Radiofrequency is one of the most useful tools in modern aesthetics, but the words “RF treatment” can describe very different procedures.
Two treatments we use are RF microneedling and noninvasive bipolar RF skin tightening.
Both use radiofrequency energy.
But they deliver that energy differently.
First: What is radiofrequency?
Radiofrequency, or RF, is a form of energy that can create controlled heating in tissue.
When the correct tissue reaches the appropriate temperature for the right amount of time, that thermal stimulus can affect existing collagen and begin a repair and remodeling response.
RF has been studied for skin tightening, wrinkles, laxity, cellulite, and body contouring.
What is RF microneedling?
RF microneedling uses very small needles to enter the skin.
Once the needles reach the selected depth, RF energy can be delivered into the tissue.
Think of it as delivering controlled energy from inside the skin rather than only heating from the surface.
Depending on the device, settings, treatment depth, and patient, RF microneedling may be used to address concerns such as:
Skin laxity
Wrinkles
Acne scars
Texture
Enlarged pores
Stretch marks
Selected body areas
Because needles enter the skin, temporary redness, swelling, pinpoint bleeding, tenderness, or crusting can occur.
And the final result takes time.
Research has found that RF microneedling's collagen remodeling can continue to improve for as long as six months following treatment.
What is noninvasive bipolar RF?
Bipolar RF does not require needles.
Energy passes between electrodes on the treatment handpiece and heats tissue beneath the surface.
This allows us to treat larger areas without creating thousands of needle channels.
Bipolar and multipolar RF devices have been studied for skin laxity and aesthetic tissue remodeling and can generally be performed with relatively little downtime.
This can make noninvasive RF attractive for people who want gradual tightening but cannot schedule significant recovery time.
What about fat?
This is where marketing can get ahead of science.
RF can heat tissue below the skin, and research suggests that some RF protocols can affect adipose tissue and lipolysis. RF is therefore used in body-contouring treatments as well as skin tightening.
But RF should not be described as a replacement for weight loss or liposuction.
Studies of RF for fat reduction use different machines, settings, temperatures, and treatment schedules. A systematic review found encouraging biological effects but also concluded that the overall quality of evidence for measurable fat reduction was limited.
We think clients deserve to know that.
Which treatment is better?
That depends on the problem.
Someone with acne scars and significant texture concerns may benefit from a very different treatment than someone with mild skin laxity on the abdomen.
And sometimes the answer is not one technology.
The best plan may combine treatments over time.
That is why IVerdure does not believe in choosing a machine first and finding a reason to use it.
We start with your anatomy, your skin, and your goal. Then we choose the treatment.
