Surg Cosmet Dermatol. 2014;6(2):138-146
Introduction: Transcutaneous ultrasound procedures are viewed as the most effective non-surgical treatment for facial skin rejuvenation, although their mechanisms of action are poorly understood.
Objective: This study aims to evaluate the morphological changes induced by ultrasound treatments on skin tissue: epidermis, papillary and reticular dermis, and subcutaneous fat. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of ultrasound treatment for facial skin tightening.
Methods: Ex vivo human skin samples were sham-treated or treated with high-frequency ultrasound using MedVisage
TM (General Project Ltd.). Different parameters of power output (1.5 and 3.0 W) and frequency modulation (100, 500, 3,000, 3,500 Hz) were compared. Clinical efficacy was evaluated based on a single 5-minute ultrasound treatment (3.0 W, 3,000 Hz) on 4 volunteers.
Results: Ultrasound treatment caused significant compaction of collagen and elastic fibers in the reticular dermis, whereas less prominent changes occurred in the papillary dermis. The overall effects varied depending on energy output and modulation frequency. No changes to subcutaneous adipocytes, blood capillaries, epidermal keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts and mast cells were observed. Clinically, ultrasound treatment consistently resulted in a well-tolerated, objective reduction of facial skin wrinkles.
Conclusion: High-frequency ultrasound treatment is an effective and safe noninvasive technique for skin-tightening purposes.
Keywords: HIGH-INTENSITY FOCUSED ULTRASOUND ABLATION; SKIN AGING; HISTOLOGY; DERMIS.