Radio-Frequency Energy Injections
- Gold Standard of Skin Tightening
- Clinically – illusion of lifting and skin smoothing.
- Combination of “under skin) Radio- frequency injections and Ebrium Glass Laser skin resurfacing on the top.
- Additionally, “Shrink” excessive tissue in unwanted places – like under chin, jowls, eyebags, wrinkles, scars etc.
- Ideal patient – similar to facelift one. But not yet “bad enough” for surgery
What is Radio Frequency Injections or skin tightening?
Radio frequency (RF) is a is type of energy, used in medicine for over 75 years for minimally invasive procedures and surgeries. RF is an alternating electric currents and magnetic waves.
Radiofrequency is used widely, from computers, mobile phones to WiFi and telecommunications.
In cosmetic/aesthetic, there are 3 types of RF are commonly used:
– RF probe without any skin penetration (used by beauticians, safe, many devices available)
– RF microneedling (superficial RF small needles for better penetration. More effective, but requires training)
– RF injections (medical grade, deep and precise penetrations into the area to be treated. Commonly used in conjunction to plastic/cosmetic surgery or as a stand alone procedure used by cosmetic doctors. There are very precisely made needles with appropriate depths to target the structures in the skin causing the problem.
The needles have an insulating coating, also engineered to a precise depth, to protect other structures in the skin and also the epidermis.
The coating means sufficient power can be delivered to the target tissue while causing minimal effects to other areas. The machine has also exact control over pulse duration and power. These factors means little downtime or risk of pigment changes.
Medical Grade Radio Frequency Injections
WHICH CONDITIONS CAN BE TREATED?
Acne, Comedones, Blackheads, Syringiomas, Wrinkles, Eye-bags, Chin fat pads, lower face tightening
HOW ARE TREATMENTS DONE?
Agnes RF procedures depend on targeted tissue. Many treatments can be performed simply with application of anaesthetic cream 20 minutes before the procedure. The treatment then is relatively painless. In the case of eyebag treatments and deeper treatments local anesthetic injections may be used in addition to the anaesthetic gel. In the case of active acne treatments you may be advised to return in 24 to 48 hours for some light bipolar RF treatment plus further drainage of any remaining sebum/pus.
For the actual treatment the needle being used is inserted into the acne follicle, wrinkle, fat pad and the machine is fired off with a precise number of shots depending on target tissue.
RECOVERY TIME POST RF TREATMENT
For acne, syringomas, blackheads side effects are from mild redness for 1-3 days. This can usually be covered with some foundation or tinted moisturizer. No specific aftercare is needed for these procedures.
RECOVERY TIME POST RF TREATMENT DEEP LINES AND EYE-BAGS
For deep lines and eye-bags downtime is between 3-7 days of swelling and redness followed by a further week of less severe redness. (It is possible to do lighter treatments with less downtime but more treatments may be needed later.) The redness and swelling should be able to be covered by foundation at day 4. Sometimes with heavy treatments there may be numbness and hypersensitivity of the treated area for up to 4 weeks.
AFTER CARE DEEP LINES AND EYE-BAGS
Immediately after the procedure for eye-bags and heavy deep lines the skin surface will be pink and sensitive for 3-10 days, again depending on depth. Some bruising is common also. Ice bags may be applied every half hour to reduce discomfort and minimise swelling. You may like some to take some Panadeine for discomfort or Phenergen 25mg for itch and to help sleep at night (these are both OTC medications).
Possible temporary complications are bruising, redness, numbness, hypersensitivity, acne outbreak, herpes, yeast or bacterial infection. (Cold sore and Shingles outbreaks may occasionally occur if you are susceptible so we give valaciclovir 500mg as a single tablet for the first 3 days to reduce risk of this.)
DISCLAIMER: Results may vary based on individual circumstances.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR IMPROVEMENT?
For deep wrinkles and eye-bags, about 1-2 weeks later, when you have pretty much recovered, the area my actually looks “worse” than it did before the procedure. This is normal. Much of the benefit appears over the coming months as new collagen is deposited under the skin and the skin begins to remodel its structure. For treatment of eye-bags it will take 2-6 months for the fat cells to be removed by the body’s macrophages.
Doctor will assess you in 4 months to determine how much the concern has improved and if next procedure is required. The earliest time for next procedure would be 2 months as the area still will keep improving itself within next 4 months.
For Acne, Comedones, Blackheads, Syringiomas benefits may be within a few weeks but similarly to wrinkles it may take up to 6 months to complete remodeling and remove damaged tissue
HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED?
Benefits from a single treatment should be permanent but his does not mean you can treat everything in a single treatment so 2 or 3 treatments may be needed to maximize improvement. These repeat treatments could be 3 to 6 months later from initial treatment (or sooner eg 6 weeks in the case of active acne).
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS OF AGNES RF TREATMENTS
Possible temporary complications are bruising, redness, numbness, hypersensitivity, acne outbreak, herpes, yeast or bacterial infection. (Cold sore and Shingles outbreaks may occasionally occur if you are susceptible so we give valaciclovir 500mg as a single tablet for the first 3 days to reduce risk of this.)
Temporary crusting and oozing as well as permanent scarring, increased or decreased skin colour and persistent tightness around the eye are possible rare complications.
What is the aftercare advice after the treatment?
After care advice can be found here.
What are contraindications for the Agnes Radio Frequency ( Medical Grade ) Needles Injections Treatment?
- Pregnancy
- Diabetes (uncontrolled, with HbA1C > 7)
- Various Infectious diseases
- Heart disease (or those with Pacemakers)
- Metal Implants
- Other reasons by the primary care physician
