Radio Frequency Skin Tightening

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Radio Frequency Skin Tightening?

Radio frequency is an increasingly popular treatment that uses energy to deliver heat into the skin. This stimulates the body’s own production of collagen and produces a lifting and skin tightening effect. Stimulating collagen production is important as we age. Collagen is the most abundant protein found in the skin and plays a large role in the appearance of your skin and its ageing. As we age, collagen levels fall at a rate of around 1% every year, and women are known to lose around 30% of their overall collagen levels through the menopause. By increasing collagen levels in the skin it’s firmness and youthfulness is restored, with fine lines and wrinkles visibly improved.

What Makes Multi-Polar Radio Frequency Skin Tightening Different From Other Radio Frequency Treatments?

There are many radio frequency devices available on the market but there are significant differences in their effectiveness. Many radio frequency devices do not penetrate deep enough into the skin tissue and therefore are not as effective in causing collagen production with its lifting and tightening effect.

What makes the Multi-Polar radio frequency unique is its patented technology (in scientific terms, it combines both Multi-Polar radio frequency technology and Pulsed Electro Magnetic Fields (MP)² which allows a greater penetration of energy and gives not only a lifting and firming effect but also provides long term results in collagen production.

Other radio frequency devices can cause discomfort during treatment. Multi-Polar radio frequency treatment sensation can be compared to a hot stone massage and therefore is much more gentle but increasingly effective at delivering results.

Traditional Radio Frequency (Mono-Polar & Bi-Polar) Compared With Multi-Polar Radio Frequency With Pulsed Electro Magnetic Fields (Mp)²

How Many Treatments Are Required for Radio Frequency Skin Tightening?

We usually recommend that patients receive 6 treatments, at weekly intervals, to see optimal benefits to the face and the neck. It is very important that you follow the recommended treatment plan, in order to give you the best results possible and to ensure value for money. Though a single stand-alone treatment will have benefits, a course is generally recommended as the most effective option. Occasionally patients may require 8 treatments. This will be discussed with you at your initial consultation.

Is There Any Downtime?

You may experience some swelling and mild redness in the treatment area immediately after. This typically resolves within aproximately 3 hours. You may also experience a heat sensation. Make up can be applied immediately after treatment.

Does Radio Frequency Skin Tightening Hurt?

Multi-Polar radio frequency treatment is considered to be a comfortable procedure with the sensation felt being compared to that of a hot stone massage. Traditional radio frequency devices can cause discomfort during the procedure.

What Should I Do Before Treatment?

• Avoid waxing, threading or laser procedures to the treatment area 48 hours before your appointment.
• Stop using skincare products that contain any exfoliating ingredient, such as AHA or BHA and Retinols, 5 days prior to treatment.
• If you are currently taking any medications, prescribed or over-the-counter, ensure you have discussed them with us.
• We are unable to treat you if you have taken Roaccutane in the past 6 months – you must notify us of this if you have.
• We are unable to treat you if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, Please notify us if you are.

What Areas Can Be Treated?

Areas that can be treated with radio frequency skin tightening include those around the eyes, the face, jowls, neck and décolletage. Skin on the wider body can also be treated with the in areas such as the stomach, thighs, bra line, buttocks, calves, flanks, arms, knees and hands, providing a lifting and tightening effect, without the need for surgery.

Who Is Suitable for Skin Tightening With Radio Frequency?

Radio frequency is suitable for all skin types in the Fitzpatrick table. However, there may be specific medical reasons that you are unable to have this treatment. These include but are not limited to:

• having a pacemaker or defibrillator
• being pregnant, breastfeeding or having IVF treatment
• if you have or have a history of cancer
• having metal implants (excluding dental) in the treatment area
• having degenerative neurologic disease
• having diseases in the treatment area that are triggered by heat: for example herpes
• having varicose veins
• suffering from skin-related autoimmune diseases
• having an uncontrolled thyroid gland disorder
• having silicone implants and/or having had injections in the relevant area

How Long Does a Radio Frequency Skin Tightening Treatment Take?

Skin tightening with radio frequency treatments can vary in duration, depending on the areas being treated. Typically treatments last from 30 minutes to 1 hour.

How Long Do the Results Last?

After you have completed your course of treatments, your best results will be seen 3 months after your final treatment. At this point, it is important to maintain your results otherwise your skin will return to normal and the ageing will also take place. At Serenity, we recommend that you ideally return on a monthly or two monthly basis.