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Radiofrequency For Cellulite & Fat Information

Procedure Time: Average 30 minutes. Multiple sessions required.

Recovery Time: Minimal to no downtime

Results Duration: Regular maintenance sessions recommended.

Cost: Varies by device used. Average £ per session. Often sold as a course of treatment.

Anaesthesia: Topical anaesthesia

For a full list of FAQs please .

Radiofrequency (RF) energy treatment is a new and promising technology for non-surgical body contouring, fat and cellulite reduction. Pure RF energy alone (such as the Accent™, Thermage™ and Tripollar™ devices) or RF in combination with other modalities (such as the Velasmooth™/Velashape™ device which combines RF with infrared, tissue mobilisation and suction) can be used in treatments to effectively contour the body and reduce the appearance of cellulite and fat. With deep, controlled heating of the fatty layers under the skin, the effects of tissue tightening and increased blood circulation mean that fatty deposits are drained through the lymphatic system, reducing the appearance of cellulite. Based on current RF technologies, most people should see at least a mild improvement in their skin tone, with a temporary reduction in the appearance of cellulite and possible inch loss, with minimal risks and downtime. Prices for radiofrequency depend on the area(s) treated and the device used.

Radiofrequency For Cellulite & Fat Information FAQs

The use of electric currents in medicine has been documented almost since electricity itself was discovered.

Radiofrequency (RF) surgery has a lengthy history of use in oral, ophthalmic, plastic, and gynaecological surgery of over 70 years. Gradually, its use in the practice of dermatology, cosmetology, cardiology, neurosurgery, hepatology, and ENT procedures gained momentum and popularity. Low frequency alternating currents are also used in physiotherapy for their ability to cause contractions in muscles. RF surgery traditionally utilizes a wave of electrons to cause frictional heating of tissues to incise, excise, ablate or coagulate the targeted tissue.

However with recent developments in cryogenics (the use of extremely cold substances) and information technology, non-ablative RF energy is the newest addition to the treatment options available for cellulite and fat reduction. With the introduction of cryogenics it is possible to deliver RF energy to the deep dermis and sub-dermal layers of the skin, whilst protecting the epidermis. Heating in this area, without damaging the outer layers of skin, causes microscopic changes to the tissues and collagen contraction, with subsequent collagen remodelling over the months that pass.

If you are considering an RF treatment, the following information will give you a basic understanding of the procedure. It can't answer all your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient and the practitioner. Please ask a practitioner about anything you don't understand.

Monopolar (also called Unipolar)

Monopolar or unipolar refers to a device having one pole or electrode.

With monopolar delivery, the current from the generating machine flows through the body from a single electrode (handpiece) and meets maximum resistance in the area around the tip of the handpiece, where tissue heating in the subdermal layers then occurs. A grounding, or "return pad" may also be used, attached to the patient’s lower back or abdomen, to provide a low resistance path for the current to flow back to the generating machine, to complete the electrical circuit.

Bipolar

Bipolar refers to a device having two poles or electrodes.

With bipolar delivery, the current from the generating machine flows only through the tissue which is between the two electrodes on the handpiece; these electrodes start and complete the electrical circuit. Hence, with bipolar delivery, no current flows through the rest of the body, so no grounding or return pad is needed.

In all cases of radiofrequency delivery types, it is the resistance to the current flow in the tissue, not the electrode that generates the heating effect.

Technically speaking, radiofrequency is the number of oscillations (or waves) per second of the electric and magnetic fields within the radio waves portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

It is lowest of the electromagnetic radiation frequencies within the spectrum, which itself spans from radio waves, microwaves, infrared, optical (visible light), ultraviolet, x-rays, to gamma rays.

By feeding an alternating current (AC) or voltage through an antenna or electrode, electromagnetic waves can be generated that radiate through space at the speed of light; called radio waves. Radiofrequencies, or radio waves, have wavelengths ranging from less than a centimetre to as long as 100 kilometres.

UK domestic electricity which itself is an alternating current could in theory be used for "electrosurgery", however as most people know, contact with this kind of electric current can cause very undesirable effects such as electrocution and uncontrolled neuromuscular (nerve and muscle) stimulation. However, if the frequency of the alternating current is raised above the response time of neuromuscular structures, we find the radiofrequency range which can safely be used for medical/surgical applications.

By applying RF energy to the human body, which can conduct current and therefore act as part of the electrical circuit, any resistance encountered by the energy flow will cause heat to be produced at the site of maximum resistance, which can be used to cut or coagulate tissue.

When comparing non-ablative (procedures that do not involve the destruction of the outer layer of the skin) techniques, RF energy differs from  in that light energy tends to scatter or absorb into the upper layers of the skin, making it difficult to deliver sufficient heat into the deeper layers without damaging the skin's surface.

Lasers therefore affect collagen in the upper dermis, improving fine lines, wrinkles and skin texture, while RF energy is able to penetrate deeper into the skin and affect the deeper dermis and subcutaneous layers, causing tightening and improvements to the underlying tissue structure, but with little change in skin texture.

There are currently only a small number of RF only devices within the UK market place, these include:

The Thermage™ system is a monopolar RF device that uses patented technology within its ThermaTip™ to deliver RF energy deep into dermal tissues. This heating action causes deep collagen structures in the skin to immediately tighten. Over time, new collagen is produced by the body to further tighten the skin. This device was originally used mainly for facial rejuvenation but has now been expanded for use on other areas of the body and for the temporary reduction in the appearance of cellulite.

It was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2002 for non-invasive treatment around the eyes, and then in June 2004 for the treatment of facial wrinkles, followed by off-face for the non-invasive treatment of wrinkles in January 2006. Thermage is the first and only system to receive FDA clearance for non-invasive eyelid treatments which was received in June 2007.  It is also FDA cleared for the temporary improvement in the appearance of cellulite (when combined with vibration).  

The Accent™ system boasts dual handpieces – a biopolar handpiece for volumetric dermal heating, aimed primarily at skin tightening treatments; and a monopolar one for a deep controlled penetration depth of the RF energy for fat reduction and cellulite treatment.

It was awarded a CE Mark in June 2005 for cellulite reduction, and FDA approval for the treatment of wrinkles in April 2007, with further approval for more applications currently pending.



 

TriPollar