I won a free HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) skin tightening treatment from Shining Way Esthetics in December of 2018. Brenda Musia performed the treatment on me. Brenda is a fantastic esthetician and is doing quarterly facials on me going forward. My first one will be at the end of March of 2019, when I go back to do my “after” pictures from my HIFU treatment.

No one in their right mind would pass up an opportunity for a free treatment that boasts the benefits of collagen production and skin tightening. So, on Friday, December 28, 2018 I found myself at Shining Way Esthetics in Katy, TX to have the HIFU treatment done.

About HIFU

HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) uses ultrasound to penetrate deeply through the layers of skin to encourage collage production and tightening of the skin. It is also used for skin lifting and body contouring. It also reduces wrinkles, shrinks pores, improves skin tone, and can reduce fat deposits under the chin and on the neck. It is known as a non-invasive facelift.

This treatment can be used on other areas of the body, such as the décolletage, abdomen, triceps (bat-wings), thighs, and under the buttocks.

While there can be some immediate results (depending on the person), most of the result will occur over 3 to 7 months’ time. And the result can last up to two years, but certainly for at a year.

My Treatment

The treatment starts by using a numbing gel on the face. We did an all-over application at the beginning.

What I suggest is to do numbing gel on the first and or second sections, then when the treatment is happening on the first and or second section apply the numbing gel to the third and or fourth sections.

So the numbing gel will rotate around the face doing its job while the treatment occurs on the other parts of the face. This will prevent the numbing gel from wearing off by the time you get to the last sections.

Two all-over face treatments are performed at different intensities to reach different depths of the skin layers. You want the numbing gel to still be working by the time the treatment gets to the second round.

My total treatment time was about 2 hours. This was a new treatment for the spa and for Brenda, so she took her time during the treatment. The more she does it the more efficient she will get.

It feels like little electric pulses, zapping or tinkling sensation. Each person has different areas that may or may not be sensitive on their face. My sensitive area was my lower cheek and jaw area. I’m guessing that, that is the area of my face that needed it the most, because that was also the area of my face that had mild swelling and soreness for a few week after. I felt it in the shallow skin area on my forehead, but most of the other places were painless, with the numbing gel in play.

Once the numbing gel wore off, I felt much more of the electric pulses, but it wasn’t unbearable.

Once the treatment was completed, she cleaned me up, moisturized me and I was on my way! I had no redness left on my face and no visible swelling after the treatment.

In 3 months I am going back to Shining Way Esthetics to see Brenda to take “after” pictures. After that time I will update you on my results.

After Treatment

I was told not to use any hot water on my face for 24 hours.

I also thought that it would be a good idea to be very gentle with my face for the first 4 days after treatment. I used lukewarm water, a gentle cleanser, a calming toner, and moisturizers.

My favorite moisturizers of late are: Daytime – Andalou Naturals Probiotic +C Renewal Cream and Nighttime – Andalou Naturals Fruit Stem Cell Night Repair Cream.

I didn’t use anything scrubbing on my face, no cleaning brushes, no wash cloths, no exfoliators, nor glycolic acid or anything of the like.

I think I waited till day 5 before using Derma-E Vitamin A Glycolic Facial Scrub.

To help your face in rebuild collagen, I do suggest using hyaluronic acid. Once your face is clean, while still damp add the hyaluronic acid, then wait 30 seconds, and add your moisturizer last. This is something you can do all the time, not only after this treatment.

Check out my post on the best beauty brands to use, here.

Also, LED light therapy can help with acne, reduce fine lines and winkles, and build collagen. Here are a couple inexpensive options from Amazon. One and Two.

From the Inside Out

It wouldn’t be me writing to you unless I spoke to you about building your skin from the inside out. The best thing that I’ve done for my skin is take collagen peptides. I take unflavored collagen peptides in my coffee every morning. Vital Proteins also has flavored collagen options and collagen coffee creamers (Mocha, Vanilla, Gingerbread, Coconut).

Vital Proteins developed specific products for beauty, check them out below.

• Collagen Shot – Glow
• Collagen Beauty Glow – Tropical Hibiscus
• Collagen Beauty Glow – Strawberry Lemon
• Collagen Beauty Glow – Lavender Lemon
• Beauty Collagen – Tropical Hibiscus
• Beauty Collagen – Lavender Lemon
• Beauty Collagen – Melon Mint
• Beauty Collagen – Strawberry Lemon
• Beauty Greens
• Beauty Boost

Cheers to Collagen!!