What is RF Skin Tightening?
Radiofrequency (RF) therapy, also called radiofrequency skin tightening, is a nonsurgical method of tightening your skin. The procedure involves using energy waves to heat the deep layer of your skin known as your dermis. This heat stimulates the production of collagen. Collagen is the most common protein in your body. It creates the framework of your skin and gives your skin its firmness. As you age, your cells produce less collagen, which leads to sagging skin and wrinkles. Skin laxity occurs around age 35 to 40 when the quantity and quality of your collagen begins to decline. RF Therapy has been around since about the year 2000.
How Does RF Skin Tightening Work?
RF waves heat the deep layer of your skin to between 122 and 167°F (50–75°C).Studies have found that maintaining a temperature over 115°F (46°C) for over 3 minutes causes your body to release heat-shock proteins. These proteins stimulate your body to create new collagen fibers. The procedure normally takes less than an hour and should be nearly painless
Radio Frequency Skin Tightening of the Face:
Crow feet skin tightening- RF treatment around the eyes results in no downtime and little to no risk of negative side effects. Patients can expect mild to moderate improvement in the tightness of their skin around the eyes.
Forehead and eyebrow skin tightening- RF treatments are effective in elevation the brow line. The procedur tightens the skin to pull back the eyebrows form the midpupillary line, or the center of the eye. This treatment also gives the eyebrow a more natural, acute angle.
Cheek tightening- RF treatments can tighten loose skin in the cheek area. The surface area of a person’s jowls, or saggy skin below the cheeks, can be decreased after undergoing RF treatment.
Nasolabial folds - the indents on either side of the nose commonly referred to as smile or laugh lines, are also effectively treated. In fact, the tightening of the nasolabial folds following RF skin tightening is one of the most dramatic observations noted by researchers.
Facial rejuvenation of the cheeks via radiofrequency skin tightening is safe for all skin types.
Radio Frequency Skin Tightening on the Body:
RF treatments can be used on areas of the body other than the face – including the neck, abdomen, arms, thighs, knees and buttocks. In some cases, patients undergo treatments for the purpose of body contouring (SEE OUR ULTRASONIC CAVITATION MACHINES), which reduces fat in addition to tightening sagging skin and wrinkles.
Neck- requires the radio frequency machine to operate at lower temperature than normal due to the necks skin, which is thinner than most of the skin on the rest of your body.
Abdomen, thighs and buttocks – RF treatments are an effective body contouring method for these areas and are even effective at reducing skin laxity in those postpregnancy.
Arm – loose skin on the arm can be tightened but multiple treatments may be required before there is a noticeable improvement.
Knees – sagging skin can be tightened but should use caution when applying RF techniques because of the thin skin in this area and the lower amount of sebaceous glands (a type of gland that lubricates and waterproofs the skin)
Tips and Tricks for Best Results During Treatment
- Apply Gel (Ultrasonic, Anti-cellulite, firming etc.) on skin before use of radio frequency facial machine for treatment.
- Start the procedure with low temperature level and check whether the heat feels pleasant on your skin.
- Always use level 1 for very sensitive skin type or eye zones.
- Increase level to your sensitivity level. The probe is very hot at higher levels.
- Do not stay on one spot more than 3 seconds to avoid burning risk. Keep probe moving at all times during treatment.
- The modes on the device changes the Pulse of the device. Mode A through D. Mode A is constant while modes B-D Pulse at different intervals. If the heat is too hot on Mode A try Modes B-D for interval treatments.
The treatments are usually painless. If you feel pain the probe is too hot for your skin and you should lower level. After your treatment the area my feel similar to a mild sunburn and a little redness can occur. The treatment works by using heat so this is expected. This usually subsides within 24 hours.