While not always a permanent solution, radio frequency is a safe and effective procedure for anti-aging concerns such as wrinkles and loose or drooping skin, as well as a reducing localized stores of fat. Radio frequency treatment has been FDA approved since 2002 and has remained a popular choice for non-surgical skin tightening and body sculpting.³

The good news is that the biological activity in the skin stimulated by the radio frequency is rather long-lasting. For example, a radio frequency skin tightening treatment will last for six months to a year or more depending on the individual response and lifestyle of the patient after the procedure. Depending on the radio frequency device used and the goals of the patient, additional treatments may be recommended every six months or once a year.

The biological processes of the body are ongoing and, as such, no aesthetic treatment is truly permanent. Even radiofrequency treatments that destroy fat cells do not prevent other fat cells from expanding and depositing more fat in the same location. This is why post-treatment care is so important to extract the maximum benefit from a radio frequency treatment.

Radio frequency has been deemed safe and effective by the FDA and cleared for use in skin tightening and for the treatment of wrinkles in the skin. The use of radio frequency energy in medicine goes back to the 1920s and there have been many clinical studies in support of its application for a variety of purposes. Radio frequency devices used in aesthetics are highly controlled and technologies with FDA clearance allow the practitioner to monitor and control the depth and heat levels during the treatment to achieve non-surgical skin tightening results without overheating.⁴

Radio frequency produces an oscillating electrical current that induces collisions between ions and molecules within a fat cell, creating a high amount of friction that becomes heat. As the radio frequency waves continue to bathe the adipose tissue, the temperature rises, eventually reaching a temperature (112-113℉ or 44-45℃) that causes lipolysis, or the destruction of the fat cell. Some fat cells are destroyed instantly, while others die over a few weeks, but all of the destroyed fat cells are eventually removed from the body by the lymphatic system. This is one reason why the full effects of a radio frequency treatment may take a few months to fully express on the body. It’s important to note that not every radio frequency machine is designed to destroy fat cells and many radio frequency skin tightening procedures monitor the location and temperature of the energy to avoid unwanted fat loss.

One reason that radio frequency has become so popular is that it delivers impressive lifting and skin tightening results with very little post-procedure recovery when performed correctly. Some patients may experience mild redness, swelling and/or tingling, but these side effects are typically minimal and short-lived. The low occurrence of side effects after a radio frequency skin tightening treatment makes it a popular procedure to perform in tandem with other modalities such as microneedling or injectables.⁵

Radio frequency causes a fair amount of internal heat, which is needed in order to stimulate new collagen and elastin production. But this internal heat will create more sensitivity to inflammation triggers. After a radio frequency treatment it’s important to avoid heat-inducing environments (saunas, steam rooms, hot showers) or activities (sunbathing, high intensity workouts). It’s also helpful to avoid alcohol and other substances that create more strain on the liver, which is already taxed with breaking down deactivated fat from the radio frequency treatment.

Although radio frequency is non-invasive with no downtime, it does create significant amounts of internal activity and redness in the skin. Unlike some lasers, a radio frequency treatment does not affect the top layer of the skin, therefore, showering the day of treatment is allowed. However, to improve redness in the skin, it’s important to avoid all heat environments such as a sauna, steam room or showers with hot water. Further speed recovery from radio frequency by using gentle cleansers that will not impair the barrier or remove the essential lipids found on the surface of the skin.

Performed correctly, radio frequency does not cause hyperpigmentation in the skin as the radio frequency energy reaches deep levels of the skin avoiding the triggering of melanocytes. In fact, microneedling radio frequency procedures are helpful in lifting pigment and correcting abnormal pigment disorders. The ability of darker skin tone to successfully undergo a radio frequency treatment sets radio frequency apart from some other modalities that may trigger unwanted pigmentation in some skin⁶ . However, the internal activity and inflammation caused by a radio frequency skin tightening procedure, for example, may increase the skin’s sensitivity to hyperpigmentation triggers such as the sun. It’s wise to avoid the sun for up to two weeks after a radio frequency treatment.