Radio Frequency skin tightening

Radio frequency skin tightening (RF) is an aesthetic technique that uses RF energy to heat tissue and stimulate subdermal collagen production in order to reduce the appearance of fine lines and loose skin.[1] The technique induces tissue remodeling[2] and production of new collagen and elastin.[3] The process provides an alternative to facelift[4] and other cosmetic surgeries.

Several companies manufacture RF devices, including Thermage by Solta Medical, Venus Freeze by Venus Concept, VelaShape by Syneron, Exilis by BTL, and 3DEEP by Endymed. Alternative techniques include Laser Resurfacing and certain Ultrasound alternatives. Typically, treatment requires a series of 8-12 treatment sessions lasting 30–45 minutes. Devices have different penetration depths depending on the number of electrodes (monopolar, bipolar, or unipolar).[5]

Side effects

Due to radiation of high-energy radio frequency, several patients have reported pain requiring sedation during the procedure. The process also requires extreme care in its execution for improper application may result in dents on the skin surface due to uneven healing responses on the skin. Many effects including fat necrosis and atrophic scarring have also been reported, although several new techniques have overcome this obstacle. With the application of a vacuum at the point of application, the burning and crusting was reportedly reduced.

References

  1. ↑ Gold, Michael H. (2010). "Update on Tissue Tightening". The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology 3 (5): 36–41. ISSN 1941-2789. PMC 2922712. PMID 20725568. Retrieved 2015-01-07.
  2. ↑ Alster, Tina S.; Jason R. Lupton (2007). "Nonablative cutaneous remodeling using radiofrequency devices". Clinics in Dermatology 25 (5): 487–491. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2007.05.005. ISSN 0738-081X. Retrieved 2014-06-16.
  3. ↑ Hantash, Basil M.; Anan Abu Ubeid; Hong Chang; Reza Kafi; Bradley Renton (2009). "Bipolar fractional radiofrequency treatment induces neoelastogenesis and neocollagenesis". Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 41 (1): 1–9. doi:10.1002/lsm.20731. ISSN 1096-9101. Retrieved 2014-04-26.Zelickson, Brian D; David Kist; Eric Bernstein; Douglas B Brown; Sergey Ksenzenko; Jay Burns; Suzanne Kilmer; David Mehregan; Karl Pope (2004). "Histological and ultrastructural evaluation of the effects of a radiofrequency-based nonablative dermal remodeling device: a pilot study". Archives of dermatology 140 (2): 204–209. doi:10.1001/archderm.140.2.204. ISSN 0003-987X. PMID 14967794.
  4. ↑ El-Domyati, Moetaz; Tarek S. El-Ammawi; Walid Medhat; Osama Moawad; Donna Brennan; Mỹ G. Mahoney; Jouni Uitto (2011). "Radiofrequency facial rejuvenation: Evidence-based effect". Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 64 (3): 524–535. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2010.06.045. ISSN 0190-9622. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  5. ↑ Weiss, Robert A. (2013). "Noninvasive radio frequency for skin tightening and body contouring". Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery 32 (1): 9–17. ISSN 1085-5629. PMID 24049924.
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