The Dualsonic Maximum Alpha puts seven professional technologies behind six buttons. Owners rarely struggle with the device — they struggle with knowing which button to press today. This is the reference guide: what each mode does, which technology drives it, how to move the head, and how the six fit into one week.
The seven technologies behind the six modes
Before the modes, the hardware. The Maximum Alpha combines dual-depth HIFU (1.5–4.5 mm), triple radiofrequency (1, 2 and 3 MHz firing sequentially through different skin layers), electroporation, microcurrent, and red, yellow and infrared LED. It weighs 202 g, runs 82 minutes on a 3,350 mAh charge, has an OLED display and is made in Korea. Full specifications sit on the product page; the clinical rationale for focused ultrasound is summarised on our benefits page and in the published systematic review of micro-focused ultrasound.
Each mode is a recipe that combines some of those seven ingredients. None of them is “the best one” — they do different jobs.
The two techniques you must not mix up
This is the single most common owner error, and it matters for safety as much as results.
| Technique | Modes | How to move |
|---|---|---|
| Press and shot | V-UP, FACE-UP, EYE-UP | Place the head flat, press the button, let the shot finish, lift and move to the next spot. Never treat the same line twice. |
| Continuous glide | TIGHT-UP, DAILY-UP, COS-UP | No button. Energy is continuous — keep gliding smoothly with full skin contact, never pausing in one place. |
Both require a generous, thick layer of dedicated ultrasound conductive gel. Not a substitute, not a serum, not a moisturiser — the official FAQ is unambiguous that alternatives are not calibrated for safe energy transmission and risk scratches or burns.
Mode by mode
1. V-UP — jawline and lower-face sculpting
Technologies: dual HIFU + LED + infrared. Technique: press and shot.
V-UP targets the lower third of the face: jawline definition, the beginnings of jowling, and the “V” contour. It is the mode people notice first in photographs, because a jawline change is measurable in a way that “glow” is not. It is also the mode most worth photographing properly — see our 12-week progress guide for standardised angles.
2. FACE-UP — deep lifting across the mid-face
Technologies: dual HIFU + red LED, working at 2.5–4.5 mm. Technique: press and shot.
The workhorse lifting mode. The deeper 4.5 mm depth reaches the fibromuscular layer; 2.5 mm works the dermis. Red LED runs alongside to support the recovery phase. This is the mode closest in intent to a clinic HIFU treatment — the difference is energy per shot, which is why home protocols run more often at lower intensity. We work through that trade-off in what home HIFU really costs per month.
3. EYE-UP — eye area, forehead and neck
Technologies: dual HIFU at shallow 1.5–2.0 mm + yellow LED. Technique: press and shot.
Shallow depths for thin skin: crow’s feet, brow, and the delicate neck areas. Two hard limits apply. Never treat the eyeball or eyelid itself — the FAQ calls this out in capitals because focused ultrasound over the eye can cause irreversible damage. And on the neck, avoid the centre, the Adam’s apple and the thyroid region entirely.
4. TIGHT-UP — firmness and pore refinement
Technologies: triple radiofrequency (1/2/3 MHz) + red LED. Technique: continuous glide. Around 18 minutes.
No HIFU here. Radiofrequency heats broadly rather than in focused points, which makes TIGHT-UP the “surface quality” mode: texture, pore appearance, overall firmness across cheeks and jawline. It is gentler than the HIFU modes and slots into a weekly rhythm easily.
5. DAILY-UP — daily maintenance
Technologies: microcurrent + infrared + LED. Technique: continuous glide, steady upward strokes.
Low-intensity muscle stimulation and light therapy. This is the mode you can use most frequently, and the one that turns a device into a habit. Apply enough gel and use consistent uplifting motions at an even pace.
6. COS-UP — skincare absorption
Technologies: electroporation + LED. Technique: continuous glide, slowly, over your serum.
The only mode that runs over product rather than gel. Electroporation transiently opens pathways in the skin barrier so actives penetrate further. It is not a muscle or lifting mode — treat it as the finishing step that makes your existing skincare work harder.
Putting the six into one week
A sensible starting rhythm for a healthy adult, adjusted by your decade and concerns:
| Day | Mode | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | FACE-UP | Mid-face lifting |
| Tuesday | COS-UP | Serum absorption |
| Wednesday | DAILY-UP | Maintenance |
| Thursday | TIGHT-UP | Firmness, texture |
| Friday | V-UP | Jawline |
| Saturday | EYE-UP | Eye area, brow, neck |
| Sunday | Rest | — |
That grid is a starting point, not a prescription. Skin in the thirties responds differently from skin in the fifties, and someone treating jowling needs a different weighting from someone treating texture. That is precisely what the Protocol Hub builds for you — ten complete concern protocols with exact settings, age-adapted weekly schedules, and hands-free timing per zone so you are not counting seconds with gel on your hands. It runs from €14.99 a month, or €119 a year, and we explain the personalisation logic in this guide.
Before and after every session
- Three days before: stop exfoliating acids and retinoids.
- Immediately before: cleanse gently, dry the skin completely, apply a thick layer of conductive gel.
- Normal afterwards: slight redness that fades within hours; mild temporary swelling.
- Avoid afterwards: sauna, steam rooms and extreme heat immediately after; exfoliation for a week.
- Stop immediately if: you feel sharp stinging (usually poor contact, wrong angle or too little gel) or see any burn or scratch.
The device is not waterproof, stores between 10 °C and 50 °C, and the black film on the treatment head must never be scratched, pressed hard or cleaned with alcohol or water — wipe it with a soft dry tissue only. Damaging it voids the warranty. Downloadable manuals are on the resources page.
Frequently asked questions
Which mode should a beginner start with?
DAILY-UP and COS-UP. Both are continuous-glide, low-intensity modes that build the habit and the handling technique before you move to the press-and-shot HIFU modes.
Can I use two modes in the same session?
Yes, and many protocols pair a HIFU mode with COS-UP afterwards. What you must never do is pass over the same line twice within one mode — overlapping energy on identical tissue risks burns.
Do I need gel for every mode?
Gel is strictly required for the energy-based modes — FACE-UP, EYE-UP and TIGHT-UP especially — and for V-UP and DAILY-UP. COS-UP runs over your skincare product instead. Reapply mid-session if it dries out.
How is this different from the Dualsonic Professional?
The Professional is a pure HIFU device with replaceable cartridges and higher dot density per shot. The Maximum Alpha spreads energy across seven technologies with unlimited shots. Full comparison in Professional vs Maximum Alpha, or use the Find Your Device tool.
Who should not use these modes at all?
Anyone pregnant or nursing, children, anyone with a pacemaker or implanted medical device, metal or bio-absorbable facial implants, recent fillers or fat grafts, a cancer history or recent radiotherapy or chemotherapy, severe thyroid disease, epilepsy, uncontrolled diabetes, extreme photosensitivity, active skin disease or unhealed wounds. The complete list is in the FAQ. If in doubt, ask us or speak to your doctor.
Keep reading:
- What home HIFU really costs per month
- Your first 12 weeks with Maximum Alpha
- How the Protocol Hub builds your personalised plan
- Professional vs Maximum Alpha
Prices in euros, correct as of September 2026. Device prices are shown automatically in your local currency on the shop, and Protocol Hub subscriptions are billed in euros, with dollar and pound options on the Hub page. Always follow official device guidance and read the contraindications. Individual results vary. See the full FAQ and about Dualsonic.