Technologies Revolutionizing the Skin Tightening Industry

By Dima Ali, MD

Non-surgical skin tightening and body contouring has come a long way and continues to do so. The concept of inducing controlled injury to skin in order to stimulate collagen contraction and healing is not new. Those in the field of aesthetic medicine and surgery use it on a daily basis, whether it's a strong chemical peel or an ablative laser device, to rejuvenate skin and improve appearance.

Historically, one of the most popular treatments to deliver the energy in the Radio Frequency (RF) category was mono-polar. The most popular of these devices is known as Thermage. Next on the scene were the Bipolar RF devices inducing a “less invasive” electric current and thus a more tolerable treatment.

However, both of these technologies deliver superficial and uncontrolled energy flow to the targeted tissues.

The inefficient mechanism of delivery in the first generation RF devices required higher energy settings (more pain) to achieve minimal results. When the difference is minimal and the side effect profile and price tag is high, compliance with treatments (and therefore results) becomes low.

This latest innovation in RF devices allows for maximum penetration of multiple layers of skin with uniform heating, ensuring exponentially improved clinical results even after one treatment in some cases. It accomplishes this by combining multipolar RF's with magnetic pulse technology and a new suction component.

The new LiftFX and SculptFX, hand pieces are truly remarkable allowing treatment with deeper penetration without anesthesia or downtime. Virtually every area on the body can be tightened the face, neck, arms, abdomen, buttocks, thighs and bra bulge, even under the eyes.

If you've decided that you'd like to forgo a full face or neck lift for a few years or if you'd like to “prepare” your skin in anticipation of such a procedure down the road, then an RF device with Magnetic Pulse technology is your best bet.

Do your best to base your decision on factors, including your own “gut feeling” about the practitioner. It is advisable for potential patients to find an aesthetic center where there is an experienced doctor on staff someone who has performed hundreds if not thousands of aesthetic treatments over several years.

In the wrong hands, any medical device can be harmful, causing side effects such as first or second-degree burns and residual or even permanent scarring.