By Cameron Drodinsky
Published June 14, 2011
Move over laser beams and intense pulsed light (IPL) – radio waves are now being extensively used by medical professionals to deliver cosmetic facial rejuvenation- also known as skin tightening, because radio frequency (RF) appears to provide a much faster treatment procedure.
So what is RF, and how do RF devices work? In the US code of Federal Regulations, Title 47, Part 15, radio frequencies are defined as an oscillating (that’s on-off, on-off) electric or magnetic field of greater than 8kHz. Hence, RF skin care devices are those that deliver electric current at that limit or greater. In fact RF skin treatment devices are outlet powered electric generators that discharge extremely low amperage electric micro current at very high cycles (oscillations) per second in the radio ( wave ) frequency spectrum. Depending on the brand and the size of the device, this micro current is delivered directly to the skin by either small probes built into the head of the machine, or by a glass bulb filled with an inert gas, such as neon or argon, through which the micro current passes. Once the probes or the bulb are touched to the skin, the micro current both flows across the localized skin surface and penetrates through the muscle and tissue. Because the micro current generated is in the radio wave spectrum, it’s emitted at thousands of cycles per second and has a stippling effect on the skin’s surface. This equates to an intense facial massage at “super speed“, and helps improve circulation, bringing fresh oxygen and nutrients to the skin’s surface. Because the micro current travels through the skin and tissue at such high cycles per second, no contractions occur in the facial muscles. However, the natural resistance to the flow of the micro current provided by the tissue and muscle, provides both a rise in temperature of the underlying tissue, while at the same time the micro current is causing minor aggravation to the muscle. The temperature increase results in acceleration in the production of natural collagen and elastin, which naturally helps reduce dermal creases, while the aggravation causes water uptake into the muscle as a defensive and healing reaction. This water uptake swells the muscle to protect it and this swelling has the effect of plumping the skin and stretching out dermal creases.
The RF devices that deliver micro current via an inert gas filled bulb emit enriched oxygen as a by-product of the high-speed electric micro current discharge through the bulb. This enriched oxygen provides necessary refreshment to the surface of the skin surrounding the bulb contact.
One major advantage that RF has over laser and IPL is that unlike the former, which delivers energy in a narrow beam, RF devices deliver their energy over a much wider skin area and this is the major reason why rejuvenation is achieved much faster - also because of the delivery method of RF energy, there is no skin surface discoloration, which often occurs with laser and IPL treatments.
RF devices based on the original French D’Arsonval machine have in fact been used in the general aesthetics industry for over 40 years and are known as “ high-frequency” treatments. However much larger and more powerful RF devices are now available, so much so that treatments from them can only be administered under medical doctor supervision and costs are correspondingly far greater to the patient. Also today there is a small number of credible in-home portable Radio Frequency devices available, which while less powerful than the big medico models, will with daily use, produce cumulative results relatively equal to that of the big machines, for a fraction of the cost.
