Taula de Continguts
HIFU is usually somewhat uncomfortable, but most people describe it as a tolerable sensation of heat and deep prickling that lasts as long as each shot. The intensity changes with the area, the depth being treated and each person's sensitivity, and it is usually felt more over bone. In this guide we explain, step by step, how an Ultraformer MPT session at Santé Madrid unfolds, what it is common to feel at each moment, what is normal in the following days and when you should get in touch with us.
Key points
- What people describe most is localised heat and a deep prick or tingling with each shot, more intense over bony areas.
- During the session, the sensation usually eases when each shot ends; it is not usually continuous pain.
- There are several ways to make the session more bearable, but none works the same for everyone; the medical team assesses them with you.
- Redness, mild swelling and tenderness to the touch are common afterwards and are usually temporary.
- The settings and areas are decided by the medical team after an assessment; results vary from skin to skin.
What HIFU feels like and why
HIFU (high-intensity focused ultrasound) concentrates energy at specific points beneath the skin, much like a magnifying glass concentrates light. According to Classys, the manufacturer of Ultraformer MPT, small thermal coagulation zones form at those points and stimulate collagen production. That localised, deep heat is exactly what you perceive during the session.
People who have the treatment usually talk about a brief prick, a tingling or a feeling of heat coming from within. A trial on pain management with microfocused ultrasound explains that the discomfort usually starts as something sharp or prickly and continues as a duller or burning sensation, and that it tends to be greater over bony prominences, that is, where the bone sits closer to the skin; on the face, for example, the jawline or the cheekbone.
Depth matters too. In a 2026 prospective study with a microfocused ultrasound device, participants rated the pain as tolerable and linked it mainly to the deepest cartridge. None asked to stop the session. That study did not use Ultraformer MPT, so it serves as general guidance, not as a measure of what you will feel.
Step by step: what an Ultraformer MPT session is like
A facial HIFU session usually follows the same order every time. Knowing it in advance helps you arrive calm and know what to expect at each moment.
- Arrival. We welcome you, confirm your details and take you to the treatment room. If you are wearing make-up, it is removed before starting.
- Assessment and consent. The doctor reviews your history with you, the medication you take, previous treatments in the area and what you hope to achieve. They explain what the session involves, the usual discomfort and the possible side effects, and you sign the informed consent.
- Cleansing. The skin needs to be clean and dry so the handpiece sits properly.
- Mapping the area. The manufacturer states that before treatment the area is assessed and the number of shots is decided, taking into account factors such as facial asymmetry or the degree of sagging. Sometimes reference marks are drawn on the skin to guide the passes.
- Gel. A layer of ultrasound gel is applied, which lets the energy pass evenly from the handpiece to the skin.
- Passes. The doctor rests the handpiece on the skin and delivers energy in lines, area by area, at the chosen depths. Ultraformer MPT, according to Classys, offers facial cartridges at different depths and an MP mode that delivers energy faster than normal mode, which shortens treatment time.
- Afterwards. The gel is removed, the skin is checked and we give you the guidelines for the following days.
Moment by moment: what you feel and what we do
The table summarises what is usually felt at each stage and how the medical team acts. It is a guide: each person tolerates the energy differently, and the same person may feel more one day than another.
| Moment of the session | What you feel | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment and consent | Nothing physical; this is the time to ask | We review your history, explain sensations and possible effects and answer questions |
| Cleansing | Freshness and clean skin | We remove make-up, creams and sunscreen from the area |
| Mapping and gel | Cold gel on the skin | We plan areas and shots according to your face |
| Superficial passes | Brief heat and tingling with each shot | We go area by area and ask how you are doing |
| Deep passes and bony areas | A more intense prick or dull sensation over bony areas such as the jaw or cheekbone | We warn you before each area and can pause or adjust the technique if you need it |
| End of the session | Residual warmth, some redness, tight skin | We remove the gel, check the skin and give you the guidelines |
The most important thing is that you speak up during the session. If an area feels very uncomfortable, say so: the doctor can stop for a moment, change the pace or reconsider that area. Putting up with it in silence does not improve the result and makes no sense.
How discomfort is managed
There is no single method that makes HIFU painless. The introduction of the trial on pain management notes that topical anaesthetics, cooling, painkillers and other strategies have been used, and that, even so, some people do not become fully comfortable. A systematic review of facial microfocused ultrasound describes the treatment as moderately painful, which matches what patients usually report: it is uncomfortable, but tolerable.
In practice, what helps most is usually simple:
- Knowing what you will feel and in which areas, so nothing takes you by surprise.
- Having the doctor warn you before the more sensitive areas.
- Breathing calmly and taking short breaks when you ask for them.
- Adjusting the technique or settings if an area is too uncomfortable, always at the doctor's discretion.
If you want to take a painkiller before or after, check with the medical team first: do not take it on your own, because some medicines may not be suitable in your case. The specific measures are decided at the assessment, according to the area to be treated and your history.
What is normal afterwards and when to contact us
When the session ends, the skin is usually a little red and warm, and it may feel tight. In a study of HIFU in seven facial areas, the adverse effects described were redness and swelling and, in fewer cases, small bruises, all mild and temporary. The systematic review adds that other effects, such as temporary changes in sensation (numbness or hypersensitivity), bruising, stinging or burns, were uncommon.
It is also common for the area to feel tender to the touch for a few days. In the 2026 prospective study, the most frequent side effect was mild or moderate, temporary muscle pain. Serious complications are rare, but a case of eye injury after treating the skin around the eye has been published, which is why that area is treated with particular caution and protection.
In these cases we would rather see you or talk to you as soon as possible. If it is a severe eye symptom or a significant reaction, go to the emergency department.
How to prepare for your HIFU session
Good preparation makes the session more comfortable and safer. Before booking, it helps to be clear about a few things and to tell the doctor about them at the assessment:
- Medicines and supplements you take, especially if they affect blood clotting.
- Fillers, threads or other recent treatments in the area.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding: as a precaution, energy-based aesthetic treatments are usually postponed.
- Wounds, infections or inflammatory flare-ups in the area: these are resolved first.
- Whether you bruise easily or whether an area has ever been especially sensitive for you.
On the day of the appointment, come with your skin free of make-up if you can, and with enough time so you are not rushing. Afterwards, most people carry on with their day, although the redness may make you prefer not to have an important event that same afternoon.
In the capital, the dry air of the continental climate and indoor heating in winter can leave the skin feeling tighter. After the session, a gentle moisturiser and daily sunscreen usually help the skin feel more comfortable while it recovers. The medical team will tell you which products to use and which to avoid during the first days.
How we work at Santé Madrid
Our clinic is at C. de Amador de los Ríos, 1, Chamberí, 28010 Madrid, close to Almagro and Colón. We work with Ultraformer MPT for facial and body treatments, and every session is carried out by the Santé Madrid medical team after an assessment.
The usual pathway is this. You can start with an aesthetic consultation with a Beauty Coach, which is free, or with a medical consultation for €50 (the price of the consultation, not of the treatment). At that visit the doctor reviews your history, checks whether HIFU fits what you are looking for and calmly explains what you will feel and how discomfort is managed. If there is any reason to wait or to consider another option, we tell you.
During the session we warn you before each area, ask how you are doing and stop if you need it. At the end we explain the guidelines for the following days, and you can write to us if any question comes up. Results vary from skin to skin and we do not promise a specific outcome. You will find more information about the treatment on our facial HIFU page, and about the clinic in our introduction to Santé Madrid.
Frequently asked questions
Does HIFU hurt a lot?
It is usually described as uncomfortable but tolerable: brief heat and pricks with each shot, more intense over bone and during the deep passes. The sensation varies a great deal from one person to another.
Which areas of the face feel it most?
Usually over bony areas, where the bone is closer to the skin, such as the jawline or the cheekbone. Areas with more soft tissue are usually better tolerated.
How long does the discomfort last?
During the session, as long as each shot lasts. Afterwards there may be warmth, redness and tenderness to the touch, which usually fade within hours or a few days.
Can I ask to stop during the session?
Yes. You can ask for a pause at any time, and the doctor can adjust the pace or the technique if an area is too uncomfortable.
Can I take a painkiller before coming?
Check with the medical team first. Do not take anything on your own, because some medicines may not be suitable in your case.
Can I go back to my routine when I leave?
Most people carry on with their day. There may be redness or mild swelling, so you may prefer not to schedule an important event right afterwards.
When should I call the clinic?
If the pain increases instead of decreasing, blisters or wounds appear, you notice numbness or weakness that does not improve, or you have any discomfort in the eye. If in doubt, write to us.
HIFU is not a treatment without discomfort, but it is one that most people tolerate well when they know what they will feel and can speak up during the session. If you are considering it, the first step is an assessment with the Santé Madrid medical team.
