Radiofrequency technology offers painless skin tightening treatment

Key Points

International report - Radiofrequency (RF) technology has come a long way since its inception in aesthetic medicine. The EndyMed PRO (EndyMed Medical) is a new RF device using 3DEEP technology that appears to set itself apart in the way it delivers RF energy. The new technology was presented at the 68th annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

EndyMed's 3DEEP technology uses sophisticated algorithms that control electrode polarity, diverting RF energy through the epidermis and forcing it to take a longer, deeper route focused in the dermis. This focused dermal heating causes collagen remodeling and a volumetric tightening, resulting in a reduction of wrinkles as well as improvements in the texture and laxity of the skin. According to one expert, the device's controlled and targeted treatments are not only verified in thermal images, but are also seen in long-term effects on the treated patients.

In the past, energy-based aesthetic treatments have been done with lasers and intense pulsed light (IPL), but the problem with the light-based devices is that the light does not penetrate deep into the tissues and does not reach the target areas that can impact skin tightening. RF energy came into focus because of its ability to penetrate deeper into the skin and target those tissues needed to effect skin rejuvenation.

The first-generation RF technology was monopolar, using one pole/electrode to deliver the electrical energy and a return pad connected to the leg or back to complete the circuit. In unipolar RF devices, there is no ground and the technology basically works as an antenna where the energy is transmitted.

Bipolar RF devices use two poles/electrodes on the skin between which the RF energy oscillates. Both of these technologies have disadvantages: some work only superficially and some deliver an uncontrolled energy flow throughout the body. This inefficient energy in first-generation RF systems requires more power to achieve long-term significant clinical effects. Moreover, the original protocols used suggested that high energy settings be employed, making the procedures unnecessarily painful.

The 3DEEP RF technology uses six independent poles/electrodes of RF energy, and the polarity of each can be individually controlled, resulting in a deeper, more focused treatment of the target area.