Treatment FAQ

what is high frequency ultrasound treatment

by Rebeka Mohr PhD Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago

High Intensity Frequency Ultrasound or otherwise known as HIFU

High-intensity focused ultrasound

High-intensity focused ultrasound is a non-invasive therapeutic technique that uses non-ionizing ultrasonic waves to heat tissue. HIFU can be used to increase the flow of blood or lymph, or to destroy tissue, such as tumors, through a number of mechanisms. The technology can be used to t…

is a non-invasive treatment that is used to combat the signs of aging. HIFU utilizes ultrasound energy in order to stimulate collagen growth, making skin become tighter and firmer. HIFU is able to target the lower layers of the skin without damaging the skin’s surface.

HIFU is an innovative, non-invasive treatment for a wide range of tumors and diseases. HIFU uses an ultrasound transducer, similar to the ones used for diagnostic imaging, but with much higher energy. The transducer focuses sound waves to generate heat at a single point within the body and destroy the target tissue.

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What are side effects of ultra therapy?

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What impact does frequency have on ultrasound imaging?

The wavelength of ultrasound depends on its frequency with the higher frequency waves having the shorter wavelengths. Therefore using ultrasound with a higher frequency for imaging will result in a shorter spatial pulse length and improved axial resolution. Only gold members can continue reading.

Is HIFU FDA approved for prostate cancer?

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound or HIFU is an FDA-approved, minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of prostate cancer that usually avoids permanent bladder control problems and erectile dysfunction - the two most common, life-altering side effects seen with surgery or radiation.

Is high frequency sound dangerous?

The frequency or pitch can also have some effect, since high-pitched sounds are more damaging than low-pitched sounds. Noise may tire out the inner ear, causing temporary hearing loss. Such damage can be caused by long-term exposure to loud noise or, in some cases” by brief exposures to very loud noises.

How long does HIFU treatment last?

These sessions will be done every 3 to 8 weeks. This lets your skin heal between treatments. After the initial set of treatments, the results will last about 1 year. It's recommended to have a touch-up session once a year to maintain your desired results.

How long does HIFU prostate treatment last?

This shows your surgeon where they need to target. They move the HIFU probe around to treat all of the cancer cells. Whole prostate HIFU treatment takes about 3 hours. HIFU to a smaller area takes 1 to 2 hours (focal).

What are the disadvantages of HIFU?

The disadvantages of HIFU therapy include:No long-term (20 – 30 years) outcome data available.Quality of life issues include a potential risk of impotence and/or urinary incontinence.

Is HIFU a good treatment?

Many reports say that HIFU facials work. A 2018 review looked at 231 studies on the use of ultrasound technology. After analyzing the studies that involved ultrasound for treating skin tightening, body tightening, and cellulite reduction, the researchers concluded that the technique is safe and effective.

What happens to prostate after HIFU?

A catheter must be worn for 14 days following treatment as there will be swelling and edema of the treated prostate. The catheter drains the urine from the bladder until the swelling of the prostate subsides. After the HIFU treatment, the destroyed prostate tissue is passed in the urine.

What should my PSA be after a HIFU procedure?

After whole-gland HIFU, the mean prostate-specific antigen (PSA) nadir was found to be 0.4 to 1.95 ng/mL and the mean time to PSA nadir was 2.4 to 5.4 months. The rate of positive biopsy after HIFU was 4.5% to 91.1%.

Is HIFU facial worth it?

HIFU is considered a very safe and effective noninvasive procedure for tightening the facial skin and reducing wrinkles. Its key advantage over a surgical face lift are : There are no incisions. No scarring.

How successful is HIFU?

Complications related to the treatment, and symptomatological and sexual life tests were evaluated before and after the treatment. Results: HIFU overall success rate was 84% (biochemical relapses in only 4 patients out of 25).

Is HIFU treatment painful?

It felt hot – not surprisingly as HIFU uses ultrasound energy to target layers of the skin, causing them to heat up rapidly. But the heat wasn't painful, the discomfort came more from the electric feeling that came from the handpiece.

Does HIFU tighten skin?

For those who do not know, HIFU stands for High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound, an advanced cosmetic technology that significantly tightens and lifts several areas of the face. It also reduces signs of aging and improves the tone of the skin in a single session.

How long does HIFU take to show results?

When clinics push HIFU as THE facelift treatment to go, some conveniently neglect to mention that HIFU can take up to 6 or 8 weeks to see results. If you want immediate results yet can tolerate several needles going into your face, threadlifting is a better choice over HIFU.

Can HIFU cause nerve damage?

FRIDAY, Dec. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment for skin laxity can cause facial nerve injury, according to a case study published online Nov. 22 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.

Is HIFU covered by insurance?

Insurance companies do not cover HIFU procedures for the initial treatment of prostate cancer. Medicare covers the costs of HIFU to treat cancer th...

What are the side effects of HIFU?

The risk of urinary leakage or incontinence is less than 1%. The risk of significant erectile dysfunction is less than 5%.

Is HIFU approved by the FDA?

HIFU was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2015 to remove prostate tissue. It has not been approved to treat prostate cancer an...

What is High Intensity Frequency Ultrasound (HIFU)?

High Intensity Frequency Ultrasound or otherwise known as HIFU is a non-invasive treatment that is used to combat the signs of aging. HIFU utilizes ultrasound energy in order to stimulate collagen growth, making skin become tighter and firmer. HIFU is able to target the lower layers of the skin without damaging the skin’s surface.

How does HIFU work?

HIFU is a HSA-approved technology which is widely used across a variety of medical treatments. The mechanism of action is that high-intensity ultrasound waves are focused deep into the layers of the skin, in accordance to the machine’s settings (usually at 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5nm).

Am I a good candidate for HIFU treatment?

Many patients who are dealing with the signs of aging are unwilling to go for surgical options like a full facelift. Hence, HIFU is great for those patients who have wrinkles, fine lines or saggy skin.

What is the process of getting HIFU treatment like?

HIFU does not require any form of incisions or surgery. A numbing cream will be applied before the procedure is conducted. You may feel a slight prickling sensation during the treatment but this is well tolerated by most.

Are there any side effects of HIFU treatment? What is the downtime like?

HIFU is a very safe technology and has been used for many years without any reports of adverse side effects within the medical community. There are no side effects to be expected when undergoing a HIFU treatment.

What results can I expect from a HIFU treatment?

Results of a HIFU treatment can be instantaneous. There will be a visible lift and toning of the skin immediately after the procedure. However, the best results from a HIFU treatment are only visible 2-3 months after the treatment concludes.

What is HIFU ultrasound?

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a medical procedure that uses ultrasound waves to treat prostate cancer. Ultrasound has wide use in the medical field, including providing imaging during pregnancy.

What is HIFU treatment?

HIFU can be considered: As an alternative option to monitoring (no treatment) for patients who have early stage prostate cancer. As an alternative to or follow up to radiation or surgery or other failed treatment for tumors that are small and confined to an area (localized) of the prostate.

How does ultrasound affect tissue?

The highly focused energy from the ultrasound causes the temperature of the tissue to rise, and the heat destroys (ablates) the targeted tissue area. The ultrasound beams are able to pass through layers of tissue, leaving them unharmed, until they reach their target.

Is HIFU safe for prostate cancer?

Is high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) safe for patients? High-intensity focused ultrasound was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in about 50 countries including the United States. Outside of the US, the procedure has been used to treat prostate cancer in over 65,000 men.

What is ultrasound imaging?

Standard ultrasound (i.e. diagnostic ultrasound for imaging) uses transient low energy ultrasound waves to create images of structures within the body. The energy is not focused on a single spot and does not create high temperatures.

How precise is ultrasound?

Focused ultrasound treatment is extremely precise, with the boundary zone between necrotic treated and viable untreated tissue measuring less than 0.1 mm.

What is a HIFU?

HIFU stands for " High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound .". It is also known as MRgFUS (MRI-guided focused ultrasound) and FUS (focused ultrasound surgery). HIFU is an innovative, non-invasive treatment for a wide range of tumors and diseases. HIFU uses an ultrasound transducer, similar to the ones used for diagnostic imaging, ...

What is the safety stop button for MRI?

Patients are given a safety stop button that allows them to immediately stop the sonication in the unlikely event that the treatment becomes painful. At the end of the study, an injection of an MRI contrast dye (“gadolinium”) is injected to confirm that the target fibroid (s) has been successfully destroyed.

What are the advantages of MRI?

First, the ability to rapidly obtain multiplanar and multiparametric images allows for accurate and contemporaneous tumor localization, improving FUS targeting.

How hot can a HIFU get?

The transducer focuses sound waves to generate heat at a single point within the body and destroy the target tissue. The tissue can get as hot as 150 °F in just 20 seconds.

How long does a HIFU procedure last?

What happens during a HIFU procedure. The length of the procedure is variable, depending on what condition is being treated, but most cases last at least 3 hours. For women with fibroids, the patient lies on their stomach within the MRI scanner.

Provide a little history: How did HIFU progress to a treatment for primary prostate cancer?

The first HIFU prostate cancer clinical trials, completed in the mid-1990s, showed that HIFU could ablate prostate tissue successfully. This finding led to additional studies, and HIFU ultimately entered clinical practice around the world during the following decade.

What type of patient is particularly well suited for HIFU?

The ideal candidate for focal therapy typically has intermediate-risk prostate cancer located in only one area of the prostate. This location is determined by prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and targeted prostate biopsy.

What are the major contraindications to HIFU?

There are a few limitations to HIFU. The first is prostate volume or size. HIFU treatment is delivered through a probe in the rectum, and the treatment can only reach so far away from the rectum. If patients have large prostates and anterior tumors, the energy may not reach anterior enough to provide effective treatment and negative margins.

How do you counsel patients who receive HIFU? What is the typical side effect and complication profile? What is the typical recovery?

Overall the focal HIFU procedure is very well tolerated. HIFU is done as an outpatient procedure with a same-day discharge. A Foley catheter is placed during the procedure and is usually left in place for 5 to 7 days following the procedure to allow post-treatment swelling of the prostate to subside.

Briefly, what are the logistics of the delivery of HIFU?

The HIFU procedure is done while the patient is under general anesthesia. Once the patient is completely anesthetized, a special ultrasound probe is placed in the rectum. There are no incisions or even any needles used. This ultrasound probe is used to both image the prostate and deliver the treatment.

How do you see HIFU playing a role in prostate cancer treatment over the next 10 years?

I see focal therapy in general becoming an option for more men in the next 10 years as more data supporting its use emerge and more providers become trained in the techniques. HIFU will definitely continue to be one of the main technologies used in prostate cancer focal therapy.

What is a HIFU facial?

HIFU facial. HIFU uses focused ultrasound energy to target the layers of skin just below the surface. The ultrasound energy causes the tissue to heat up rapidly. Once the cells in the targeted area reach a certain temperature, they experience cellular damage.

What is HIFU in skin care?

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a relatively new cosmetic treatment for skin tightening that some consider a noninvasive and painless replacement for face lifts. It uses ultrasound energy to encourage the production of collagen, which results in firmer skin.

How long does a HIFU take to work?

Using an ultrasound viewer, the physician or technician adjusts the device to the right setting. Ultrasound energy is then delivered to the target area in short pulses for roughly 30 to 90 minutes.

When was HIFU first used?

The first reported use of HIFU for aesthetic use was in 2008. . HIFU was then approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2009 for brow lifts. The device was also cleared by the FDA in 2014 to improve lines and wrinkles of the upper chest and neckline (décolletage).

Is a hifu face lift more expensive than a face lift?

HIFU is also far less expensive than a face lift. after their final treatment. If you’re looking for a treatment that is quick, painless, and noninvasive, HIFU is an excellent option compared to a surgical face lift. Of course, HIFU isn’t a miracle cure for aging.

Is HIFU safe for face?

HIFU treatment for face side effects. HIFU is considered very safe if performed by a trained and qualified professional. The best part about this treatment is that you’re able to resume your normal activities immediately after you leave the provider’s office. Some slight redness or swelling may occur, but it should subside quickly.

Can a HIFU replace a face lift?

So far, HIFU has been found to be a promising treatment that could replace face lifts, especially in younger people who don’t want the risks and recovery time associated with surgery.

What frequency is ultrasound used for?

Low power ultrasound of about 1 MHz fre quency has been widely applied since the 1950s for physical therapy in conditions such as tendinitis or bursitis.

What are the biological effects of ultrasound?

Other potential mechanisms for biological effects of ultrasound include the direct action of the compressional, tensile, and shear stresses. In addition, second-order phenomena, which depend on transmitted ultrasound energy, include radiation pressure, forces on particles and acoustic streaming.

What is HIFU used for?

HIFU application in therapy and treatment of disease is one of the more active areas of research and development among all the non-ionizing-energy modalities such as radiofrequency, lasers, and microwaves. For example, HIFU is under investigation for therapeutic modulation of nerve conductance (Foley et al. 2008).

What is ultrasound assisted liposuction?

Another procedure, ultrasound assisted liposuction, is widely used in cosmetic surgery for the purpose of removing excessive fat tissue (Mann et al. 2008). The mechanism of action apparently involves cavitational fat cell break up with removal of the fat emulsion by suction through the probe.

When was ultrasound first used in physical therapy?

Physical Therapy. Unfocused beams of ultrasound for physical therapy were the first clinical application, dating to the 1950s , which often has been referred to simply as “therapeutic ultrasound” (Robertson and Baker, 2001). This modality now typically has a base unit for generating an electrical signal and a hand-held transducer.

How long does a flat transducer therapy last?

Therapy involves multiple treatments of 20 min each day by applying the large flat transducer to the site of injury and continuing treatment for periods of months. Although the process appears to be safe and effective, the therapy is slow and its use is predominantly limited to management of non-healing fractures.

What is ultrasonic energy used for?

The use of ultrasonic energy for therapy continues to expand, and approved applications now include uterine fibroid ablation, cataract removal (phacoemulsification), surgical tissue cutting and hemostasis, transdermal drug delivery, and bone fracture healing, among others.

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