Overview
Nonablative skin tightening is low risk, but its effect is limited. The authors tested whether a focused ultrasound device could lift the brow as part of a full face and neck treatment. Subjects at an academic dermatology clinic were treated once and photographed through 90 days, and blinded experts compared before and after photos.
Findings
- 36 subjects enrolled (34 women); 1 dropped out; 35 evaluated; median age 44 (range 32 to 62).
- Areas treated: forehead, temples, cheeks, under the chin, side of the neck; topical anesthetic only.
- Probes: 4 MHz at 4.5 mm depth; 7 MHz at 4.5 mm; 7 MHz at 3.0 mm.
- Photos at 2, 7, 28, 60 and 90 days.
- 30 of 35 subjects (86%) judged by 3 blinded raters to have a clinically significant brow lift at 90 days (P = .00001).
- Mean change in eyebrow height on photos at 90 days: 1.7 mm.
- Side effects commonly included short-lived mild redness and swelling.
- Lower face tightening could not be measured because that area lacks fixed anatomic reference points.
What it means for a patient
- One ultrasound treatment raised the brow by an average of just under 2 mm in this study.
- Most subjects responded, with mild, short-lived redness and swelling.
- The study could not measure tightening of the lower face, because that area lacks fixed reference points.
- The study had 35 subjects, no comparison group, and 90-day follow-up.
Why this paper matters
It gave blinded, measured evidence that a single focused ultrasound treatment lifts the brow by an average of 1.7 mm. The authors conclude ultrasound appears safe and effective for facial skin tightening. Cited 171 times (NIH iCite, 2026-09-25).
Terms
- Focused ultrasound: sound energy aimed at a set depth under the skin to heat and tighten tissue.
- Nonablative: a treatment that does not remove the skin surface.
- Rater-blinded: the people judging results did not know which photos were before or after.
- Prospective cohort study: a study that follows a group forward in time after treatment.
- Focal depth: how deep under the skin the energy is concentrated.
- Submental: the area under the chin.
- Erythema: redness of the skin.
- Edema: swelling.