RF Therapy
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.
Pure RF energy 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 30's to 50's, with any skin color. It is commonly used to treat the forehead, under the eyes, cheeks, mid-face, jaw line, and neck.
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.
Pure RF energy 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 30's to 50's, with any skin color. It is commonly used to treat the forehead, under the eyes, cheeks, mid-face, jaw line, and neck.
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.
Types of Radiofrequency delivery
With monopolar delivery, the current from the generating machine flows through the body from a single electrode (hand piece) and meets maximum resistance in the area around the tip of the handpiece, where tissue heating in the subdermal layers then occurs. A grounding, or “return pad” may also be used, attached to the patient’s lower back or abdomen, to provide a low resistance path for the current to flow back to the generating machine, to complete the electrical circuit.
With bipolar delivery, the current from the generating machine flows only through the tissue which is between the two electrodes on the hand piece; these electrodes start and complete the electrical circuit. Hence, with bipolar delivery, no current flows through the rest of the body, so no grounding or return pad is needed.
In all cases of radiofrequency delivery types, it is the resistance to the current flow in the tissue, not the electrode that generates the heating effect.
- Monopolar (also called Unipolar): Monopolar or unipolar refers to a device having one pole or electrode.
With monopolar delivery, the current from the generating machine flows through the body from a single electrode (hand piece) and meets maximum resistance in the area around the tip of the handpiece, where tissue heating in the subdermal layers then occurs. A grounding, or “return pad” may also be used, attached to the patient’s lower back or abdomen, to provide a low resistance path for the current to flow back to the generating machine, to complete the electrical circuit.
- Biopolar: Biopolar refers to a device having two poles or electrodes.
With bipolar delivery, the current from the generating machine flows only through the tissue which is between the two electrodes on the hand piece; these electrodes start and complete the electrical circuit. Hence, with bipolar delivery, no current flows through the rest of the body, so no grounding or return pad is needed.
In all cases of radiofrequency delivery types, it is the resistance to the current flow in the tissue, not the electrode that generates the heating effect.