“I have been specialising in cellulite and skin tightening for more than 24 years and during that time In have researched (and still do daily) all the relevant technologies. At the time of writing this article I find deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency to be the strongest SAFE skin tightening technology and the joint best technology for cellulite reduction (together with deep-acting, high-power ultrasound cavitation). Below is a summary of the basics of radiofrequency.”
Radiofrequency: the ultimate skin tightening and cellulite technology
What is radiofrequency and how it works | In summary
What is radio frequency treatment exactly?
Where on the skin does radiofrequency focus?
Radio frequency for cellulite and skin tightening
What about focusing deeper with radiofrequency, for deep fat reduction?
For cellulite reduction and skin tightening with radiofrequency, Depth and power are essential
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What is radiofrequency and how it works | In summary
Radio frequency treatment is recognised as a leading non-surgical method for skin tightening, lifting and cellulite reduction. Unlike low-power or superficial approaches, which are ineffective, high-power, deep tissue radiofrequency delivers safe and effective results. It is also an established anti-ageing procedure, enhancing circulation while stimulating collagen and elastin production for firmer, more elastic and rejuvenated skin.
Radiofrequency has been applied in physiotherapy for over fifty years and in aesthetics for around twenty. It employs high-frequency electrical currents or electromagnetic fields, ranging from 300kHz to 3GHz. At these frequencies, the currents generate heat rather than causing muscle contractions. The depth of heat penetration depends on the device, treatment protocol and application medium, with effects ranging from superficial layers for acne therapy to deeper tissues for physiotherapy. For cosmetic purposes such as tightening, cellulite reduction and anti-ageing, the focus is on the dermis and hypodermal adipose tissue.
Attempts to reduce deeper fat using radiofrequency are largely unsuccessful, as subcutaneous fat is resistant to non-surgical treatments. Liposuction remains the most effective option for fat removal.
For cellulite and tightening, both sufficient depth and power are essential. Deep tissue radiofrequency triggers fat release, fat cell apoptosis, collagen contraction, new collagen and elastin synthesis, and improved circulation. Together these effects produce visible tightening and cellulite reduction, whereas superficial or low-intensity methods fail to deliver results.
What is radio frequency treatment exactly?
High-power, deep tissue radiofrequency is widely accepted as the strongest SAFE skin tightening/lifting technology known today and joint best cellulite reduction reduction technology too.
(Gimmicky hyped-up treatments, such as microneedling RF and HIFU, are either unsafe or ineffective - or both. On the other hand, low power or superficial RF are ineffective.)
Radio frequency is also a powerful anti-ageing treatment that not only firms the skin but also boosts circulation and is proven to stimulate collagen and elastin production, for tighter, more elastic skin and overall skin rejuvenation.
However, there is huge ignorance and misinformation about radiofrequency treatments: what it is, what it does and how it works. On this article we examine the basics of radiofrequency: what it is exactly and how it works.
Radio frequency treatments have been used for more than five decades in physiotherapy and for about two decades in the beauty industry. Radiofrequency treatments refer to high frequency electrical currents, or sometimes electromagnetic fields of the following frequencies:
From a very low 300kHz (longwave RF)
To a high 40MHz (shortwave RF)
And to a very high 3GHz (microwave RF)
Applied on the body or face at lower frequencies than the above, electrical currents may produce muscle contraction or other effects. At "radio" frequencies, electrical currents produce just heat - nothing else.
Where on the skin does radiofrequency focus?
Depending on the machine used, the protocols applied and even the skin products used for its application (cream, gel, oil etc), heat can be:
Very superficial, e.g. focusing on epidermis for acne treatment
Very deep, e.g. focusing on joints or muscles for physiotherapy
Or anywhere in-between, e.g. for skin tightening, cellulite removal and anti-ageing
Radio frequency for cellulite and skin tightening
For skin tightening, cellulite and anti-ageing treatments, the focus is anything between the dermis and the intermediate fascia, with main emphasis on the deeper aspect of the dermis and the hypodermal adipose tissue (what people call “cellulite”).
What about focusing deeper with radiofrequency, for deep fat reduction?
Treatment of deeper tissues, such as the subcutaneous adipose tissue (what people call “fat”) for fat reduction is not very successful, as this tissue is very resistant to all non-surgical methods of fat reduction.
HIFU, cryolipolysis, laser and electromagnetic muscle stimulation treatments do not work very well for fat reduction either, so the best solution for fat reduction without diet and exercise is liposuction.
For cellulite reduction and skin tightening with radiofrequency, Depth and power are essential
So, in summary, radiofrequency is the utilisation of high frequency electrical currents in order to provide intensive heating on the deeper skin layers.
Intensive heating on those tissues stimulates:
Fat release from fat cells
Fat cell apoptosis (early fat cell death)
Existing collagen contraction
New collagen synthesis
New elastin synthesis
Blood circulation / lymphatic drainage
The combined result of those actions leads to cellulite reduction and skin tightening.
On the other hand, treating the skin superficially on the epidermis or providing low intensity heating (as with the vast majority of RF treatments available today) does not work.
Hence the dissatisfaction of a large part of the public by radiofrequency (because it is either too superficial or of too low power) and our emphasis on real, high-intensity, deep tissue radiofrequency.
Have a treatment in London with the 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.
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 25-year theory and practical application of cellulite reduction and valuable insights from 24,000+ sessions and 4,200+ 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.
Deeply understand 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.
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