Radiofrequency(RF) generally refers to electromagnetic waves with frequencies corresponding to radio waves.
When electromagnetic waves are propagated on dielectrics, heat is produced through electrode conversion. When this principle is applied to the dielectric properties of the human body, tissues with high permittivity can be heated. An RF device induces thermal denaturation through dielectric heating and joule-heat in treatment targets within the dermis or subcutaneous fat.
However, temperature elevation is only slight and unlike the rapid actions of a laser, RF causes protein denaturation through gradually raising and maintaining the temperature. RF devices that cause little pain have slower thermal action and stays at the temperature of around 40℃, making physical changes of tissues unlikely. For example, heating fat tissues at 45℃ for several minutes can cause mild cell denaturation and tissue activity can be increased in the dermis to improve local lymphatic circulation, etc.
Food processing plants apply dielectric heating using RF devices to large masses of food that cannot be heated using a microwave oven. Heating human tissues is similar to heating food. However, unlike food where thermal denaturation occurs from the surface to the inside, minimal temperatures should be used in human tissues in selective areas.
RF is mainly used in sagging skin, wrinkles or body contouring. In Japan, the most widely used RF devices are Solta Medical’s Thermage CPT, Syneron’s ePlus, eMatrix and eMax, Alma Laser’s Accent XL(Tenor), Accent Ultra, and Vshape, and Cutera’s Trusculpt, and Exilis, etc. If Needle RF devices are to be included, Jeisys’ Intracel is also quite popular.
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Among Japanese patients who tend to be averse to surgical treatments, Thermage CPT is particularly popular. The popularity of Thermage started with previous models of NXT and TC. These older models are sometimes avoided due to severe pain during treatment but they were often chosen for benefits of short downtime and low risk. The advent of the CPT model with less pain has led to more patients receiving repeated yearly treatments. The market for Thermage has grown very large in Japan.
On the contrary, the HIFU devices that we discussed in the previous article are not as popular due to severe pain and high risks despite excellent lifting effects.
The key effect of Thermage CPT is skin tightening. It improves elasticity and brings a tighter appearance rather than lifting effects. However, as with all popular devices out there, Thermage cannot satisfy all patients and discrepancies between expectations and reality or between the opinions of the doctor and patient can create problems. The important goal for Thermage CPT therapy is to coincide the actual outcome with the patient’s expectations.
-To be continued-
