Radiofrequency (RF) therapy, also called radiofrequency skin tightening, is a nonsurgical method of tightening your skin.
The procedure involves using energy waves to heat the deep layer of your skin known as your dermis. This heat stimulates the production of collagen.
Collagen is the most common protein in your body. It creates the framework of your skin and gives your skin its firmness.
RF therapy has been used since 2001 to fight against sagging skin and signs of aging. In this article, we’re going to look at how this cosmetic therapy works and what potential benefits it has for your skin.
Radiofrequency devices heat up the deep layers of your skin using advanced radiowave technology without damaging the epidermis, or top layer of skin. The heat causes the collagen in your skin to contract and tighten. After the treatment, your skin will start to produce new collagen. The result is an improvement in skin quality, firmness and tightness you can see and feel.
Radiofrequency is a type of energy, which is measured in “frequency,” or wavelengths per second. All types of energy, from the sound waves your iPod emits, to sunlight, to the heat coming off your body, to gamma rays, are classified according to their frequency on the “electromagnetic spectrum.”
Radiofrequency (RF) is one category on this spectrum, and includes a lot of common energy types we use every day: WiFi signals, radio and TV waves, and microwave ovens. The RF energy used in skin tightening is in the ballpark of 450 kilohertz, which is on the slow end of the radiofrequency range.
The HydraFacial treatment starts with cleansing by removing the dead skin cells and excess sebum from the skin. Next, a mix of salicylic and glycolic acids are applied to the skin to break up any dirt and oil that's clogging pores. Then, the HydraPeel Tip is used to essentially vacuum out blackheads, dirt, oil, and impurities, while hydrating, plumping, and nourishing serums are simultaneously applied to the skin.
The two most visible benefits provided by this treatment are tighter skin and a smoother surface – meaning fewer wrinkles. But RF therapy is versatile, so you can also expect an improvement in sun damage. Studies show that after three months of RF treatment, patients saw clinically significant improvements in mild to moderate signs of sun damage.
This is great news for those with photoaged skin; treating dark spots, sagging, and other effects of the sun is notoriously hard to do. Most people think aging is the only culprit behind collagen degradation, but the sun is even more vicious. The ability to reverse UV damage is, therefore, nothing less than revolutionary, and RF technology does precisely this.