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3D SkinMed/HIFU - Please Dont Do It Until You Know All the Risks - UK

UPDATED FROM JoanneUK
3 months post

PRP update

JoanneUK
Its almost 4 weeks since I had PRP and I can definitely notice a difference. My whole face is looking plumper, the hollowness under my eyes has reduced, and my cheeks look fuller. Nothing looks artificial or 'done' either, the increased volume is my own 'new' fat so has grown in all the places and ways it naturally would. This has 'lifted' the skin from my lower face somewhat, I have reduced sagging around the jowl area and my nose to mouth lines have softened.
Im very happy with the results and Im starting to see a small glimmer of my old face back, so far so good!
I still have hollow temples and Ive seen no improvement to the area above my lip and around the chin/mouth yet. Im still unable to use actives on my skin also.
I'll update again in a couple of weeks by which point any further improvements gained through the PRP will be the end result.

Replies (5)

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November 2, 2016
Thanks so much for sharing this review saved me I am same age as you and was just about to start this crap .. I am so sorry and hope everything will be ok I would also suggest that you start using dermaroller it's the best thing I have ever tried and you can learn how to do it your self which is my case and as least its risk free all the best x
November 9, 2017
Thank you for this review I have a voucher for this aswell which I wont be using. I have been considering 4D laser facelifting also known as Fotana for facial volume loss. I've tried to do some research but cant find the answer I'm looking for. Has anyone had this or know if the same risks are involved? Contact details for any doctors who could advise would be helpful :)
November 3, 2016
I did Hifu face treatment and my skin is all burnt. How did this happen ?
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January 3, 2017
Hi, thank you so much for your honest review! There's a lady over on the ultherapy board who's had 2 ultherapy treatments, says she's addicted and looking forward to a third, but she is an Asian that started out with with a VERY THICK jaw and lower face so it's basically shrinking and narrowing her face, not "creating collagen" which many women are looking for, and might be confused by when reading her glowing review.

On another note, can you please tell me specifically what kind of PRP applications were done to your face? I'm thrilled to hear you're healing. :)
May 3, 2017
I'm so glad I read your review. Im booked for facial surgery Friday 5th may and was begining to think I'd found an alternative as I keep talking myself out of going ahead. I lost 3 stone over 2 year and my face is very hollow, ive always had deep set eyes but the wrinkles that have appeared on my cherks just age me terribly. I have tried a small amount of filler but that gave me really large cheeks making my eyes appear more inset and didn't remove the facial lines on my cherks. The PRP treatment you had is especially interesting, where was this done? Can you recommend?
May 8, 2017
thanks for taking the time out to inform us :) I bought a voucher for a HIFU facial but now going to ask for a refund and will look into PRP! x
UPDATED FROM JoanneUK
2 months post

The road to recovery

JoanneUK
Its been a while since my original post so I thought Id do a quick update.

Ive visisted several doctors who have all confirmed the facial fat loss I suffered as a result of 3D skinmed/HIFU is indeed permanent. All proposed an lower eyelid lift and full-face fat transfer as the only long term solution. Suggested temporary solutions included fillers and PRP.

Im unable to afford expensive surgery options and quite frankly they now scare me - after suffering a disaster once, anything 'permanent' does not fill me with a great deal of ease.

So Ive currently opted for the temporary fix - a few weeks ago I had hylauronic acid fillers in my undereyes and cheeks. I had very small amounts placed above the brow bone, at the temples, in the cheek hollows, either side of my chin just under the mouth, and at the base of my jawline right at the bottom of the cheek - the overall effect has given support to my sagging face and replaced lost volume, thereby going a little way to masking the damage 3D skinmed caused.

I look better, but still not like my old self of just a few short months ago.

My skin has thankfully begun to improve all by itself. The doctors I consulted all concluded HIFU had destroyed my skin barrier - this resulted in extreme moisture loss causing patchy, blotchy, shrivelled dry skin and wide open pores, very poor elasticity, continual irritation, and adverse textural changes that could not be solved by creams/moisturizers etc - adding any product to the face only irritated the skin further (due to the destroyed barrier) and prevented any possible healing.

So I went weeks with no make up or topical creams, only washing my face every other day with raw honey, and apllied a natural MSM solution 3-4 times a week. My skin began improving each day and Im now at the stage where I can apply make up and gentle topicals again (but not actives). It seems the MSM was key here - as soon as I brought that into equation the healing really stepped up and its still ongoing.

A week ago today I also had PRP. PRP can stimulate stem cells which can grow into fat cells - replacing lost fat in the face in areas where cells have been destroyed or died naturally. The volume acheived using this method is always minimal (it in no way compares to fat grafting etc), however, any natural volume-gain to my face at this stage would be better than none at all.

The PRP takes 4-6 weeks before any results are noticeable - so thanks for reading folks and I'll update again as soon as I have anything to report back on the PRP.

Replies (4)

October 27, 2016
Isn't Skinmed targeting the collagen? and the machine is programmed to the measurable depths? Also, why don't you post before and after pictures to 'help' people make an informed decision- and also proof that it was infact skinmed hifu that caused the damage , perhaps a Doctors letter. Anybody can post anything so please be more supportive if you do wish to help the general public , as your post stands for nothing!! I have read that hifu can not touch the subcutaneous layer- so pls more evidence to support your posts.
November 3, 2016
Lets all applaud!! Feather gets paid extra by the pessimist committee to write reviews that stick strictly to pessimism in the form of just saying the opposite of whatever someone writes.. We applaud you for calling out this vicious victim's account of these "Made in China" machines, these ultrasound/Hifu/skinmed treatments that successfully melt fat in fat-faced vane asian women, that when they're used as a collagen multipliers in the untrained hands of idiots everywhere, thousands of stories will be posted by these, in your own words: "stand for nothing...uninformed...unhelpful..unsupported claim-making people like Joanne..". Science, dermatologists, plastic surgeons and 1000's of sunken faces warning us against it are all liars, huh? Your own lack of your call out for "proof" in the name of "anybody can write anything", was a fine example of what you say not to do. Do you get a bonus if you contradict yourself, too? Hey Feather -Speaking for all of us out here who are sick of people like you -shut the F up!
September 13, 2017
Just post the F'ing pictures then!
May 2, 2023
I’m so sorry this has happened to you. I have had a similar, although not as severe reaction to Focus Dual. Which is HIFU with radiofrequency microneedling. I intend to inform the FDA and all other governing bodies but they must surely know about this already? HIFU is used to obliterate cancer cells. It’s strong stuff. I can’t be mine this was ever considered safe for the face. Like the rest of you my life has been forever altered and I don’t know where to turn for advice. Or how to take action.
November 22, 2016
And what is PRP? Is it Platelet-rich plasma? wass it just one treatment with PRP? Thanks
January 22, 2017
I am SO sorry to hear of your story! Although these treatments claim to increase collagen production it comes with a cost. I had CO2 laser done and then a few years later had a bad bout of dermatitis that impaired my barrier. Can I ask you which MSM topical you have been using? Wishing you all the best
April 7, 2017
Hi , I hope you are getting better after the treatment, I am curious , apart from the fat loss , has it improved the skin elasticity at all?, I am considering it on my tummy, as I dont want tummy tuck, there is in fact plenty of fat that could do away with, but mainly looking for tightening, any thoughts please?
UPDATED FROM JoanneUK
1 month post

Addendum

JoanneUK
Apologies folks, I wrote 'UV rays' at the top of the above post which I typed out last night while I was very tired - I of course meant 'ultrasound waves' and not UV. Hope it doesnt confuse.

Replies (1)

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August 23, 2017
I am so glad you wrote this review. My surgeon recommended this as the next stage of recovery following my face bursting open after cellulitis brought on by parotitis. I can ill afford to lose any more volume. My face chucked out my fillers in the horrendous episode that left me in hospital for 2 wks. I will definitely avoid this ultrasound therapy thanks! X