I get asked about these wands constantly. The conversation, in order.
Are home radiofrequency devices safe?
“When a patient asks me about home radiofrequency devices, I tell them that they are safe. The main reason being that these devices do not deliver the same energy as medical grade office devices, and do not heat the dermis up to the 40 to 45 degrees Celsius range, which is what actually remodels collagen. This is also the reason why the results are very mild.”
Could it cause fat loss over years of use?
“The fat loss question is a fair one to raise, especially over a long period of time. I tell everyone that the home device may keep the skin looking a little firmer, but it does not replace an office treatment series or a lift.”
What does radiofrequency do at temperature?
“RF, or radiofrequency, uses energy to heat and coagulate the tissues, which contracts the subcutaneous tissue and the skin right away. But it also stimulates your fibroblasts to produce new collagen and elastin over the following weeks and months, so you get an immediate tightening plus a gradual, longer-term improvement.”
Is the wand the same technology as Morpheus8 or Renuvion?
“Well, the mistake here is that RF is the energy used by Morpheus8, BodyTite, AccuTite, FaceTite, and Renuvion. The only difference is that Renuvion, or J-Plasma, also has the helium plasma component. Otherwise, all these technologies are using radiofrequency effectively, and I like all of those modalities. Each is used in different areas.”
“I prefer BodyTite on thinner skin, which is usually in the arms and thighs. I prefer Renuvion J-Plasma in larger areas like the abdomen, the back, the lateral chest wall, and the flanks. I prefer FaceTite in the lower face and neck. And AccuTite around the eyes and nasolabial lines.”
Same word, different hands. More on Renuvion J-Plasma here.
What is the honest ceiling, even in the office?
“Radiofrequency is going to give us mild to moderate improvement in skin laxity. It is important to note that every patient is going to react differently to the radiofrequency energy, and the amount of skin contracture can really not be predicted, but will tell itself over the following three months.”
“With some of the radiofrequency technologies, we can repeat the treatments for further tightening. And the results that you obtain really are permanent. We create contracture, and we keep going in that timeline from that result. So obviously, as time passes, the skin can begin to lax again, but the actual contracture obtained sets the clock back.”
When is a lift the answer?
“The big difference from a surgical lift is that a lift actually cuts out excess skin and repositions the tissues, so it corrects more significant sagging. RF doesn’t remove any skin, it tightens what you have, so it’s best for mild to moderate laxity or for patients who aren’t ready for surgery.”
“Radiofrequency energy is going to work well for mild to moderate cases where the skin is still good quality. By good quality, I mean that the skin has good elasticity and is usually absent of stretch marks. In more severe cases, or when the skin quality cannot give us predictable contracture, then surgical excision is indicated.”
No device removes skin. That is a lift.
And after weight loss?
“In the area of GLP-1s, which are Ozempic, tirzepatide, and Retatrutide, small amounts of weight loss cause some skin looseness because of the loss in volume. A lot of times, the tightening effect is done by adding volume, but it can be improved in the early stages with radiofrequency, whether it’s Morpheus8 or something more invasive.”
“Massive weight loss patients will rarely respond to radiofrequency by itself, and although it can still be used, excisional surgery is necessary.”
What about the reviews on the product page?
“I think the biggest misconception is that on social media, practitioners only show their best results. This gives patients a certain expectation which may not actually happen to them.”
Keep the wand. Know what it is. The device table is on swplasticsurgery.com; the surgical side is on agulloplasticsurgery.com.
Call (915) 590-7900, text 1-866-814-0038, or book at agulloplasticsurgery.com. #StayBeautiful
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