Hifu or high intensity focused ultrasound is a medical procedure that makes use of ultrasound and is commonly used in treating prostate cancer and also for cosmetic purposes. If you or someone you know has been advised to undergo HIFU treatment. Then naturally, there will be a lot of questions in your head.
What is HIFU? What is the cost of undergoing HIFU? What are the factors that affect the expenses for HIFU? If these are the questions that are running through your brain right now, then rest assured you are at the right place? Scroll down to get answers!
What is HIFU?
High-intensity focused ultrasound is a non-invasive medical technique that makes use of non-ionizing ultrasonic waves to melt tissues. HIFU can be used for two purposes one for treating prostate cancer and another for cosmetic procedures
When HIFU is Used for Treating Prostate Cancer
high, frequency ultrasonic energy is directed towards the tumour in your prostate glands which causes the tumour to heat up and die. By making use of HIFU technology, surgeons can focus their treatment on the prostate tissue only and target them. This means that the nearby tissues and organs are prevented from the effects of the ultrasound waves.
Who can undergo HIFU for medical reasons?
The people who undergo HIFU for medical reasons are usually because
- For people who are suffering from localized prostate cancer
- Patients who can tolerate anaesthesia well and do not have any side effects to taking it.
- This is the procedure for people who are unwilling to wait for prostate cancer progression and allow it to grow further without taking any action.
- For people who are not willing to or are scared of undergoing other alternative methods for prostate cancer treatment like cryoablation, radiation therapy, and surgical removal
- For people who have undergone treatments like radiation therapy, cyberknife, brachytherapy, surgery, cryoablation, or proton beam therapy. But have experienced a resurrection of cancer.
When HIFU is used for cosmetic procedures– it uses ultrasound to lift and tighten your skin. This procedure is based on your body’s regenerative responses to help lift the sagging skin and tighten the wrinkles and ageing lines.
When HIFU is targeted at a specific place, it kills the tissues where it has been targeted; this forces the skin to increase its production of collagen to make up for the burnt ones and hence helps in tissue rejuvenation leading to tighter, more young-looking skin.
For whom is HIFU when done for cosmetic reasons-
HIFU for cosmetic reasons can be done to target a host of issues some of the reasons why someone could undergo HIFU is-
- If you are someone who has wrinkles and fine lines and wants to reduce them
- If you wish to have a Neck lifting procedure
- If you want to have a Contoured Face
- For people who wish to have Tighter and firmer skin around the cheeks
- If you are someone with lowset eyebrows and want to have Eyebrows lifting
- For people who want to improve the texture of their skin and improve its elasticity
- For people who want to Improve their Jawline and make it more defined
- People who have a Double chin and want to reduce it
- For people who want Reduce under-eye bags, troughs, and dark circles
What is the Cost of HIFU?
The cost of undergoing HIFU is widely based on the reason you are undergoing it, the area of concentration, the doctor you choose, the location of your hospital, etc. The costs of undergoing HIFU treatment can cost between 20,0000 to 6,00,0000 rupees based on the above-mentioned factors. so let’s have a look at them
HIFU for Prostate Cancer
If you have been suggested to undergo HIFU as means to cure prostate cancer, then you can expect your hospital bill to range between 5,00,000 to 6,00,000 rupees. This cost will increase or decrease based on –
The choice of the hospital
The hospital that you choose will play a significant deciding factor in deciding how much you end up paying for your treatment. Government hospitals will charge you less compared to their private counterparts. What also matters is the region where the hospital is situated in – Hospitals located in Urban regions will typically charge you more than the ones located in rural regions.
Cost of tests
Before undergoing a HIFU for prostate cancer, the doctor will perform some tests on you to understand your condition and decide if HIFU will be the best alternative. The cost of these tests will be added to your total hospital bill. the doctor will decide the tests necessary for you, but the most common ones are –
Blood tests- The cost of having blood tests done can range between 500- 10,000 rupees. This is highly based on the parameters of the test.
ECG- An electrocardiogram is taken to understand the position of your heart and if you are fit to be operated on. The cost of undergoing an ECG test can be between 150- 300 rupees.
X-ray– X-ray is a test that is used to examine the body. The cost of undergoing an X-ray can range between 250- 2000 rupees based on the area on which it has been performed.
Cost of medicines
Before-after and after the surgery, there will be the use of medicines as will be prescribed by your doctor. These medicines will come at a standardized rate which you can buy. This will add to the cost of your hospital bill if not bought separately.
Cost of consultation
Before undergoing the surgery, you will have to consult a doctor who will tell you about the whole procedure and the costs involved and check if you are eligible for a HIFU treatment.
Doctors will charge you for their time; this cost can range between 500- 1000 rupees based on how experienced the doctor is and from where he operates.
HIFU for cosmetic purposes
HIFU, when used for cosmetic purposes like facelift, will cost between 18,000 to 150,000 rupees based on the area on which it has been used, the hospital that you choose, and the doctor. We have elaborated these factors below-
Area
The amount of area covered while performing HIFU will dictate the price that you pay; if HIFU is performed on a small part of the face, then the cost will naturally be lower when compared to performed on a wider region. For example, when Hifu is done on half of the face or just the lower parts, then it will cost less than say when you would have undergone a full face treatment.
Choice of hospital
The hospital that you choose to undergo this procedure in will play a huge role in deciding how much you end up paying. Hospitals located in the urban regions will generally cost you more than those located in the rural regions. Moreover, if you go for a clinic that has been in the business for more time and boasts of experience and quality, it will charge you more than, say, a clinic with less expertise.
Always do your research before choosing a hospital, and it is advisable to go with the one that has the most experience dealing with such procedures.
Doctor’s experience
The doctor that performs HIFU on you will also decide how much you end up paying. Doctors that boast of a high amount of experience will charge you more than, say, a doctor that has just started in this field.
When you are choosing a cosmetic surgeon for performing this, always make sure to look at all the before and after images of the doctor, get reviews from his previous patients, and look at his experience in such a procedure. This is because HIFU, when done for cosmetic reasons, is not covered by medical insurance, so you will be paying for it out of your own pocket.
You should always try to get the most out of the bucks; moreover, cosmetic procedures should always be performed by an experienced professional, or it might lead to complications.
FAQs
Q. Can the HIFU procedure be repeated for the treatment of prostate cancer?
Yes, HIFU, if required by the patient again, can be performed again. But this will generally not be required; moreover, HIFU treatment can be clubbed with various other treatments like cryotherapy to achieve perfect results.
Q. How long will I have to stay in the hospital after undergoing HIFU?
Hifu is an outpatient procedure; hence you will not be required to stay in the hospital for more than 2- 3 hours, but this depends on how well you are managing the surgery, and your doctor will take the call.
Q. What are the side effects of undergoing HIFU for cosmetic purposes?
When you are undergoing HIFU, you may observe reddening of the skin where it was performed combined with a tingling sensation on the skin, but this is temporary and go away. Any other side effects like swelling, numbing or bruising can be treated as fleeting, but if the condition worsens, consult your doctor.
Conclusion
HIFU can be performed for two reasons, one for cosmetic treatments and two for targeting prostate cancer cells. If you have been looking to undergo any of the above, after reading this article, you now know the cost of undergoing both of these; based on this, you will be able to understand how much you really end up spending on your treatment.
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