Zip, zap, inject, poke, pull, stretch, pound, massage … there is a tool for everything you can think of when it comes to luxury (or even just every-girl maintenance) skincare treatments. We kinda know what high-frequency wands do, but do we really understand the much deeper radio frequency?
For us, the answer was no, so we reached out to the experts for a gander and, well, an explanation.
Dr. Behrooz Torkian of The Lasky Clinic in Los Angeles is well versed in radio frequency treatments and what they do. He is an early practitioner of the still-fresh-on-the-scene Virtue RF treatment, which is essentially the love child of microneedling and radio frequency.
Let’s start with the basics:
“In short, radiofrequency is the same as radio waves, which are around us all the time, carrying information to our radios, televisions, and certain communication devices,” Dr. Torkian says.
(His clear, confident, well-informed voice contains a tinge of playful mischief, making us wonder what magic he brings out in his clients every day.)
“When strong enough, these radio waves (radiofrequency) generate heat and energy that can be used in various medical applications, like stopping bleeding during surgery and removing diseased tissue. A much lower level of energy is used in aesthetic medicine to generate heat that causes small controlled injuries to deep layers of the skin. These little injuries result in a healing process that creates collagen and subsequently tightens the skin. They are one way of utilizing the body’s natural healing process to create an external effect,” Dr. Torkian explains.
Because radio frequency generates heat, it is possible, though rare, that it can burn facial fat. Older demographics with very little facial fat to spare may want to beware of this, although generally, it is safe for all skin types.
Similar to microneedling and slightly more effective, radio frequency’s skin tightening and smoothing effects occur gradually over time. Results aren’t permanent, although they may last one to three years.
“Virtue RF is a device that introduces the radio frequency energy into the skin using small needles,” Dr. Torkian continues.
“It is by far the most versatile aesthetic radio frequency device to date. It offers multiple parameters that can be customized to the patient’s needs for safe and effective treatment of all skin types.”
Varying needle depths allow the frequency to remain steady instead of the typical practice of reducing strength to avoid burning the skin. With this method, the provider can allow for some fat removal where necessary to achieve the desired results.
Of course, if you’re hanging onto facial fat volume by a thread, you’ll want to avoid burning any fat and opt for a consultation first, or maybe an alternative tightening treatment altogether.
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