This is what happens under the skin when you have Sofwave Ultrasound skin tightening
30 January 2023
By Dr Sophie Shotter

Sofwave Ultrasound Non-Surgical Skin Tightening, Marylebone, London
Sagging jowls? Crepey skin? Drooping eyelids? There’s a device that offers a solution for it all – and the best part? It’s non-invasive and requires absolutely no downtime. Sofwave is the latest innovation in collagen-stimulating technology, and it has received outstanding feedback since its launch. But what can you expect from the skin rejuvenation and tightening treatment? And what sets it apart from similar technologies? This is everything you need to know.
What is Sofwave, and how does it work?
Sofwave is an FDA-cleared, non-invasive treatment that uses high-frequency, low-divergence ultrasound and heat to boost collagen production and soften fine lines and wrinkles. Whereas other ultrasound technologies on the market work by concentrating the energy to create a focal hotspot between 1.5mm and 4.5mm below the surface of the skin, Sofwave works within the skin itself to create – with each ‘shot’ of energy – seven cylinders which go straight down, parallel to the surface of the skin, and which link up 1.5mm beneath the skin, to create a line of collagen-remodelling heat. This means that each shot treats an area of tissue far greater in size, and the energy delivered is up to around six times higher than with other ultrasound devices. The end result is a much more effective skin-tightening result.
The skin’s surface is unaffected, as are the fat and the nerves. In addition to treating the fine lines and wrinkles on the face, Sofwave has also been FDA-cleared to lift the eyebrow and lift lax submental and neck tissue – making it ideal for lifting jowls and hooded eyelids without surgical intervention.
What happens to the skin during treatment
Sofwave has a unique ability to localise the depth of thermal injury (or delivered heat) to target the specific collagen layer. It’s a very controlled thermal injury, and it goes down between .5 to two millimetres, centred at about 1.5 millimetres, so it’s really hitting the layer where you want the benefit.
Each Sofwave applicator features seven transducers responsible for delivering ultrasound energy into the skin. The energy is delivered at a specific temperature, between 60 to 70 degrees Celsius, to a particular depth of the skin of the mid-dermis, which is where we get collagen contraction, collagen formation and new and improved elastin. All those things give your skin radiance, resilience, firmness and youthfulness.
Is Sofwave right for you?
Sofwave is best suited to anyone with mild to moderate skin laxity, such as sagging under the chin and jawline, hooded eyelids, or wrinkles forming on the chest. For people in their 30s, ultrasound can help prevent ageing and treat early signs of skin laxity. For women in their 40s and 50s, it can really tighten sagging skin and open the eyes, refreshing the face as a whole.
You can expect to see and feel an immediate change in the treated areas. The skin is tighter and looks fresher. Over the following months, the skin will improve, becoming firmer and smoother.
What results can you expect?
Three months on, and as you can see in the ‘after’ picture, the tightening and lifting effect is clear. Her cheeks have lifted, and the nose-to-mouth lines are less pronounced, and the skin on her jawline is visibly tighter and firmer. This result will only continue to improve over the following months.
If you’d like to discuss options for non-surgical skin tightening, click here to book a consultation.
