
ER -