How Does an RF Radio Frequency Machine Work?

RF machines use radio waves to ‘injure’ the skin in a controlled way and stimulate the body’s natural healing process. This leads to fresh collagen and elastin production, which firms and tightens the complexion.

Depending on the treatment goal, RF devices are either bipolar or monopolar. Bipolar machines bulk-heat the tissues, while monopolar ones target specific depths of the skin (e.g. jowls, forehead, thighs).

1. Skin Tightening

Loose skin is one of the hallmarks of aging and can be difficult to address. There are many anti-aging solutions available, including dermal fillers and plastic surgery. But if you’re looking for something less expensive and more natural, skin tightening with radio frequency is a great option.

RF heats the skin’s tissues to 67°C, which causes controlled damage that triggers a collagen boost and skin tightening. It also stimulates fibroblast production of new collagen and elastin to promote dermal remodeling and increase firmness.

It also increases blood flow through vasodilation, which brings in more oxygen and nutrients to your cells and removes waste. That gives your cells a boost of energy to work harder, which in turn makes your skin appear tighter and more toned.

Combined with ultrasound (HIFU), such as in the Morpheus 8 or Focus Dual, radio frequency skin tightening delivers even better results by heating deeper layers of the skin. It helps to shrink and tighten fat and skin, and it also helps improve the appearance of jowls. HIFU can also be used to target and melt stubborn fat deposits.

2. Fat Reduction

When RF energy reaches the subcutaneous layer, it heats only fat cells, triggering their apoptosis or “suicide.” Fatty deposits shrink in size and get drained away through your lymphatic system. This helps slim the waist, thighs, arms, back, and even the neck.

The result is a more toned physique without any surgery or downtime. RF treatments are particularly effective for the “bat wings” of the arms and jowl fat around the jawline. The treatment also tightens skin, making it more sculpted and smooth.

However, there is a risk that the RF waves can cause adipocyte damage to your muscles and organs when used inappropriately. Luckily, this happens rarely because most RF devices, especially the Brazilian ones that are most frequently found in clinics and medical offices, don’t allow for modulation of the power that would be necessary to achieve significant changes in collagen. That’s why it’s important to choose an experienced therapist and a device that offers multiple settings, including the ones designed specifically for fat reduction. This will help you avoid unwanted side effects and achieve the best results possible.

3. Skin Rejuvenation

RF energy heats the deeper layers of skin, called the dermis. This causes controlled damage, heating the proteins that make up collagen and elastin. These RF Radio Frequency Machine proteins become remodeled and tense, tightening lax skin and reducing wrinkles and fine lines around the face.

Studies have shown that RF can significantly reduce facial skin laxity, reduce fine lines around the eyes and mouth and improve facial contour. It has also been found to be effective in treating sagging eyelids, double chin and neck.

A series of sessions (typically 6 professional RF treatments) are required to achieve maximum results. The skin will continue to build new collagen and elastin for up to 3 months after treatment, so top-ups can be used for ongoing maintenance.

Some RF machines can be set to use ‘fractional RF microneedling’. This can tighten skin and minimise texture issues such as stretch marks on the body, although this requires a very skilled practitioner with the right machine.

4. Cellulite Reduction

Radio frequency energy works to diminish cellulite by heating the inner layer of your skin. It can also destroy fat cells and release the connective tissue that causes dimpling. We have a variety of radiofrequency devices available for both facial and body treatments.

RF energy passes through the epidermis and heats the collagen structures in your skin, tightening them and stimulating new collagen production over time for long-term results. It also stimulates your body’s natural fat metabolism to break down existing fatty cells and melt the liquid fat away, resulting in a slimmer, more toned look.

The Profound RF system is an FDA approved device that delivers radiofrequency heat directly into the subcutaneous fat layer. This heat dissolution of the fatty cells and revitalization of the septae (fibrous cords that secure the fat layer to muscle) is what makes it effective for cellulite reduction. This thermal activity also accelerates the body’s natural healing processes, producing more collagen and elastin which helps to tighten your skin. This is why the device has a bipolar handpiece for volumetric dermal heating and a monopolar one for a deeper controlled penetration of the RF energy.

5. Acne Treatment

The RF treatment heats up the underlying skin tissue and causes a controlled injury to stimulate the body’s innate healing process which then produces the collagen that helps soften acne scars and tighten the RF Radio Frequency Machine skin. It can also reduce enlarged pores and fine lines and wrinkles.

The current is delivered through a moveable external application electrode covered in an insulating film that acts like the first plate of an electrical capacitor, the client’s body acting as the second and the return plate which closes the circuit. The RF energy is then transferred through the body tissues by capacitance to heat them up.

In a study of unipolar, fractional microneedle and bipolar RF treatments on 121 patients with acne scars, eight out of ten with deep boxcar scarring showed a significant improvement.21

Despite the many benefits, radiofrequency face treatments can be pricey but they are def worth it in the hands of a professional. Most doctors recommend three initial sessions, spaced a month apart for the best results. After that, a yearly maintenance appointment should be booked to keep the benefits going strong.