How people get it: Done by dermatologists and med spas, usually in a single session.
The basics
What it is
High-intensity microfocused ultrasound uses focused sound energy to reach deep into skin tissue.
What people use it for
People use it for skin lifting and tightening.
What the research has found so far
- A review of studies found the treatment could tighten skin, measured by small brow lifts and smaller areas under the chin.
- A review of studies found longer-term follow-up data are not available.
- A review of studies found 89% of patients showed some overall improvement as rated by investigators.
- A review of studies found skin quality, such as wrinkles and texture, also improved.
- A review of studies found that counting neutral answers as positive may have made the treatment look more effective than it is.
- A review of studies found no significant difference between this ultrasound and radiofrequency (another energy-based treatment) for neck sagging.
- A review of studies found the treatment appears helpful for sagging skin, but more high-quality studies are needed to confirm this.
Sources: PubMed abstract: A Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Microfocused Ultrasound for Facial Skin Tightening. ↗ · PubMed abstract: Microfocused Ultrasound With Visualization (MFU-V) Effectiveness and Safety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. ↗ · PubMed abstract: Systematic review and meta-analysis - microfocused ultrasound treatment for sagging skin. ↗
On Ultrasound skin lifting and aging, PubMed lists 39 trials in people, 53 studies that watched people over time, 9 animal and lab studies. See the counts and searches
Stage 2 because there are 39 published trials and 51 registered trials in people, but no large ones yet.
A stage shows how far research has got, not whether it will work for you. How stages work
Side effects and risks
- A review of studies found other side effects were rare (2%), including numbness or hypersensitivity, bruising, stinging, jaw burns, streaks and skin rash from contact.
- A review of studies found common side effects were redness, swelling, bruising and tenderness, generally mild to moderate.
- A review of studies found patients reported moderate pain.
Sources: PubMed abstract: A Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Microfocused Ultrasound for Facial Skin Tightening. ↗ · PubMed abstract: Microfocused Ultrasound With Visualization (MFU-V) Effectiveness and Safety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. ↗
Who should be careful, and drug interactions
A review of studies noted that very loose skin and a BMI over 30 were seen as relative reasons not to use it, because results declined with more laxity and higher BMI.
What studies and labels describe
What studies or labels describe, not a recommendation.
A review of studies found that various device settings, treatment protocols and energies were used.
Roughly what it costs
We don't have prices for this yet.
Questions to ask your doctor
- Is Ultrasound skin lifting a sensible option for me, given my health and the medicines I take?
- Could Ultrasound skin lifting interact with any medicine or supplement I already take?
- What side effects should I watch for, and when should I stop or call you?
- How would we tell whether it is helping, and when should we review it?
This is general information gathered from the sources listed, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before starting anything new.
What experts say
No expert views collected yet. Each one we add names the person and links to where they said it.
Recent research
New studies that mention Ultrasound skin lifting appear here after the morning update.
Trials
None of the registered trials of Ultrasound skin lifting is one we have linked as aging-related yet.
ClinicalTrials.gov lists 51 registered trials that mention Ultrasound skin lifting, for any condition (the count in The science below). Here we show the ones about aging. See them all ↗
The science
Counted from PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov on Oct 17, 2026, using one search for Ultrasound skin lifting in relation to aging. Each link opens the exact search.
- Randomized trials in people
- 25 search ↗
- Large trials (multicenter or phase 3)
- 0 search ↗
- Phase 3 trials
- 0 search ↗
- Trials in people
- 39 search ↗
- Studies that watched people over time
- 53 search ↗
- Animal and lab studies
- 9 search ↗
- Registered trials
- 51 search ↗
PubMed search used
("microfocused ultrasound"[tiab] OR "micro-focused ultrasound"[tiab] OR "intense focused ultrasound"[tiab] OR "high-intensity focused ultrasound"[tiab] OR "high intensity focused ultrasound"[tiab] OR HIFU[tiab] OR Ultherapy[tiab] OR "MFU-V"[tiab]) AND ("skin laxity"[tiab] OR "skin tightening"[tiab] OR "facial lifting"[tiab] OR "skin lifting"[tiab] OR "brow lift*"[tiab] OR wrinkle*[tiab] OR rejuvenation[tiab] OR photoaging[tiab] OR "skin aging"[tiab] OR "skin ageing"[tiab] OR photodamage[tiab] OR "Skin Aging"[mh])
Counts are search results, so they include some records that only mention Ultrasound skin lifting. How we count
Cite or share this page
Longevity Verdict. (n.d.). Ultrasound skin lifting (Ultherapy): Research stage and evidence. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://longevityverdict.com/treatments/microfocused-ultrasound
<iframe src="https://longevityverdict.com/embed/stage/microfocused-ultrasound" title="Ultrasound skin lifting (Ultherapy): research stage on Longevity Verdict" width="340" height="72" style="border:0" loading="lazy"></iframe>
The badge shows this treatment's current research stage and links back here. It updates by itself when the stage changes.