Radio Frequency - Skin Tightening

May 3, 2021

Updated: December 26, 2021

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Skin laxity (loose or saggy skin) is the result of biomolecular changes to your skin’s structure, such as damage to the collagen fibers in the skin. ₁ Your skin is kept taut and flexible by a network of elastic protein fibers, mainly collagen. Exposure to environmental elements such as UV light from the sun or pollutants in the air can cause damage to these structural fibers. On top of that, as you age, your skin cells become less able to adequately produce new proteins to repair this damage. Over time, your collagen matrix slowly breaks down, and your skin loses its ability to hold its shape.

Radiofrequency Stimulates Skin Rejuvenation

Nonablative radiofrequency is one of the most commonly used treatment options for skin laxity. This treatment produces a selective and controlled increase in tissue temperature, using a high frequency alternating current, ranging from 0.3 to 10MHz.¹The temperature, as well as the heating depth, depend on the energy level used and on the biological structure of your skin tissue.¹ The goal of nonablative radiofrequency is to induce mild thermal damage, just enough to induce changes in the structure of your skin’s collagen fibers, and to stimulate the secretion of new collagen from your skin cells.^1,2 This remodelling of collagen produces the desired tissue tightening effect.²

NORLANYA Radio Frequency RF Skin Lift Anti-Aging Device

Little research has been conducted on how effective radiofrequency devices truly are when it comes to improving the firmness of the skin. The results of the scientific literature are still mixed, as some people claim that the treatment is effective, while others are not satisfied with the results. Some researchers have found that the use of radiofrequency devices primarily helps to stimulate the synthesis of collagen in the skin.² A few recent clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of radiofrequency in improving skin elasticity around delicate facial areas, with minimal downtime or side effects afterward.^3,4 Upcoming clinical trials in the near future should provide further scientific evidence on the effectiveness of radiofrequency treatments on skin regeneration and tightening.

Thermage® ThermaCool®

This device has been studied the most, with several clinical trials being published to date
Uses monopolar radiofrequency energy that delivers heat into the deep dermal tissues

ThermaCool® NXT

This device has incorporated newer features into the system including several tips (for the eye and body) and new hand pieces (for cellulite)
A Comfort Plus Technology (CPT) tip allows for massage with radiofrequency energy, which increases the procedure speed and improves patient comfort

The Polaris™ and ReFirme™

These devices use bipolar radiofrequency (780–910nm diode for the Polaris and 700–2000nm infrared light for the ReFirme™)
Combining radiofrequency current with light requires less radiofrequency energy
One major adverse reaction that has been observed tissue arcing, though this can be avoided by ensuring the hand piece is properly placed on the skin

Aluma™ from Lumenis

This device combines bipolar radiofrequency with a vacuum apparatus
Delivers energy deep into the dermis, with the vacuum diminishing the associated pain of the procedure
Less energy is needed for the treatment to be effective

Accent™

Uses both unipolar and bipolar radiofrequencies at different depths in the skin (unipolar for deep dermal and bipolar for superficial heating)
Uses a closed system

Accent™ XL

Updated version of the Accent™
Various treatment tips have been added including an eye tip, cellulite massaging tip, and a UniLarge tip
A new Pixel radiofrequency hand piece has also been added to improve the look of scars and wrinkles and aid in tissue tightening