- Doctor-led every injectable performed by a doctor
- 8 years on Harley Street
- 50,000+ patients treated
- 4.9 Google rating
HIFU (high-intensity focused ultrasound) is a non-surgical skin tightening and lifting treatment for the face, neck and body. At Dr Elif Clinic, 54 Harley Street, London, we use Ultraformer MPT – the newest generation of the Ultraformer HIFU platform by Classys – and have performed more than 5,000 HIFU treatments since 2018. Every patient is assessed by dermatologist Dr Elif Benar, skin and fat thickness are measured with ultrasound before treatment, and each face is given its own treatment map – so the energy goes to the right depth, in the right places, for the right patient.
Book a HIFU consultation → · WhatsApp us · See prices
HIFU at Dr Elif Clinic at a glance
- Device: Ultraformer MPT (Classys, Korea), the latest generation of the Ultraformer series – face cartridges at 1.5, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.5 mm and body cartridges at 6, 9 and 13 mm
- Experience: more than 5,000 HIFU treatments at the clinic since 2018 – brow and forehead, cheeks, jowls, jawline, under the chin, neck, full face and body
- Who treats you: dermatologist Dr Elif Benar assesses and maps every patient; treatment is performed by our trained HIFU therapist under her supervision; if you would prefer Dr Elif to perform it herself, an additional fee applies
- Before treatment: an ultrasound scan measures skin and fat thickness in each area, so cartridge depths and energy are chosen for your anatomy
- No fixed shot count: lines, depths and energy are planned area by area – a brow lift and a jawline are not treated with the same map
- Honest suitability: best for mild to moderate laxity; if HIFU is not right for you, we will say so and explain the alternatives
- Results: develop gradually over 2–6 months as new collagen forms; minimal downtime
- Follow-up: a review appointment with photographs 2–6 months after treatment
- Where: Dr Elif Clinic, 54 Harley Street, London W1G 9PZ – doctor-led, 8 years on Harley Street
What Is HIFU And What Is Ultraformer MPT?
HIFU stands for high-intensity focused ultrasound. Unlike a laser or radiofrequency, which heat the skin from the surface downwards, ultrasound can be focused to a precise depth – the way a magnifying glass focuses light – so the energy is delivered to the layer that needs tightening while the surface is left intact.
Ultraformer MPT is the latest generation of the Ultraformer series from Classys, Korea. MPT stands for Micro-Pulsed Technology. Alongside the classic dot pattern, its MP mode spreads the heat more broadly through the target zone and, according to the manufacturer, delivers energy 2.5 times faster than normal mode. It uses 10 interchangeable cartridges – 1.5, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.5 mm for the face, 6, 9 and 13 mm for the body, plus booster cartridges – so each area can be treated at the depth that suits it.
How Does Ultraformer MPT Work?
Ultraformer MPT delivers focused ultrasound energy into specific layers beneath the skin, creating tiny areas of controlled heat called thermal coagulation points. These trigger the skin’s natural repair response and the production of:
- Collagen – the protein responsible for firmness and structure
- Elastin – which helps skin keep its flexibility and bounce
Because the result is your own collagen rather than a product placed in the skin, it develops gradually and looks natural. Collagen remodelling takes time, which is why HIFU results should be judged 2–6 months after treatment, not the day after.
How To Choose A HIFU Clinic In London
With HIFU, the result depends on the device, the person using it, their knowledge of facial anatomy and whether you are the right patient – all together. How famous a clinic is matters far less. These are the questions we suggest asking any clinic, in order of importance, with our own answers:
| What to ask | Why it matters | At Dr Elif Clinic |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Which device, exactly? | “We do HIFU” is not enough. A named, established platform is not in the same category as an unbranded “HIFU facial” machine. | Ultraformer MPT by Classys – the newest generation of the Ultraformer series. |
| 2. How much HIFU has the practitioner done? | Someone who uses a device twice a month is not the same as a practitioner with years of cases – especially on the brow, jowls, under the chin and neck. | More than 5,000 HIFU treatments at the clinic since 2018, across full face, brow, jawline, submental area, neck and body. |
| 3. Do they know facial anatomy? | HIFU works at different depths. Facial nerve branches, the temple, the jawline border, the parotid area and fat distribution all shape where energy can safely go. | Every face is assessed and mapped by a dermatologist, Dr Elif Benar. |
| 4. Will they tell you if HIFU is wrong for you? | Advanced sagging may need surgery; a very thin face can look older if fat is lost. | Yes. We recommend HIFU only for suitable laxity and suggest alternatives – or surgery – when that is the better answer. |
| 5. How do they prevent and manage complications? | Rare but important problems include burns, fat loss, prolonged numbness or altered sensation, and nerve injury. | Anatomy-based mapping, protected zones and a doctor-led clinic, with a dermatologist available if any concern arises. |
| 6. Is the treatment map personalised? | “800 shots for everyone” ignores anatomy. Lines, cartridge depth and energy should change area by area. | Depths are chosen from your own ultrasound measurements; brow and jawline maps are planned separately. |
| 7. Is the device genuine and current? | Many machines are sold as “HIFU”. The original manufacturer’s device and correct cartridges matter. | Ultraformer MPT from Classys, with face, body and booster cartridges. |
| 8. Is it medically supervised? | A well-trained therapist can treat very well, but access to a doctor matters if something goes wrong. | Doctor-led clinic; Dr Elif Benar, dermatologist, supervises every HIFU plan. |
| 9. Experience in your area of concern? | A brow lift needs a different plan and different anatomy knowledge from jawline tightening. | Separate protocols for brow and forehead, jowls and jawline, under the chin, and neck. |
| 10. Results at 2–6 months? | Photos taken straight after treatment prove little; collagen needs time. | We photograph and review patients 2–6 months after treatment. |
| 11. Treatment-specific reviews? | Star ratings alone say little. Look for reviews that mention HIFU or Ultraformer, the area treated and the result. | 4.9★ Google rating for the clinic – look for reviews mentioning HIFU. |
| 12. Is there follow-up? | A good clinic checks the result and suggests another approach if needed. | Every HIFU patient is offered a review at 2–6 months. |
| 13. Address, awards, Instagram? | The least important factor – a Harley Street address or a large following does not prove HIFU quality. | We would rather you judge us on points 1–12. |
If your main goal is an eyebrow lift, the order changes slightly: device, then knowledge of the forehead and eye-area anatomy, then operator experience, treatment mapping and complication prevention.
Who Performs HIFU At Dr Elif Clinic?
Every HIFU patient is seen first by Dr Elif Benar, dermatologist and founder of Dr Elif Clinic. She assesses the degree of laxity, skin quality and facial fat, decides whether HIFU is the right treatment and draws up the treatment plan. The treatment itself is performed by our trained HIFU therapist under her supervision, following that plan. If you would prefer Dr Elif to perform your treatment herself, an additional fee applies. Together the team has carried out more than 5,000 HIFU treatments since 2018. Meet the team.
Ultrasound Assessment And Treatment Mapping
We do not believe in a fixed number of shots for every face. Before treatment, skin and fat thickness are measured with an ultrasound scan in each area to be treated. That measurement, together with your facial anatomy, decides:
- which cartridge depths are used in each area
- how many lines are placed and how much energy is delivered
- which zones are protected – nerve pathways, the temple, the jawline border and the parotid area
- where fat should be preserved, particularly in a slimmer face
A brow lift and jawline tightening are therefore planned with different maps. Ultraformer MPT does not display a live ultrasound image during treatment the way some other systems do; that is why we measure the tissue with a separate ultrasound scan beforehand and plan the depths from it.
HIFU For Eyebrow Lift And Hooded Eyelids
HIFU can give a subtle lift to a heavy brow and open up the upper eyelid area without surgery. The forehead and eye area need their own anatomy knowledge and their own treatment map – different cartridges, lines and energy from the lower face – with nerve zones protected. For more visible eyelid skin laxity, Dr Elif may combine or compare HIFU with our laser eye lift and eyebrow lift.
What Areas Can Be Treated?
Face
- Brow and forehead – subtle brow lift, heavy upper eyelids
- Cheeks – lifting of the mid-face
- Jowls and jawline – definition of a softening jawline
- Under the chin (submental area)
- Fine lines and skin texture
- Full-face lifting
Neck and body
- Neck tightening – often combined with our Dr Elif No Neck Lines™ treatment for horizontal neck lines
- Loose skin after weight change
- Body contouring support – abdomen, arms, thighs and knees, using the 6, 9 and 13 mm body cartridges
Who Is HIFU Suitable For – And Who Is It Not For?
HIFU is not the right treatment for every patient with sagging skin. A good practitioner should be able to say “HIFU is not for you” – and we do.
- Good candidates: adults with mild to moderate laxity – a softening jawline, early jowls, a heavy brow, loose neck skin – or patients who want to maintain firmness before sagging progresses.
- Advanced sagging: where tissue descent is significant, a surgical facelift may give a better result; we will tell you so, or suggest Endolift or XERF where they suit you better.
- Very thin faces: aggressive HIFU may not be advisable, because losing facial fat can make a face look older. Your ultrasound measurements help us decide.
- When fat is the main issue: a treatment that reduces fat, such as Endolift or Dr Elif Face Slim™, may be the better choice.
Safety, Side Effects And Complications
Most side effects of HIFU are mild and temporary: discomfort during treatment, redness, swelling and tenderness that settle over the following days. Serious problems are rare, but they have been reported, and they are the reason device choice, anatomy and mapping matter:
- burns on the skin surface
- loss of fat under the skin (subcutaneous atrophy)
- prolonged numbness or altered sensation
- nerve injury, which can affect facial movement
We reduce these risks with a dermatologist’s assessment, ultrasound-based depth planning, protected zones along nerve pathways and conservative energy in slimmer faces. Because we are a doctor-led clinic, any concern after treatment is seen by a doctor.
What To Expect: Your HIFU Treatment
- Consultation. Dr Elif assesses laxity, skin quality and facial fat, confirms whether HIFU – alone or combined with another treatment – is right for you, and agrees the areas and plan.
- Ultrasound measurement. Skin and fat thickness are measured in each area to be treated.
- Treatment mapping. Cartridge depths, lines and energy are planned for each area, and protected zones are marked.
- Treatment. The skin is cleansed and ultrasound gel applied. The Ultraformer MPT handpiece is moved across the area, delivering focused energy at the planned depths. You feel warmth and brief pulses; no anaesthesia is needed.
- Afterwards. Minimal downtime – mild redness or tenderness settles and you can return to your day.
- Review at 2–6 months. We see you again, take photographs and assess the result; if another treatment would help further, we will suggest it.
When Will I See Results?
Some tightening may be noticed early, but the main lift develops over 2–6 months as new collagen and elastin form. For that reason we judge HIFU results – and suggest you judge any clinic’s before-and-after photographs – at 2–6 months, in the same lighting and position, not immediately after treatment.
Ultraformer MPT Vs Ultherapy
Both are focused-ultrasound skin tightening systems from different manufacturers. Ultherapy® (micro-focused ultrasound with visualisation, MFU-V) shows a live ultrasound image through its handpiece during treatment. Ultraformer MPT offers the MP mode and 10 interchangeable face, body and booster cartridges, which allows treatment of the body as well as the face. At Dr Elif Clinic we combine Ultraformer MPT with a separate ultrasound scan before treatment, so depths are planned from your own tissue measurements. In practice the practitioner’s experience, anatomy knowledge and treatment map matter as much as the brand.
HIFU Vs XERF, Endolift And Laser Facelift
Dr Elif Clinic offers several non-surgical tightening technologies; the right one depends on where the laxity is, how deep it sits and whether fat needs reducing.
- HIFU (Ultraformer MPT) – focused ultrasound at planned depths for mild to moderate laxity on the face, neck and body.
- XERF – multifrequency monopolar radiofrequency across the whole face and neck for deeper tightening without fat loss.
- Endolift (Endoskin®) – a laser fibre placed under the skin that tightens and also reduces fat in the lower face and under the chin.
- Fotona 4D laser facelift – laser tightening from the inside out with almost no downtime.
- Morpheus8 – radiofrequency microneedling when skin texture and tightening are both goals.
Dr Elif will recommend one, or a combination, at your consultation.
HIFU Cost In London
HIFU is priced by the area treated. Current prices are on our price list, and your personalised plan – areas, sessions and any combination – is confirmed at consultation.
HIFU FAQs
High-intensity focused ultrasound: a non-surgical treatment that focuses ultrasound energy into specific layers beneath the skin, creating controlled heat points that trigger new collagen and elastin, so the skin tightens and lifts over the following months.
Ultraformer MPT by Classys (Korea), the latest generation of the Ultraformer series, with face cartridges at 1.5, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.5 mm and body cartridges at 6, 9 and 13 mm.
Micro-Pulsed Technology. Besides the classic dot pattern, its MP mode spreads heat more broadly through the target zone and, according to the manufacturer, delivers energy 2.5 times faster than normal mode.
No. Both are focused-ultrasound tightening systems from different manufacturers. Ultherapy shows a live ultrasound image during treatment; Ultraformer MPT has the MP mode and 10 interchangeable face, body and booster cartridges. At Dr Elif Clinic we measure skin and fat thickness with a separate ultrasound scan before treatment and plan depths from it.
More than 5,000 HIFU treatments since 2018, covering the brow and forehead, cheeks, jowls, jawline, under the chin, neck, full face and body.
Dermatologist Dr Elif Benar assesses every patient and plans the treatment. The treatment is performed by our trained HIFU therapist under her supervision; if you would prefer Dr Elif to perform it herself, an additional fee applies.
There is no fixed shot count. Skin and fat thickness are measured with ultrasound in each area, and cartridge depths, lines and energy are then planned area by area around your facial anatomy, with nerve zones protected.
Yes, HIFU can give a subtle, non-surgical brow lift and open up heavy upper eyelids in suitable patients. The brow and forehead are treated with their own map, different from the jawline.
No. It suits mild to moderate laxity. With advanced sagging a facelift may be better, and in a very thin face aggressive HIFU can cause fat loss that makes the face look older. We will tell you if HIFU is not right for you and explain the alternatives.
It can, rarely, which is why we measure fat thickness with ultrasound before treatment, preserve fat in slimmer faces and adjust depth and energy area by area.
Temporary discomfort, redness, swelling and tenderness are common and settle. Rare but reported complications include burns, fat loss, prolonged numbness or altered sensation and nerve injury. Anatomy-based mapping and a doctor-led setting reduce these risks.
Minimal. Mild redness or tenderness settles and most patients return to their day straight away.
Some tightening may be seen early, but the main lift develops over 2–6 months as new collagen forms. Results should be judged at 2–6 months.
Yes. We offer a review appointment with photographs 2–6 months after treatment and, if another treatment would add to the result, we will suggest it.
HIFU focuses ultrasound at planned depths for mild to moderate laxity on the face, neck and body; XERF uses multifrequency radiofrequency across the whole face and neck for deeper tightening without fat loss. Dr Elif recommends the right one, or a combination, at consultation.
Endolift is a laser fibre placed under the skin that tightens and also reduces fat in the lower face and under the chin; HIFU tightens without needles. If fat is the main issue, Endolift is often the better choice.
HIFU is priced by the area treated. Current prices are on our price list, and your personalised plan is confirmed at consultation.
Ask which device is used, how many HIFU treatments the practitioner has done, whether a doctor assesses your anatomy, whether the plan is personalised rather than a fixed shot count, how complications are managed, and whether you will be reviewed at 2–6 months. A famous address or a large Instagram following matters least.
Book a HIFU consultation on Harley Street or call / WhatsApp +44 7979 725302.
Note: Ultraformer MPT (HIFU) treatments are performed by our trained therapist. If you would prefer Dr Elif Benar to perform your treatment, an additional fee applies.
