Radio frequency

What is Radio Frequency?

The term “radio frequency” refers to the thermal energy that’s delivered to the skin by a device with the intention of causing micro-injuries, which trigger the creation of new collagen. Radio-frequency treatments can be performed on the face and all over the body, and it’s known to tighten, firm, and lift the skin with little to no downtime.

In the case of radio frequency, he says, radio waves pass through the skin’s surface to heat up the underlying tissue and cause a controlled burn. This triggers the body’s innate healing process, resulting in the production of the skin’s natural structural components like collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. After the skin heals, the result is a tighter, firmer, and lifted complexion. RF can also be used to contour the face and body due to its skin-tightening and fat-reduction capabilities.

Benefits of Radiofrequency Skin Tightening:

Does radiofrequency skin tightening really work? You bet it does! It hasn’t become one of the most popular skincare treatments for no reason.

Here are some things that radiofrequency treatments can help with.

Boosts collagen production – it’s thought that the heat from the RF affects the collagen molecule, thus stimulating repair which includes fibroblast, collagen and elastin production. One study showed a significant improvement in types I and III collagen, as well as newly synthesized collagen after just 3 months and 6 total treatments.

Tightening and Lifting-
Though efficacy will vary depending on the patient, modality used, and body part treated, one benefit of RF that notes is collagen banking, or preemptively mitigating the natural decline in collagen production that occurs with age. We start to lose 10 percent of our total collagen stores each decade, [so] younger patients will often do RF treatments to increase their collagen reserves. This increase in collagen production means patients’ complexions appear more tightened and lifted.

The collagen-boosting benefits improve over time, as the skin’s fibroblasts — the cells in connective tissue that typically stiffen and becomes less efficient with age — remain accustomed to creating collagen. This prolonged tightening and lifting effect can be so pronounced that it can improve outcomes post-cosmetic procedure or even persuade a patient to delay or forego the decision to go under the knife altogether.

Boosts elastin production – just as RF stimulates collagen, it also stimulates elastin, which is key for firmer, youthful looking skin. Elastin can help keep skin bouncy and tight, instead of droopy or saggy.

Speeds up healing – the production of fibroblasts also triggers an immune response which brings immune cells, blood and other nutrients to the area, all of which can help to speed up wound healing (whether it’s a cut or acne scarring).

Tightens skin – radiofrequency can help to instantly tighten skin, but it also helps to keep skin tight and plump down the line, thanks to the increase in collagen and elastin.

Improves skin tone – post RF, your skin will have a rosy glow and generally look healthier. Continued use can help to brighten the skin tone and even out the skin tone even more
Has contour effect – RF also has a contouring effect that can be noticed immediately after treatment. It can help define your jawline, chisel out your cheekbones and overall enhance the contours of your face.

Improves acne scarring – atrophic scarring like icepick scars can be tough to get rid of, but RF can help to decrease these because it helps to heal wounds and stimulate collagen and elastin production, both of which help to fill in the indented area
Reduces pore size – collagen isn’t just great for anti-aging, it can also help to reduce the look of pores. And since RF tightens the skin, your pores will instantly appear smaller right after treatment.
Minimizes lines and wrinkles – RF can help to instantly diminish fine lines and wrinkles, but best results come with continued use, especially for deeper wrinkles.
Results are immediate – no more waiting around months and months to see results from a single treatment. That’s why radio frequency has become so popular – no downtime, immediate results and it’s dang effective. What more could you want?

Skin Retexturizing – 
While plumper-looking, tighter skin is most common goal with RF, it can also retexturize skin when combined with microneedling. This can reduce the appearance of acne scarring on the face or stretch marks on the body. Both microneedles and radio-frequency heat induce a wound-healing response that can stimulate skin turnover and regeneration. See our RF Microneedling page: https://spa-marija.com/rf-microneedling/ 

Contouring – 
The possibility of intentional fat reduction — especially when combined with skin tightening — allows for contouring of the face and body. [RF] raises [the treatment’s] temperature, and then within four minutes, the heat causes apoptosis, which means the targeted fat cells are permanently damaged and naturally filtered out by the body.”

Who can receive this treatment?

RF Skin Tightening is a great option for those who want to firm loose skin on their face or body, or those looking to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Patients that are concerned about jowls, volume loss in the lower face, and lax skin in the jaw and neck area. Because radiofrequency does not depend on pigment in the skin, it is suited for all skin types.

How long does it take?

The treatments are 30 minutes to 1 hours sessions. You may see results after one session but it is highly recommended to receive 6-12 sessions to achieve the desired result. Sessions must be spaced out at least 72 hours apart.

Radiofrequency vs Microcurrent – What is the difference?

Radiofrequency is used to stimulate collagen production and to re-establish a taut appearance on our face and bodies. It does this by safely interacting with key skin cells and tissues catalysing a kinetic heat, this then stimulates the skin to naturally generate new collagen fibres and more of the skin’s natural plumping and hydrating agent hyaluronic acid. Contrastingly, microcurrent focuses primarily on working the muscles underneath the skin, allowing them to strengthen and tone, thus increasing cellular metabolism.

Whereas microcurrent treatments are primarily used to target facial muscles, Radiofrequency treatments can boast a multi-pronged use – they can gently stimulate the deeper layers of the skin to stimulate new collagen. In addition, advanced professional radiofrequency systems using specific hand pieces can be used more aggressively to resurface the surface layers of the skin refreshing and renewing from the outside whilst also stimulating below the surface. Some high-level systems can also use handpiece with high quality needles to deliver the radiofrequency in an intense way to stimulate renewal of every layer of the skin. This stimulation allows for battling the signs of cellulite and tightening loose skin all over the body.

In short, neither are painful. Radiofrequency waves are small electric currents which create heat, some of the treatments can feel like a relaxing hot stone massage. Whilst some of the more intense treatments can be a little uncomfortable, none of them provide an unpleasant situation and the most advanced devices rarely result in any downtime which can affect work or social activity.

Radiofrequency devices are used with a core focus on repairing and renewing skin making it tighter, firmer and plumper, helping removing wrinkles. Whereas microcurrent treatments are more likely to be used as a precautionary measure, on those who are looking to slow down the natural appearance of ageing on their skin.

Pre Care:

1. Avoid a heavy meal and fatty foods 1 hour before treatment
2. Avoid caffeine 2 hours before treatment
3. Avoid any alcohol 24 hours before treatment
4. Avoid having any laser treatments on the area 2 weeks before treatment
5. Avoid excessive sun exposure (sunburn) on the area 2 weeks before treatment
   If the skin is red, irritated or broken, we cannot treat until the skin has completely healed
6. Our treatments are not suitable for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding
7. Please advise of any blood thinning or skin thinning medications you are taking
8. If you have any metal implants in the area being treated, unfortunately we cannot treat them with RF. This is because the metal attracts the RF energy and the area can become quite hot and painful

Post Care:

1. It is normal for the area to feel warm immediately after the procedure.
2. The treated area may be flushed, red and feel tingly
3. Do not wax the treated area for 3-5 days
4. Do not laser the treated area for 2 weeks
5. Do not exfoliate the skin for 2-3 days
6. Avoid hot baths, steam rooms and massage for 24 hrs after treatment
7. Avoid sunburn during the healing process of the skin for 2 weeks after treatment
8. Apply SPF 30 daily
9. Drink plenty of water

Possible Side Effects:

1. Redness
2. Swelling
3. Tingling sensation
4. Warm sensation on treated area

Contraindications:

Clients that should not have this treatment are the ones that have pacemakers, implanted cardiac defibrillator, or any electromagnetic implanted devices, pregnant, or breastfeeding or planning for pregnancy, metabolic disorders, hepatitis or other liver diseases, immune system disease or connective tissue disorder, history of poor wound healing, open wounds or rashes, keloids, blood or bleeding disorder, photosensitive medications, etc.