How to Prepare for a HIFU Session in Ho Chi Minh City: The Week Before and the Day Of

Sep 5

A smiling client showcasing youthful, contoured facial skin after a HIFU treatment at Hugo Beauty aesthetic studio.

We already have a detailed guide to looking after your skin after HIFU. The questions that arrive on WhatsApp the day before an appointment are about before: "Should I stop my retinol?", "Can I come straight from the office with makeup on?", "I fly out tonight — is that a problem?" This article answers all of them in order, by timeline, so you do not have to ask one at a time.

One thing first: HIFU with Ultraformer MPT does not need elaborate preparation. Most of "preparing" is not doing a few things in the week before, and bringing a few pieces of information so the assessment is accurate. If you are still choosing between HIFU and Ultherapy, this list works for both — same focused ultrasound, same skin response.

The week before: what to stop, what to keep

Stop (5–7 days before):

Retinol / tretinoin, and high-strength AHA or BHA. They thin the outer layer temporarily and raise sensitivity; skin that is "activated" by these tends to stay red longer after heat.
Physical exfoliation (scrubs, strong cleansing brushes) — stop 3 days before.
Sunbathing, long sun exposure, tanning beds. Sunburnt or still-tender skin is a reason to postpone — not because it is dangerous, but because you will be far less comfortable and we cannot judge your skin tone properly afterwards. Saigon sun counts.
Other invasive treatments on the same area (resurfacing laser, microneedling, deep peels) in the 2 weeks before. Skin should be fully healed before it takes heat.

Keep going as normal: gentle cleanser, moisturiser, sunscreen, an ordinary vitamin C serum. Well-hydrated skin conducts ultrasound energy more evenly than dry skin — the week before HIFU is a week to moisturise more, not less.

If you have had filler, Botox or threads in the last 6 months, that is not something to stop — it is something to tell us. See the consultation section below.

48 hours before: alcohol, medication and sleep

Three small things directly affect swelling and bruising — the two most common reactions after HIFU:

Skip alcohol from two evenings before. Alcohol dilates vessels and holds water in the face; the morning after, your face is already slightly puffy before the first shot.
Common over-the-counter blood thinners — aspirin taken on your own, ibuprofen, high-dose fish oil, high-dose vitamin E, ginkgo. They make small capillaries bruise more easily on thin-skinned areas (temples, around the eyes, neck). If any of these are prescribed by your doctor, do not stop them yourself — mention it when you book and we will plan the areas around it.
Sleep properly the night before. A tired face holds more water, and a tired body feels the prickling more.

Eat normally; there is nothing to avoid. Drink enough water from the day before — well-hydrated tissue is the best environment for focused ultrasound.

The day of: makeup, food, clothes and what to bring

Bare skin is ideal, but makeup is fine. Everything — makeup, sunscreen, oil — is cleansed thoroughly before the gel goes on; arriving after work with foundation on just adds a few minutes. The only thing to avoid is very heavy makeup over a silicone primer, which takes longer to remove.

Eat something light 1–2 hours before. A session runs 30–60 minutes, you lie still and the skin feels warm; on an empty stomach some people feel slightly faint, especially during a full-face session.

What to wear: a wide neckline or a top that opens at the front if you are treating the neck, under-chin or décolletage; avoid high-necked pullovers. No earrings or necklaces on the areas being treated.

If you would like numbing cream, say so when you book and arrive 30–40 minutes early so it has time to work. Most clients do not need it — our article on whether HIFU hurts describes the real sensation area by area so you can decide.

Bring (or have on your phone):

A photo of your face from 3–5 years ago, straight on, no filter. It shows which areas have changed most — usually not the ones you expect.
A list of medications and supplements, including creams.
Details of any previous HIFU, Ultherapy or Thermage: where, when, how many shots or lines, which areas. This decides the depths and shot count this time.
Reference images of the result you want — and be ready to hear "HIFU can do this area, not that one".

The first 15 minutes: what you will be asked, and what to be honest about

Every session at Hugo Beauty starts with a skin assessment and a direct conversation with Kieu. The full process is on our page what the consultation looks like; here is only the part you should have answers ready for:

"Anything injected or done to your face in the last 6 months?" — filler, Botox, threads, fat-dissolving injections, laser. This is the most important question and the one clients most often skip because it was "a while ago" or "somewhere else". Filler sits at the depth the 4.5 mm cartridge reaches; threads stay in the tissue for months. No answer is judged — the plan is simply adjusted.
"What are you hoping for?" — be specific: "a tighter jawline", "less fullness under the chin when I look down", "less sagging". The more specific the goal, the more accurate the area-and-shot plan.
"Pregnant, breastfeeding, on any medication, any active skin condition on the area?" — if you fall into one of these groups, our article on who should not get HIFU explains why waiting is better.
"Has anyone ever described your face as lean, or have you had buccal fat removal?" — this decides whether the 4.5 mm depth is used on the mid-cheek at all.

By the end of the assessment you should have three things before the cartridge touches your skin: the areas, the depth for each, and the expected shot count. Before-and-after photos are taken at the same angle in the same light.

Timing: how long before an event, flying afterwards, and your period

Before a big event (wedding, photoshoot, conference): book at least 2 weeks ahead so mild swelling and tenderness are completely gone; ideally 6–8 weeks if you want the first visible firming in the photos. HIFU results build from week 4 to month 3 — booking a few days before only gives you the initial "slightly tighter" feeling, not the real result.

Flying straight after: fine. There is no restriction on flying after HIFU. Bring moisturiser and drink plenty of water because cabin air is dry, and try not to rest the treated side of your face against the window. Many visitors have HIFU in Saigon and fly out the same evening.

During your period: still fine. Some people find their skin a little more sensitive in the first days of their cycle, so the prickling can feel slightly sharper than usual. If that is you and your schedule allows, the following week will be more comfortable; if not, come anyway — it does not change the result.

And for what happens once you get home — washing your face that evening, makeup the next morning, hair washing and the gym — our guide Can I wash my face after HIFU? The first 72 hours goes hour by hour.

Going back to work afterwards: fine. Skin is slightly pink for 1–2 hours; sunscreen and light makeup are fine from the next day. What to do in the first 3 days is covered in our HIFU aftercare guide, so we will not repeat it here.

The 10-line checklist (screenshot this)

Stop retinol / strong AHA / BHA — 5–7 days before
Stop physical exfoliation — 3 days before
No long sun exposure, no tanning — the whole week before
No laser / microneedling / peels on the same area — 2 weeks before
No alcohol — 48 hours before
No self-prescribed aspirin, ibuprofen, high-dose fish oil or vitamin E — 48 hours before (prescribed medication: ask first, never stop on your own)
Sleep well, drink water — the night before
Light meal — 1–2 hours before
Bring: an old photo, your medication list, details of any previous treatment
Have answers ready: anything injected or done in the last 6 months, and what you are hoping for

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to stop vitamin C before HIFU?

No. An ordinary vitamin C serum does not make skin sensitive to heat; you can use it up to the morning of your session. Only stop it if your product combines vitamin C with high-strength AHA/BHA — then follow the acid rule.

Can I come to HIFU wearing makeup?

Yes. Your skin is fully cleansed before the gel goes on, so makeup only adds a few minutes. If it is convenient, come bare-faced so the assessment can see your skin tone and pores more clearly.

If I am 15 minutes late, will I still get the full shot count?

Yes, if the slot after yours is free — the agreed shot count is never cut to "finish on time". If the schedule is tight, Hugo Beauty will offer to move part of the plan to another visit rather than firing fast and sparse. Our article on why the shots you actually receive matter explains why we do not rush.