HIFU without losing facial fat: how Dr. Yoko Nakano plans a New Doublo treatment in Tokyo

Yes, it can, so it is an understandable concern. HIFU delivers focused ultrasound energy beneath the skin. Depending on the treatment depth, settings, and your facial anatomy, it can affect fat as well as the tissues we want to tighten. That is why treatment should be tailored to your face. If you have a naturally slim face or areas of hollowing, preserving volume is especially important. I assess where tightening is needed and where fullness should be preserved before recommending treatment. The goal is a natural-looking lift, while minimizing the risk of unwanted fat loss.

HIFU does not automatically mean fat reduction. Some menus in Tokyo are designed to reduce fat in the lower face, and that is a legitimate goal for some patients. For patients who want a firmer jawline without a thinner face, the plan has to be built the other way around: tighten where tightening helps, and avoid energy where volume should stay. No technique can guarantee zero fat loss, so careful patient selection and planning matter most for people with naturally slim or hollow faces.

I tailor the treatment to each person's face. First, I assess your facial structure, skin thickness, firmness, and where you have fullness or hollowing. This helps me decide which areas to treat, how deep to deliver the energy, and how many shots to use. Two people wanting a firmer jawline may need very different treatment plans. More shots are not necessarily better; the aim is to treat the right areas while preserving your natural facial volume.

I decide how many shots to use during your consultation, after examining your face and discussing your goals. The aim is a natural-looking result, so more shots or stronger settings are not always better. In areas where we want to preserve fullness, I adjust the settings or avoid treating that area.

We use the New Doublo. It treats at 1.5 mm, 3.0 mm, and 4.5 mm. At 1.5 mm and 3.0 mm we also have a handpiece that delivers HIFU and radiofrequency at the same time, which we use for patients who want both tightening of the skin and lifting of the deeper layer; at 4.5 mm the treatment uses HIFU only. This is how we use the device in our practice, not a claim that one machine is superior to another.

Many overseas patients find us while searching for Ultherapy in Tokyo. At Art Lounge Clinic, we offer New Doublo, a different ultrasound treatment platform. Both are used for skin tightening, but their technology and clinical evidence differ. Ultherapy has built-in ultrasound imaging that allows the doctor to view the tissue layers during treatment. At Art Lounge Clinic, I can also use a separate ultrasound device to assess your facial anatomy and help guide treatment planning. This is different from Ultherapy's integrated imaging system. During your consultation, we explain these differences and discuss whether our treatment is suitable for your concerns.

The heat helps the treated tissue contract and stimulates the skin's natural repair process, supporting collagen renewal. Results develop gradually over the following weeks and months and vary from person to person. HIFU cannot achieve the same results as a surgical facelift. Studies of other focused ultrasound devices have shown improvements in lower-face and neck firmness in suitable patients. These findings help explain how the treatment works, but they do not guarantee the same results with New Doublo.

At our clinic, we generally recommend spacing sessions four to six months apart, depending on your skin, goals, and response to treatment. We assess whether another session is needed rather than treating simply because a set amount of time has passed.

A full-face session with the New Doublo is ¥96,000 (Light), ¥151,200 (Standard), or ¥199,600 (Premium), tax included. A fully customized treatment performed by me, rather than by a nurse, is an additional ¥100,000. The initial consultation fee is ¥3,300, including tax.

Japanese-speaking and English-speaking patients pay the same prices. A separate price list applies only when an interpreter is required.

Most patients return to their normal day immediately. Mild redness or swelling can occur and usually settles within a day or two; some patients feel tenderness over the treated areas for a few days. Less common effects include bruising, temporary numbness, and, rarely, burns or nerve irritation. During treatment there is a hot, prickling sensation that is strongest over bone. We discuss the risks at the consultation, and I will tell you if I think HIFU is not the right choice for your face.

Yes. I offer consultations in English. Because I also perform treatments during the day, please book in advance and request an English consultation so that time is set aside. Reservations are accepted through our online booking page, LINE, WhatsApp, or by phone. We accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Discover, and UnionPay, as well as contactless mobile payment; transit IC cards and QR-code payments such as PayPay are not accepted. The clinic is a five-minute walk from Exit 2 of Roppongi-itchome Station.

• Dr. Nakano's article on the clinic's website: HIFU in Tokyo at Art Lounge Clinic
• Dr. Nakano's article on the clinic's website: HIFU + RF in Tokyo with New Doublo
• Art Lounge Clinic — English page and price list