“I have worked with radiofrequency and ultrasound for more than 15 years and this question keeps coming back: are radiofrequency and ultrasound safe for black or dark skin? The answer is that, unlike lasers, RF and ultrasound are not affected by melamine levels in the slightest, so black and dark skinned people can safely have those treatments without worrying about any reactions with melanin, as is the case with lasers. Read more below…”
Radiofrequency, ultrasound and melanin
Cellulite / skin tightening treatment for dark / black skin with ultrasound/radiofrequency: is it safe?
Laser vs ultrasound and radiofrequency for different skin types
Laser is superficial by definition, RF and ultrasound can be very deep
RF microneedling and dark skin
LipoTherapeia® Plus: Have a skin tightening/cellulite treatment with London’s cellulite experts
The Cellulite School™: Get advanced training in cellulite reduction and skin tightening
Cellulite / skin tightening treatment for dark / black skin with ultrasound/radiofrequency: is it safe?
The question above is very common at the clinic, as most people have had laser treatment (mainly for hair removal or tattoo removal) while few have had radiofrequency or ultrasound treatment.
However, unlike lasers, which work by heating melanin or other chromophores (i.e. light absorbing chemicals or structures inside the skin), radiofrequency works with electricity and ultrasound works with sound, mechanically.
The electrical properties of the skin are exactly the same in light skinned or dark skinned people, so skin colour plays absolutely no role in radiofrequency treatment (RF is basically high frequency electrical currents).
In much the same way, the mechanical (acoustic) properties of the skin are exactly the same in light skinned or dark skinned people, so skin colour plays no role in ultrasound treatment (ultrasound is basically high frequency sound).
Laser vs ultrasound and radiofrequency for different skin types
Very white skin, very black skin and everything in between is exactly the same for both RF and ultrasound and all skin types can be safely treated in exactly the same way, irrespective of skin colour.
This is not the case with laser treatment, which can cause irritation and/or burn dark skin.
Laser is superficial by definition, RF and ultrasound can be very deep
Furthermore, laser is very superficial, as most light is absorbed in the first 1-2 mm of skin.
On the other hand, quality RF treatment can penetrate up to 25mm and the same applies to ultrasound.
So both RF and ultrasound are ideal for deep skin tightening and cellulite reduction, while the effect of laser on skin tightening / anti-ageing is epidermal - literally and metaphorically.
Needless to say, lasers are pointless for cellulite reduction: cellulite “lives” 5-25mm inside the skin, far away from the reach of any laser (1-2mm deep, max).
RF microneedling and dark skin
There is one exception to the rule of radiofrequency being neutral to skin colour but that applies only to radiofrequency microneedling.
As RF microneedling is based on penetrating the skin with multiple hot needles, it can cause mechanical skin injury which often leads to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Black and asian people are more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation than white people, so RF microneedling can be even more problematic for dark skins. Again, this is not due to radiofrequency itself but to needle skin penetration.
We have seen horrible hyperpigmentation on dark skinned people (in addition to the pain, burns and other adverse reactions) after RF microneedling and these are the reasons we do not offer this treatment.
There is no point damaging one part of the skin in order to treat the other, when more effective and far safer methods exist (at the clinic we have 99.5% safety rate with deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency and high-power ultrasound cavitation).
LipoTherapeia® Plus: Have a skin tightening/cellulite treatment with London’s cellulite experts
At LipoTherapeia we have specialised 100% in skin tightening and cellulite reduction for more than two decades and 20,000+ sessions.
This is all we study and practise every day and have researched and tried hands-on all the important skin tightening equipment and their manufacturers.
As strong, deep acting radiofrequency and deep-acting, high-power ultrasound cavitation are the technologies of choice for skin tightening and cellulite reduction, we have invested in the best RF/ultrasound technologies in the world.
(Of course, we keep looking for new technologies every day and if/when a better technology materialises we will be the first to provide it. However, we will never follow the latest ineffective gimmick, just because it’s good marketing to offer the latest hyped up - yet ineffective and/or unsafe treatment.)
Furthermore, over the last two decades we have developed advanced RF and cavitation treatment protocols in order to make the most of our technologies, for maximum results, naturally and safely.
And for even better, faster results, we now combine our RF/ultrasound treatments with high-power red/infrared light LED treatment.
Our radiofrequency/ultrasound/LED treatments are comfortable, pain-free, downtime-free, injection-free, 99.5%+ safe and always non-invasive.
(No unsafe and ineffective RF microneedling or HIFU and no safe but ineffective acoustic wave therapy, superficial RF (bipolar/tripolar/multipolar etc), low power RF/cavitation, electrical muscle stimulation, lymphatic massage, cupping, dry brushing and no ridiculous bum bum creams.)
Our focus is on honest, realistic, science-based treatment, combined with caring, professional service, with a smile.
We will be pleased to see you, assess your cellulite, skin laxity or fibrosis, listen to your story, discuss your case and offer you the best possible treatment.
Check prices and book an expert cellulite / skin tightening treatment at our London clinic.
Look Inside Your Skin™ with a Cellulite Ultrasonography™ scan, exclusive to LipoTherapeia in London, and assess your cellulite, skin laxity, post-liposuction fibrosis and more
We are proud to be the first and only cellulite clinic in the world to offer Cellulite Ultrasonography™ to our clients, for accurate assessment, better treatment and enhanced results. Since 2022 we have assessed and provided valuable insights to hundreds of clients to better understand their specific case, see how their skin looks from inside and make informed decisions.
You can now book your Cellulite Ultrasonography™ session and assess your:
Cellulite
Skin laxity
Lipedema
Subcutaneous fat levels
You can also assess the presence and severity of fibrosis and adhesions after:
Liposuction in all its forms, including vaser, smart lipo, bodytite, abdominoplasty/tummy tuck, thigh lift, arm lift, lipedema surgery etc
Cellulite surgery, such as cellulaze, cellutite, cellfina, subcision etc
Face-lift surgery
Non-surgical procedures, such as RF microneedling, extreme intensity HIFU, extreme intensity RF, extreme intensity ultrasound etc
Everything will be shown and explained to you clearly and you can see and understand how the different structures inside your skin affect your appearance.
If there is scar tissue / fibrosis, those will be clearly seen and you can differentiate between fibrosis, water retention or unremoved fat after all types of cosmetic surgery or harsh non-surgical procedures such as RF microneedling, extreme intensity HIFU etc.
(DISCLAIMER: Please note that this service is for your informational purposes only and does not constitute medical diagnosis or advice.)
The 45’ appointment includes full assessment and consultation and optional treatment plan for cellulite reduction and/or skin tightening.
If you do wish to have treatment with us, the ultrasound scan, assessment and consultation will be used to optimise your course of treatments and maximise your results.
The Cellulite School™: Get advanced training in cellulite reduction and skin tightening
Why train with The Cellulite School™?
We all know that training in cellulite reduction and skin tightening is as basic as it gets. It is typically a 4-6 hour training, involving only basic instruction from the manufacturer on how operators can use the machine; lots of myths, erroneous information and misconceptions; and some basic health and safety on how to use the machine.
There is no proper, real training in the science or cellulite, skin tightening, radiofrequency, ultrasound and all related technologies is non-existent - worldwide.
Do you want to deeply understand radiofrequency, ultrasound cavitation, LED phototherapy, cellulite and skin tightening?
Get proper training based on 24-year theory and practical application of cellulite reduction and valuable insights from 23,000+ sessions and 4,100+ clients.
Now you can get instant access to our expertise and save yourself literally thousands of pounds, dollars or euros of expensive mistakes and thousands of hours of study, research and practical application by attending one of our half-day, 1-day, 2-day or 3-day professional consultancy / training courses.
Understand deeply - and get properly trained in - the science of radiofrequency, ultrasound cavitation, LED phototherapy, cellulite and skin tightening and confidently offer your clients the safest, strongest and most effective treatment possible.
Service available via Zoom or at our central London practice.
Learn more or check prices and book training at our London clinic or via Zoom.