Does Radio Frequency Skin Tightening Work?

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

The field of tissue tightening and skin softening has rapidly grown in the past few years. This is due to an increase in the number of new devices on the market which use radiofrequency energy to effectively rejuvenate and tighten your skin tissues.

What began as a single Monopolar radiofrequency device has mutated over the years to come up with skin tightening devices which utilize bipolar, Tripollar, as well as five and 8 polar RF energy. Each of these emerging devices is backed up with huge numbers of customer reviews and feedback due to their ability to rejuvenate the skin and remove wrinkles.

Due to an increased need to rejuvenate our skin, skin tightening procedures have become very popular, since they provide nonsurgical alternatives which safely correct skin laxity and improve skin quality, without necessarily undergoing surgery.

Today, doctors have a number of different devices and technologies which they can rely on to ensure you achieve healthy skin.

Depending on the type of skin and the areas being attended, your doctor may decide to choose either of the treatments described below. Before the process begins, your doctor may test the parts to be treated with lotion and makeup.

Some treatments may require a thin layer of ultrasound gel to be applied, while others may require some pain medication to be applied depending on the device used.

Among the common non-surgical treatments available on the market include;

• Radiofrequency: in this type of treatment, a special treatment gel is applied to your skin for comfort and safety reasons. Radiofrequency treatment is then run deep inside the skin tissues to stimulate collagen and elastin production. This process is safe and what you feel is a gentle and heating sensation during each pulse.
• Intense Pulse Light: in this type of nonsurgical treatment, you’ll be offered a special eye covering while an infrared light heats up the deeper layers of your skin to boost collagen performance.
• Ultrasound: after an ultrasound gel is applied to the marked areas which need treatment, a smooth handpiece is placed on your skin for a safe treatment process. Your face is then projected on a screen where the ultrasound emits small thermal bursts which stimulate the deeper parts of your skin.

What is radiofrequency skin tightening?

Radiofrequency skin tightening is a common nonsurgical procedure which is used to boost the performance of collagen and elastin cells to give healthy, smooth and youthful skin.

As you know, skin sagging is a major problem for most aging people. To tackle this problem, many people have gone ahead to prefer this popular method as a way of removing wrinkles, tightening saggy skin, and restoring your skin’s health.

People have considered a number of different ways which they can use to slow down aging. Some of these processes include consuming nutritious diets, adequate consumption of water, evading harmful UV rays, and having enough sleep.

However, when it comes to treating saggy skin, there is less that can be done. At this stage, the only procedure to consider is using radiofrequency skin tightening, as it is one of the popular methods which can actually help repair saggy skin.

How does radiofrequency skin tightening work?

When you’re under treatment, the radiofrequency energy penetrates deep inside your skin to promote collagen and elastin cell performance while promoting skin tissue tightening due to deep heating. As the process proceeds, the treatment head cools the surface of your skin to remove any heat discomfort which may affect your skin.

There are two types of radiofrequency treatment procedures; Monopolar and bipolar.

In Monopolar treatments, the radiofrequency energy passes through a probe from one electrode to another. In bipolar treatments, the RF energy goes a short distance since the electrodes are close together, making the energy penetrate less deeply.

In the above procedures, the radiofrequency currents flowing through your skin operate in a controlled manner. The key reason for these treatments is to catalyze the performance of the collagen cells.

As we have seen earlier, these cells are very important when it comes to strengthening the skin, removing wrinkles, maintaining skin firmness, and lowering the multiplication of free radicals.

What does the scientific literature say?

“We have observed that the monopolar radiofrequency therapy significantly increases collagen remodeling.” – Efficacy of monopolar radiofrequency on skin collagen remodeling: a veterinary study

“Although the results may not be as impressive as those obtained by ablative treatments, RF is a promising treatment option for photoaging with fewer side effects and downtime.” –Radiofrequency facial rejuvenation: evidence-based effect.

After undergoing two treatments with a novel non-ablative radio-frequency rejuvenation device, subjects in this study demonstrated an overall improvement in face and neck appearance with regard to skin tightening, wrinkles, and texture. – Novel Nonablative Radio-Frequency Rejuvenation Device Applied to the Neck and Jowls

[Read: The Best Radio Frequency Skin Tightening Machines]

The battle against skin sagging

The battle against skin sagging has come a long way. In the past, the only treatment for saggy skin involved plastic surgery and facelift. Although these methods were effective and capable of removing wrinkles and folds, they came with multiple setbacks and risks which created substantial discomfort, pain, or even risk of infections in the long run.

Due to these reasons, radiofrequency energy was introduced as an alternative to plastic surgery procedures. This treatment method involves running electromagnetic energy through your skin to boost the performance of collagen.

As elaborated earlier, this process makes significant improvements to your skin appearance, making it tauter, smoother, healthier, and moisturized.

The best radiofrequency machines to consider for skin tightening

When performing skin tightening treatment, there are two things that determine how effective the process will be; the proficiency of the RF professional administering it and the quality of the cosmetic machines used. Some of the best cosmetic machines to consider for at-home RF treatment include:

High Frequency D’arsonval Professional Grade Device with Argon Electrodes

This radiofrequency device has managed to dominate the platform by offering customers the best radiofrequency procedures. It comes with argon electrodes which glow violet.

The electrodes come in different shapes and sizes; mushroom-shaped, horse-shoe shaped, fulgulator (rod-shaped and used to spark pustules) and saturator (this electrode is used for indirect high frequency and is held by the client to complete the circuit) electrodes.

It delivers a high-frequency current of 200,000 cycles per second, stimulating the collagen cells. The treatment involves a facial massage for 7-10 minutes, lasting for up to 8-16 treatments.

Project E Beauty Facial and Eye Matrix Radio Frequency Handheld Device

Available on the market at an affordable price, this device uses the latest monopolar radiofrequency energy technology to tighten and tone the skin and improve its contour. The RF procedure heats a large volume of collagen in the deeper layers of the skin and its underlying tissue. It can be used on the face and body. This device is portable and easy to use.

Who should and who should not use radiofrequency treatments?

People who have loose, wrinkled, and saggy skins are the best to consider using radiofrequency treatments. Unlike plastic surgery and facelift procedures that are likely to affect you later, radiofrequency is safe and is not associated with any side-effects whatsoever.

On the other hand, pregnant women or those people prone to skin infections and allergies should avoid using radiofrequency as a form of skin treatment. To learn more about what should be done, it’s important that you seek medical advice from a professional skin doctor.

[Read: The Best Radio Frequency Skin Tightening Machines]

Conclusion

Radiofrequency is quickly becoming the people’s choice when it comes to tightening skin and removing wrinkles.

With the availability of genuine RF devices on the market, most people prefer to shell out some cash to either go for a clinical RF session or simply purchase one of these products from trusted retailers.

With such information at the disposal, I believe that you’ll be able to make an informed decision on which way to go.