A friend comes back from Wimpole Street with a sharper jawline, your feed fills up with before and after photos, and suddenly you have three names to choose between. Patients often arrive asking for one of these by name, and about half the time a different one suits their face even better.
They tighten by three different mechanisms at three different depths, so the best choice is the one matched to what you would like to change.
Here is how the London team chooses between them.
The one-line version
Ultraformer HIFU works at the deepest level of the three, for gradual tightening and contour. One session, minimal downtime, results at three months.
Morpheus8 works at up to 4mm with radiofrequency and micro pins, treating skin quality and contour together. Three sessions, two to three days of downtime each.
EmFace is needle-free and treats muscle as well as skin. Four short sessions, minimal downtime, and the gentlest result of the three.
If you are happy with needles and a little downtime, the first two go further. If you would rather skip both, EmFace is a genuinely lovely option in its own right.
Choose HIFU if the problem is descent
Focused ultrasound is delivered at fixed depths down to 4.5mm, the deepest of the three treatments here.
That makes it the right choice where the issue is structural: a jawline losing its edge, early jowling, a neck starting to loosen.
It is a lift first and foremost, so texture and pigment are best paired with a skin treatment alongside it.
The result quietly builds from six weeks, peaks at three months and lasts twelve to eighteen. From £595 for lower face and jawline, at our London clinic only.
Choose Morpheus8 if the skin is poor as well as lax
Radiofrequency delivered through micro pins to a depth you can set, up to 4mm. It tightens and remodels at the same time, which means it improves texture, scarring and pores alongside contour.
It is the better answer where the skin itself has thinned or is scarred, and where a jawline has softened with poor skin quality rather than pure descent.
It also reduces a small amount of fat in the treated area, which is wonderful under a chin, so your clinician checks your facial volume before setting the depth.
Three sessions, four to six weeks apart, with two to three days of redness each time. From £500, at our London clinic only.
Choose EmFace if you prefer to avoid needles
Radiofrequency plus electromagnetic muscle stimulation through adhesive pads. No needles, no numbing, minimal downtime, twenty minutes.
It is the only one of the three that treats muscle, contracting the frontalis and cheek muscles that lift and support the face.
It is the gentlest of the three, and it shines for early laxity in a face that still has structure, and for patients who have decided against injectables entirely.
Four sessions over two to four weeks. From £400.
When another route serves you better
Where significant volume has gone, filler or a biostimulator comes first to restore it, and tightening can follow.
Where there is genuine excess skin, most often after major weight loss, surgery is the right conversation, and your clinician will point you to the right door.
And where the jawline is really about a recessed chin, projecting the chin forward transforms the profile with no tightening at all. It is the most often overlooked cause and the most affordable to address.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which suits which concern?
For structural lift, HIFU. For skin quality plus contour, Morpheus8. For a gentle needle-free option, EmFace. The best one is the one matched to your face, which is what the assessment is for.
Which has the least downtime?
HIFU and EmFace have none. Morpheus8 has two to three days of redness.
Which is most painful?
Morpheus8 is the most intense, and topical anaesthetic keeps it comfortable. HIFU feels intense in short bursts. EmFace feels like warmth and a rhythmic tugging.
How much do they cost?
HIFU from £595 for lower face and jawline, Morpheus8 from £500, EmFace from £400.
Can I have more than one?
Yes, and combinations are common. HIFU for the lift with Profhilo for the skin is a frequent pairing. We space treatments rather than stacking them.
Which suits darker skin?
All three can suit most skin tones after a skin check, since none targets pigment.
How long do results last?
Twelve to eighteen months for HIFU and Morpheus8, around twelve for EmFace with maintenance.
How do they compare with surgery?
None of them is a substitute for surgery. HIFU gives a gradual, natural-looking tightening that can last a year or two, with minimal downtime.
When is surgery the better route?
When the jowl is heavy and established, or there is significant excess skin. Your clinician will tell you at the consultation and point you to the right door.