Which symptoms after a skin treatment mean I should contact the clinic?
Contact the clinic for vision changes, pale or bluish skin, severe pain, blisters, or tingling that lasts longer than expected after treatment.
Lifting Downtime & Care · Q24
Lifting Downtime & Care · Q20
Soreness and Tingling After HIFU: How Long and When to Call
Question: Is soreness or tingling after HIFU lifting normal?
Short answer
Soreness, tenderness to the touch and temporary tingling after HIFU (ultrasound) lifting are reactions reported in clinical studies. Ulthera clinical data reported that post-treatment discomfort resolved within 2 hours to 2 days, tenderness within 2 days to 2 weeks, and nerve effects such as tingling usually within 2 to 6 weeks. However, if symptoms last beyond these periods or you have blisters, changes in vision or difficulty speaking, contact the clinic right away.
Key points
- Post-treatment discomfort: resolves within 2 hours to 2 days (Ulthera clinical data)
- Tenderness to the touch: resolves within 2 days to 2 weeks (Ulthera clinical data)
- Nerve effects such as tingling or numbness: usually resolve within 2 to 6 weeks
- These are Ulthera figures and are not applied directly to other devices
- Contact the clinic if symptoms last longer or anything unusual appears
Why do soreness and tenderness occur after treatment?
Soreness and tenderness after HIFU lifting are commonly reported symptoms of the tissue's reaction to the thermal coagulation points created beneath the skin.
HIFU focuses ultrasound energy at a specific depth to create tiny thermal coagulation points, and this heat acts on the SMAS and deep dermis. In a HIFU meta-analysis, tenderness was reported as a common adverse reaction along with redness, edema and bruising, and it was generally mild to moderate.
Ulthera clinical data reported that post-treatment discomfort resolved within 2 hours to 2 days and tenderness to the touch within 2 days to 2 weeks. Durations vary from person to person.
| Reaction | Reported time to resolve |
|---|---|
| Post-treatment discomfort | 2 hours to 2 days |
| Tenderness to the touch | 2 days to 2 weeks |
| Bruising (occasional) | 2 days to 2 weeks |
| Numbness, tingling, abnormal sensation, localized muscle weakness | Usually 2 to 6 weeks |
Can tingling or numbness also occur?
Ulthera clinical studies reported that temporary numbness, tingling, abnormal sensations and localized muscle weakness due to nerve inflammation can occur, and they usually resolved within 2 to 6 weeks.
The instructions for use state that inflammation of a motor nerve can cause temporary localized muscle weakness and inflammation of a sensory nerve can cause temporary numbness. No facial nerve damage that did not recover was reported in clinical trials.
However, voluntary post-market reports have included nerve effects lasting several months, so if symptoms last a long time, be sure to let the clinic know.
Are the durations the same for other HIFU devices such as Shurink Universe?
The durations above are clinical figures from the Ulthera instructions for use, so they are not applied directly to other HIFU devices such as Shurink Universe.
The manufacturer's page for Shurink Universe does not separately present information on how long side effects last. It is common across HIFU that redness, edema, bruising and tenderness are reported as frequent reactions, but precautions for each device are explained during the consultation.
At CELITA Clinic, the expected recovery process for each treatment is explained during the consultation, and an aftercare instruction card is provided in your language.
Which symptoms mean I should contact the clinic?
If tingling or numbness continues beyond the expected period, or if you have symptoms such as blisters or burns, changes in vision or difficulty speaking, contact the clinic right away.
Ulthera post-market reports include burns and blisters, nodules, paralysis or muscle weakness, difficulty speaking, headache and changes in vision, and because they are voluntary reports, their frequency cannot be estimated. These reactions are rare, but it is important to have them checked quickly.
You can contact CELITA Clinic through the main number, 051-928-0409, or the messenger channel you used to book, and staff who speak other languages are on site.
FAQ
Can I take a painkiller when it feels sore?
Whether to take medicine, and which kind, depends on other medicines you take and your medical history, so it is safer to discuss it with the medical team. If you share the medicines and supplements you usually take, the medical team will advise you.
Will massaging the sore area make it go away faster?
CELITA Clinic's general aftercare advice is not to rub the treated area. If discomfort continues, contact the clinic rather than massaging it yourself.
What if the tingling continues after I return home?
You can report your symptoms through the messenger channel you used to book or by email at contact@celitaclinic.com. If symptoms are severe or you have problems with vision or speech, see a local medical facility right away.
Important
This article is general medical information, not a diagnosis or treatment. Results, recovery time and side effects vary with each person's skin, and whether a treatment suits you is decided after consultation with a doctor. If you notice unusual symptoms, contact the clinic that treated you right away.
Sources
All questions in Lifting Downtime & Care
- Q17. How much downtime does each lifting treatment have?
- Q18. How long does swelling last after lifting, and how can I reduce it?
- Q19. What should I do if I get a bruise after a lifting treatment?
- Q20. Is soreness or tingling after HIFU lifting normal?
- Q21. When can I wash my face and wear makeup after a lifting treatment?
- Q22. When can I exercise, drink alcohol or use a sauna after a skin treatment?
- Q23. What is the downtime after a thread lift, and what should I be careful about?
- Q24. Which symptoms after a skin treatment mean I should contact the clinic?