title: Intense focused ultrasound for facial tightening: histologic changes in 11 Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intense focused ultrasound (IFUS) is a novel modality for treating skin laxity that produces thermal effects at various depths while sparing the overlying tissue. This study assessed histologic changes and the safety and efficacy of intense focused ultrasound (Doublo(TM), HIRONIC Co., Sungnam, Korea) for tightening of facial skin in Asian patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven patients with facial laxity were treated with IFUS and evaluated before and after treatment. Mean age was 46 years (range, 35-64 years). Two available hand-pieces with different focal depths (3 mm and 4.5 mm) were used with three to five passes 1-2 mm apart. Outcome assessment included photographic evaluation by two blinded investigators, skin biopsies before and two months after treatment, and patient satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjective and objective analyses showed 63.6% and 72.7% improvement at the two-month evaluation, respectively. Histologic evaluation by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome staining showed increased collagen fibers in the lower dermis and between fat layers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intense focused ultrasound can be used as a non-invasive skin tightening technique in Asian patients. It induced collagen generation in the dermis and fat layers and was effective and safe in our study population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Arumdaun Nara Dermatologic Clinic , Seoul , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Hye
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Byoung Joon
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: Sang Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kye-Yong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Hwa Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ryu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012060:Rejuvenation; D056910:Republic of Korea; D015595:Skin Aging; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*
keywords: laxity; tightening; ultrasound