Comparison of two microfocused ultrasound treatment protocols for eyebrow lifting in a Korean female cohort in Republic of Korea: a split-face clinical study
- Author:
Jihun CHOI
1
;
Myoung Eun CHOI
;
Kang Su KIM
;
Ik Jun MOON
;
Joon Min JUNG
;
Chong Hyun WON
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original article
- From: Medical Lasers 2025;14(4):223-229
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:Microfocused ultrasound (MFU) has emerged as a noninvasive treatment modality for facial aging, with proven efficacy in eyebrow lifting and wrinkle reduction. However, there are only limited split-face studies that quantitatively compare treatment protocols with different focal depths. This prospective, singlecenter, randomized, split-face, open-label study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of two MFU protocols (2-depth vs. 3-depth) for eyebrow elevation and improvement of glabellar wrinkles.
Methods:Twenty-two female participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to two groups (n = 11 per group). One group received the 3-depth protocol (2.0 mm, 2.5 mm, 3.0 mm) on the left forehead and the 2-depth protocol (2.0 mm, 3.0 mm) on the right, while in the other group the protocols were reversed. Clinical outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks post-treatment. Evaluations included average eyebrow height (AEH), maximum eyebrow height (MEH), glabellar line scale (GLS), and participant satisfaction.
Results:Both AEH and MEH showed consistently greater improvements with the 3-depth protocol compared to the 2-depth protocol. Although the differences did not reach statistical significance, a trend toward enhanced lifting effects with the 3-depth protocol was observed at all time points. GLS demonstrated the greatest reduction, with 90.9% of participants achieving a ≥1-point improvement by week 12.
Conclusion:Both MFU protocols were effective for eyebrow elevation and glabellar wrinkle reduction.However, the 3-depth protocol yielded greater improvements, suggesting a potential clinical benefit of multidepth treatment in this female cohort.
