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| RadioFrequency Skin Anatomy |
Radiofrequency (RF) energy
treatment is technology for non-surgical tightening of the early signs of loose
or sagging skin; ideal for those people who either don’t want, or don’t believe
they are old enough to have a surgical procedure. RF energy alone is primarily used to treat skin laxity
by facial tightening, and is best suited to patients with mild to moderate
sagging of facial tissues, usually those in their mid 30s to 50s, with any skin
colour. It is commonly used to treat the forehead, under the eyes, cheeks,
mid-face, jaw line, and neck.
The field of
body contouring and tissue tightening has expanded over the past several years,
with many new devices appearing on the market that utilize radiofrequency (RF)
energy to effectively tighten and rejuvenate the skin. In their review of the
use of nonablative RF in the rejuvenation of the skin, thoroughly outline the physics behind
photomodulation utilizing laser energies versus rejuvenation using RF energies. Through the laser light delivered to the
skin, there is an associated upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases that
leads to a cellular response in the dermal collagen of the skin. This occurs
either via water and collagen absorption of the light energy leading to a
thermal effect on the dermis, or through the production of growth factors and
cellular mediators as a result of the light energy interacting with the
hemoglobin and melanin within the skin. It has been postulated that nonablative
lasers cause an increase in the production of type I procollagen mRNA
associated with the tissue response occurring within the dermal matrix.
Radiofrequency energy,
on the other hand, uses the tissue's resistance within the various layers of
the skin to transform the RF energy given to the skin into thermal energy. Many
considerations are required for there to be successful transfer of the RF
energy into thermal energy, including the size and depth of the tissue being
treated, as one needs to consider the tissue impedance of the skin being
treated. Since RF energy produces an electrical current instead of a light
source, tissue damage can be minimized, and epidermal melanin is not damaged
either. With this knowledge, RF energies can be used for patients of all skin
types – that is, it is color blind and allows for different depths of penetration
based on what is to be treated, allowing for ultimate collagen contraction and
production of new collagen.
Based on current RF technologies, most people should see at least a mild improvement in their skin tightness, with minimal risks and downtime compared to surgery. Prices for radiofrequency facial tightening treatment depend on the area(s) treated and the device used.
Technically speaking, radiofrequency is the number of
oscillations (or waves) per second of the electric and magnetic fields within
the radio waves portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. It is lowest of the
electromagnetic radiation frequencies within the spectrum, which itself spans
from radio waves, microwaves, infrared, optical (visible light), ultraviolet,
x-rays, to gamma rays.
By feeding an alternating current (AC) or voltage through
an antenna or electrode, electromagnetic waves can be generated that radiate
through space at the speed of light; called radio waves. Radiofrequencies, or
radio waves, have wavelengths ranging from less than a centimetre to as long as
100 kilometres.
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| RF Body Contouring |
UK domestic electricity which itself is an alternating
current could in theory be used for “electrosurgery”, however as most people
know, contact with this kind of electric current can cause very undesirable
effects such as electrocution and uncontrolled neuromuscular (nerve and muscle)
stimulation. However, if the frequency of the alternating current is raised
above the response time of neuromuscular structures, we find the radiofrequency
range which can safely be used for medical/surgical applications.
By applying RF energy to the human body, which can
conduct current and therefore act as part of the electrical circuit, any
resistance encountered by the energy flow will cause heat to be produced at the
site of maximum resistance, which can also be used to cut or coagulate
tissue. RF energy when used for skin tightening is able to
penetrate deep into the skin and affect the deeper dermis and
subcutaneous layers, causing tightening and improvements to the underlying
tissue structure, but with little change in skin texture or fine lines and
wrinkling.
RF energy alone is primarily used to treat skin laxity by
facial tightening, and is best suited to patients with mild to moderate sagging
of facial tissues, usually those in their mid thirties to fifties, with any
skin colour. It is commonly used to treat the forehead (lift brows and tightens
forehead skin), under the eyes (thickens skin and tightens and lifts the upper
cheek skin), cheeks (lifts slightly and diminishes enlarged pores), mid-face,
jaw line (diminishes jowling and sagging along the jaw line), and the neck
(tightens skin and diminishes wrinkling of the neck).
However, if there is a significant amount of
redundant or sagging skin, often seen in older patients over sixty, this
procedure may not show a significant enough improvement and a traditional
mid-face, face or brow lift operation
may be recommended in order to remove the excess skin, therefore achieving a
better result. In combination with other modalities, as we have discussed
above, RF can be used to enhance a variety of treatments including hair
removal, photorejuvenation, pigmented and vascular problems, acne treatment and
cellulite treatment.
The future of RF skin
rejuvenation, body contouring and skin tightening looks very bright. Our
devices are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and the results are becoming
more and more predictable. We will continue to encourage more clinical trials
with these devices as, without these, it is impossible to determine which of
these devices actually work and which are just hype.
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