For patients in South Africa

HIFU in Turkey from South Africa: non-surgical tightening, honestly explained

HIFU stands for high intensity focused ultrasound. It sends focused ultrasound energy to set depths beneath the skin, including the SMAS layer that surgeons also work on in a facelift, without cutting or injecting. The heat prompts new collagen and elastin over time.

How HIFU works

After the skin is cleansed and ultrasound gel applied, a handpiece delivers focused pulses at several depths. The tissue warms in small, controlled zones; collagen fibres contract straight away and new collagen forms over the following months. Because the energy passes beneath the surface, there are no wounds, needles or bandages.

More detail is on the HIFU treatment page, and HIFU is one of several non-invasive skin treatments in our skin treatments guide for South African patients.

Areas treated

• Jawline and lower face
• Cheeks and mid-face
• Neck and under the chin
• Brow and temples
• Décolletage
• Abdomen, arms and thighs, in selected cases of mild laxity

Who it may suit

HIFU is offered to people with mild to moderate laxity or early sagging who want to avoid surgery and downtime. It is less effective when skin is very loose; in that case a surgical option from our facial surgery guide may be more honest advice. It is sometimes used to maintain results after surgery, or combined with injectables or skincare treatments. Results vary from person to person. This is a cosmetic treatment, and it is not a substitute for medical care from your own doctor.

What it feels like and recovery

Most people feel warmth, tingling or mild discomfort during treatment, which is generally well tolerated. Afterwards there may be mild redness, swelling, tenderness or tingling for a few hours to a few days. You can usually resume normal activities straight away, avoiding excessive heat for 24 hours and following the practitioner’s skincare advice.

Results and risks

Some tightening may be visible at once, with gradual improvement over two to three months and the peak around three to six months, which means the full result appears after you are home. Results can last 12 to 18 months depending on skin quality, age and lifestyle. Many people need one session; some benefit from repeats. Possible risks include temporary redness or swelling, uncommon bruising, rare temporary nerve sensitivity, and uneven results if the treatment is poorly applied.

Planning the trip from South Africa

• Is the trip worth it? Flying from South Africa only for a short non-surgical session is hard to justify. HIFU usually makes sense added to another treatment you already plan in İzmir
• Flights: direct flights from Johannesburg or Cape Town to Istanbul take around ten hours, followed by a short domestic flight to İzmir
• Visa: South Africans need an e-Visa, applied for online before travel; see our e-Visa guide
• Time difference: İzmir is one hour ahead of South Africa
• Cover: South African medical schemes generally do not cover elective cosmetic treatment abroad, so check with your scheme; standard travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment too

Back home in South Africa

Before you fly, ask for a written note of the areas treated, the depths used and the date for your doctor or dermatologist at home. If anything worries you after you return, send photographs to the team in İzmir first.

Our treatment guarantee covers medical complications arising from the treatment for one year, and any revision that becomes clinically necessary; agreed repair treatment is carried out in İzmir at no charge, while flights and accommodation remain your own cost. It does not cover preferring a different look within what was discussed beforehand. Clinic details are on clinic facts, and how problems are handled is set out on our complaints page.

What we will not do

We will not offer HIFU as a replacement for a facelift when your skin needs surgery, we will not promise how long your result will last, and we will not treat before a practitioner has assessed your skin and history.

Frequently asked questions

Is HIFU painful?

Most people feel warmth, tingling or mild discomfort during treatment. It is usually mild and temporary.

How many HIFU sessions are needed?

Many people need one session, and some benefit from repeat treatments. This suits a single trip better than treatments that need a course.

When will I see HIFU results?

Some tightening may be visible straight away, with gradual improvement over two to three months and the peak at around three to six months.

What decides the cost of HIFU?

The number and size of areas treated and whether HIFU is combined with other treatment during your stay. A firm quote follows an assessment.

Is HIFU permanent?

No. Results can last 12 to 18 months, depending on skin quality, age and lifestyle, but natural ageing continues.

Start with a free online consultation. Planning the trip? Read the guide for South African patients and the e-Visa guide.