In RF body contouring and skin tightening treatments, RF waves are directed into the dermal layers and deeper layers of the skin without damaging the epidermis. Different RF devices use different amounts of energy and different types of electromagnetic fields to deliver RF waves to the skin and to cause certain effects. Number and placement of electrodes plays a role in how quickly devices can reach and maintain a desired treatment temperature, and in what patients experience during that treatment. Monopolar RF systems feature only one electrode and require a return pad to deliver the energy to the device, which can cause heat spikes and inconsistent energy delivery. Advanced RF systems use many electrodes, so the energy is evenly distributed across a larger area. This enables faster treatment times and better results.
RF isn't the only non-invasive way to tighten the skin. Various other methods have been tried before, with varying results. There are many other non-invasive treatments that have been studied, such as using a suction or laser to dislodge unwanted fat, with varying results. Researchers have found that RF can deliver much more energy safely than other therapies when used to treat skin laxity and to provide a more subtle (but still noticeable) reduction in body circumference. RF devices can treat a wide range of conditions and are generally more affordable than many other therapies.
The aesthetic community is constantly looking for ways to innovate and offer better treatments. Recently, researchers have been focusing on using RF in novel ways to achieve better results, such as more effective treatment sessions and the combination of different treatments.
Before thinking about extending the time it takes to treat patients, researchers had to understand what they wanted from their patients. Patients who are considering non-surgical fat reduction treatments generally think about cost, effectiveness, and time commitment as they would think about the results that will be visible immediately after they receive treatment. This helps them decide whether a treatment is worth it. Because non-invasive treatments may take longer, and with less dramatic results, than a surgical procedure like liposuction, researchers wondered whether more noticeable results could be achieved with longer, more intense sessions of non-invasive treatments. These treatment sessions are known as megasessions. Researchers performed two to three treatments of two to three hours each, using a bipolar RF device that uses suction and vacuum technology, instead of eight weekly sessions. The results were significant enough to warrant further investigation. It was decided that the results from this study were significant enough to warrant further study.
The combination of RF and other non-surgical methods of fat reduction can provide physicians with the opportunity to achieve the results that patients want by offering them a combination of different treatments. Radiofrequency skin tightening and body contouring treatments are more effective than some of the most common surgical and nonsurgical treatments and can enhance results. In one study, a combination of cryolipolysis, which freezes and destroys fat cells, and multipolar RF with pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) treatment enhanced the appearance of the skin by 20% and increased patient satisfaction by 10%.
With increasing age, it is becoming increasingly common to have loose skin and increased abdominal and thigh circumference. Lax skin appears in the body when you are 35 to 40 years old, most commonly on your arms and legs and in your abdominal region. Patients may experience changes in their self-esteem that affect their ability to function socially and psychologically.
Scientists know that losing skin elasticity is related to the loss of collagen in the dermal layer. Histological studies of skin that is too dry show that it is losing collagen and elastin, and also that it is becoming increasingly dehydrated.
