09/04/2026
A K-pop idol got second-degree burns from HIFU after 600 shots under sedation. HIFU burns are thermal injuries caused when ultrasound energy is delivered incorrectly during a High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound treatment. They are preventable. They come down to four factors:
1. Wrong cartridge depth for the facial area
2. Excessive energy settings
3. Poor practitioner technique
4. Gel application and device contact (the one most people overlook)
The gel is not just for comfort. Too little and the energy scatters, causing surface burns. Too much and the practitioner compensates with higher intensity. Poor handpiece contact concentrates heat on one spot.
Under sedation, there is no pain feedback. The doctor loses the one real-time signal that something is wrong.
This is why real-time imaging matters. Ultherapy uses live ultrasound imaging so the doctor can see skin layers and confirm depth before each shot.
Dr Jane Pang, Lead Aesthetic Doctor at EHA Clinic Singapore, demonstrates poor vs proper contact on the imaging screen in this video.