Radio Frequency (RF) facelift is an increasingly popular option for those looking to revitalize their skin without having to use injections. This technology utilizes energy waves to heat up the deeper layers of the skin, stimulating collagen production and shortening collagen fibres. The effect of this procedure is well known amongst beauty experts and comes with numerous advantages: it helps reduce wrinkles, promote circulation and lift and tighten the skin, resulting in a youthful appearance. As such, RF facelifts are becoming an ideal alternative to costly injectables if one desires overall improvement without any hassle or discomfort.
Radio Frequency (RF) facial treatments offer a safe and painless way to improve skin health and vibrancy. With no downtime necessary after treatment, it’s easy to fit RF facials into your busy lifestyle. Most people see the best results when they commit to a weekly regimen of 6-8 treatments spaced out biweekly, followed by maintenance treatments every 4-6 weeks.
How does this treatment work?
Through controlled heat delivery to the dermis and sub-dermal layers, RF treatments are able to target deep-layer tissue where collagen and elastin fibres reside. This encourages natural collagen production to plump up the skin, leading to increased elasticity and firmness over time. And unlike some resurfacing methods, RF treatments don’t damage the epidermis, which means it’s safe for regular use and produce fewer side effects. These treatments can help to keep your face firm which results in younger-looking skin.
Radio Frequency Treatments can do and improve the following:
- Lift skin around the eyes
- Tighten the skin around the neck
- Facelift
- Improve nose wrinkles
- Firm forehead skin and lessen wrinkles
- Lift and tighten breasts
- Sculpt and tighten back
- Sculpt and tighten the waist
- Sculpt legs and buttocks
- Smooth and tender hands
The RF energy targets multiple layers beneath the surface of your skin, resulting in increased circulation and improved elasticity for a smoother, firmer look. In addition, it can help with diminishing wrinkles, fine lines, sun damage, and other skin irregularities. Water molecules located in the deeper layers of the skin will vibrate due to the radio frequencies. As a result, this will create friction which turns into heat. When collagen fibres are exposed to heat, they will shrink and tighten. And over time, after the treatment is completed, new collagen will form. The doctor cools down the top layers of the skin while the deeper layers are heated.
Uses and Benefits
Radio Frequency Treatment can be used to target any part of the body with loose or sagging skin. It is also suitable for any age group. Since the skin has tightened, it will begin to contour more to the body shortly after the treatment. It also becomes rejuvenated and begins looking fresher and more youthful.
This treatment is used on the face, neck, breasts, stomach, upper arms and thighs. It can be used on areas of the body that need to be tightened. As we age, we begin to lose the fat in our cheeks – this makes it an ideal treatment, especially for the face. Rather than plumping the tissues (similar to the process of filler treatments), it tightens sagging skin in certain areas like the jowls, nasolabial folds and marionette lines.
Radiofrequency addresses the following concerns:
- Droopy eyelids/looking tired
- Flattening of the cheeks
- Lines from nose to mouth (nasolabial folds)
- Lines causing corners of the mouth to turn downwards (marionette lines)
- Loosening jawline (jowls)
- Double chin
- Loose neck
This type of treatment works to tighten the skin and stimulate collagen production. It’s best for those dealing with sagging facial tissues on a mild to moderate scale — usually for those in their mid-thirties to fifties with any skin colour.
Radiofrequency (RF) for skin tightening
RF uses electrical energy to heat the deep layers of the skin, whilst protecting the outer layer.
When you heat this area, microscopic changes are made to the tissues and collagen contraction without causing any damage to the outer layers of the skin. RF treatments are comfortable and require no time to heal afterwards. They also produce instant results. You should have no problem resuming all your regular activities right after. For the best results, rounds of treatments are usually required.
After the Treatment
The best part is that there is no recovery time needed following the treatment. There are also no healing scars, no anesthetic required and minimal to no pain during or after the treatment. There may be a slight reddening of the skin for one day. During the treatment is when the actual collagen tightening takes place. The collagen is also stimulated to form even after the treatment is done.
Most people find that the treatment lasts for quite some time, and is effective for approximately 2 years (depending on each individual’s ageing process). Most doctors recommend 6 to 8 sessions, with each treatment lasting 45 minutes.
There may be additional follow-up treatments. It’s important to keep in mind that radio frequency treatment isn’t a quick solution. Instead, it should be viewed as a method to deliver steady improvements over time.
FAQ
When you undergo RF treatments, it mildly increases the temperature of the skin and subcutaneous area that is directly below the skin. Skin tightening occurs when this heat is sustained and several minutes of collagen synthesis begin.
The face and neck area typically require 4 to 6 weekly treatments that last about 30 to 45 minutes.
Depending on how many areas are being treated, body treatment sessions can take anywhere from 40 to 60 minutes.
One of the main concerns as we age is putting on extra weight. Oftentimes, when people gain weight, it’s most noticeable in their faces. This is because the body does store some fat below the skin in specific areas of the face. And this is why you might see a more slender person with chubby cheeks or a double chin.
For more than 30 years, RF technology has been utilized in medicine (surgery) for tissue ablation (electrosurgery) and hemostasis (blood coagulation). It has recently been used to shrink lax connective tissues through collagen denaturation. Radiofrequency treatments are clinically proven to be safe and effective. Side effects are rare, however, some patients may see a slight redness that will typically disappear within 1-2 hours after the treatment.
RF is meant to tighten and firm the skin and works by warming multiple layers of the skin without damaging the surface. Both laser and IPL target the upper layers of the skin – it addresses superficial skin issues like pigmentation, spider veins, acne, tone and texture.
Secondly, RF treatments are suitable for all skin colours, including dark and pigmented skin. RF energy does not target any particular skin pigmentation and is essentially “colour blind, unlike lasers and IPL.