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Systematic review and meta-analysis of safety and efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for face and neck rejuvenation

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Abstract

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is widely used for skin rejuvenation and tightening. The aim of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of HIFU for face and neck rejuvenation. A systematic search of peer reviewed articles published before December 2017 was performed using Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Retrieved studies were screened, and clinical trials or follow-up studies which were evaluated the effect of HIFU on rejuvenation treatments of face and neck area were included. Risk of bias for each study was assessed and was reported. Safety and efficacy variables, which were reported more often in papers, were included in meta-analysis. Seventeen studies involving 477 participants were included in the analysis. Meta-analysis showed moderate improvement as scores of 2.74 (95% CI 2.06–3.43) and 2.68 (95% CI 1.92–3.45), out of 5 maximum score, for objective improvement score and subjective satisfaction score, respectively. Meta-analysis of mean pain score, assessed by a 0–10 Likert score, was 4.2 (95% CI 4.27–5.19). Edema and erythema showed considerable heterogeneity, and no hyperpigmentation was reported by included studies. Included studies used multiple and different outcome variables with different scoring at various time points. Long follow-up was not reported by majority of studies. HIFU is safe procedure in short term and has a moderate effect on rejuvenation of face and neck areas.

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Funding

This study was supported by research grant number 36562-34-03-96 from Undersecretary of Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Research and Training in Skin diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Azin Ayatollahi, Maryam Saberi, Hamed Hosseini & Alireza Firooz

  2. Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Jaleh Gholami

Authors
  1. Azin Ayatollahi
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  2. Jaleh Gholami
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  4. Hamed Hosseini
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  5. Alireza Firooz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alireza Firooz.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics

This study was approved by Ethics Committee of Undersecretary of Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences IR.TUMS.VCR.REC.1396.4144.

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Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Table 2 Main findings of included studies and assessment of risk of bias
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Ayatollahi, A., Gholami, J., Saberi, M. et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of safety and efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for face and neck rejuvenation. Lasers Med Sci 35, 1007–1024 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-020-02957-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-020-02957-9

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