It may not be a common question but it is a common thought: “I can throw (tens of) thousands of pounds in an one-off (even very painful) cellulite / skin tightening treatment. Can I get results in one session and then get on with my billionaire / centi-millionaire / deca-millionaire life?” Well, the honest answer to this very question is: Nah, life doesn’t work like that. Your body needs regular and repeated stimulation (treatments) as well as time to change. Throwing tens of thousands at the problem cannot violate the laws of physics and biology to provide instant results…
Laser and red/infrared LED light therapy vs radiofrequency and cavitation for skin tightening and cellulite
Which is better for body skin tightening and cellulite: laser or radio frequency? Absolutely NOT laser. Laser is way too superficial and also pointless for skin tightening or cellulite. There are two types of lasers: strong, ablative, lasers aim to burn the surface of the skin to stimulate new epidermal growth. Cellulite, however, is found at the deepest layer of the skin (hypodermis), not the most superficial (epidermis), so ablative lasers do not work for cellulite at all…
Deep tissue radiofrequency: the only RF worth having for cellulite and skin tightening
Can radiofrequency dissolve fillers or Botox?
Radiofrequency increases the metabolism of tissues where it is applied. Increased metabolism will result to increased breakdown of products such as fillers and botox. Furthermore, certain types of radiofrequency, such as high frequency RF, should not be used on fillers, as temperature may increase disproportionately inside the filler, potentially causing damage…
Why do you have to drink water after cavitation / radiofrequency treatment?
The “Drink lots of water after your treatment”, however, is the most vacuous thing heard at aesthetic clinics and beauty salons up and down the country. There is no specific reason to do so after any treatment - definitely not “to flush out the toxins out of the system after treatment”. This is not how biology works…
Collagen, skin tightening and cellulite
Many of our clients ask us a lot of questions relating to skin firmness: collagen, elastin, skin tightness, skin elasticity, collagen powders, skin tightening treatments and creams, how to increase skin elasticity, and of course, cellulite. Here is a concise guide on collagen, elastin and how these proteins affect skin firmness, elasticity and cellulite. Skin is made primarily of rigid protein-based fibres such as collagen and fibronectin and elastic protein-based fibres, such as elastin and fibrillin. Collagen and fibronectin give firmness/tightness to skin and other tissues, while elastin and fibrillin provide elasticity.
Can cavitation or radiofrequency make cellulite and skin firmness worse?
Properly applied, deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency, can NOT make skin worse - it will always lead to skin tightening and cellulite reduction (and the same applies to properly applied strong, deep-acting ultrasound cavitation). After 13,000+ sessions we have never seen a single client’s skin get worse. This type of radiofrequency (and/or ultrasound cavitation) is super-safe, if applied professionally by an experienced, well-trained, well-educated therapist (we have a constant 99.5%+ safety rate at our clinic in the last 14+ years). Properly applied, deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency works by stimulating cellulite fat release and the synthesis of functional collagen tissue and…
Radio frequency skin tightening dangers and safety: all you need to know
Radiofrequency treatment is based on electrically heating the skin and can be anything from extremely safe all the way to very unsafe (and with a lot of adverse reactions), depending on type of radiofrequency used, equipment and therapist experience/training. If the pain threshold rule is adhered, deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency provided in a continuous moving fashion, should be ~99.5% safe, or better…
For cellulite reduction and skin tightening 12 sessions are ideally needed for best results
Why 12 (intensive but SAFE) sessions are necessary for cellulite reduction and skin tightening. In aesthetics there are currently two methods to effect skin tightening and cellulite reduction. The stimulative method is safe, pain-free and effective, as long as it’s strong (but never excessive), and as long as treatments are regularly repeated. As multiple treatments are needed, prices should be moderate. Typical examples…
Cavitation for cellulite: how does it work?
It is widely accepted today that high-power, low-frequency ultrasound treatment represents one of the few effective methods of cellulite reduction and, to a limited extent, subcutaneous fat reduction too. It often provides good results on its own, if the right equipment is used with the right protocols, and even better results when combined with high-power, deep-tissue radio frequency. But what is ultrasound cavitation and how does it work?
Monopolar RF vs bipolar RF for skin tightening and cellulite
A very common question we are asked at the clinic is what is the difference between unipolar, monopolar, bipolar and multipolar (i.e. tripolar, tetrapolar, octipolar) radio frequency? Which one is best for skin tightening and cellulite? On this article we examine the merits of bipolar vs monopolar RF and…
Skin tightening: stimulative vs destructive treatments
Exercise and general movement do lead to tighter skin and, as mentioned above, they are absolutely essential to maintain tight skin. However, exercise and healthy nutrition act very slowly in reversing skin laxity and can only go so far in tightening skin in specific areas or throughout the body. So, indeed you can tighten your skin with exercise but usually not enough and not fast enough. Hence the need for a good, strong skin tightening treatment, for faster, more pronounced results than from just exercise…
Treatment with the best cellulite machine or with a cellulite expert: what is best?
The best technologies for effective AND safe cellulite reduction are deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency and deep-acting, high-power ultrasound cavitation. However, RF and ultrasound machines come in all shapes and sizes. But then the same applies to knowledge and expertise. A good therapist can squeeze the most out of a mediocre machine. On the other hand, a bad therapist can underutilise a really good machine or - worse - cause…
How many RF treatments to see results?
Deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency is the strongest SAFE technology for skin tightening and cellulite reduction and provides good results in 6-12 sessions. This kind of technology works always under the pain threshold* and with an experienced therapist should be 99% safe or better. Experience has shown that with proper, deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency the results of any given…
Do ultrasonic waves break down fat and cellulite?
In the instant gratification world we live today in the West, where everything is instant and miraculous if you have money to pay for it, it seems that many people are obsessed in magically “breaking down” fat “forever”. And breaking down means zapping fat with a laser, ultrasound or radiofrequency device or mechanically breaking it with a therapist’s fingers or with a suction / vibration / shockwave machine, with the fat then evaporating into thin air forever so one can eat as much as much as they want from then on, without putting on any more fat or cellulite on their thighs, stomach etc.
Do radiofrequency or cavitation kill fat cells?
The fact is the properly applied STIMULATIVE radiofrequency / ultrasound cavitation can both lead to adipocyte apoptosis, i.e. programmed cell death of fat cells. This is fat cell death that gradually happens over days and weeks with a course of SAFE treatments provided under the pain threshold (less than 41-43ºC on the skin surface or 43-47ºC in the deeper skin layers). This ensures safety of all other tissues, except fat cells, and in fact also stimulates fibroblast (collagen cell) function, which leads to skin tightening, especially with RF.
Do you use radiofrequency or cavitation for your cellulite treatments?
We typically use radiofrequency-only when cellulite is combined with skin laxity (most common); and ultrasound cavitation-only when skin laxity is not a concern (less common). In many cases we use a mix of those technologies. But in all cases we now combine RF and/or cavitation with high-power LED red/infrared light therapy, as it provenly enhances the results of RF and cavitation. However, every body is different and there are many considerations on whether to use…
Cellulite surgery vs non-surgical cellulite treatments
It is true that most non-surgical cellulite treatments do not really work. Most such treatments range from generally safe but ineffective (think palper-rouler massage, acoustic wave therapy (AWT), microneedling, bipolar/tripolar RF etc) to dangerous and generally ineffective (high intensity HIFU, high intensity RF microneedling etc). As a result many people think that cellulite surgery is a better, so-called “one-off” option...
How radiofrequency works to reduce cellulite and tighten skin
Radiofrequency is a technology aiming to provide deep heat INSIDE the skin, as opposed to a hot shower, a hot pack or an infrared-emitting device that provides superficial heat ON the skin.
RF is used to stimulate processes in the dermis and hypodermis (second and third layers of the skin, respectively, while at the same time not overheating the epidermis (as is the case with a hot shower, a hot pack or an infrared lamp.)
Does fibrosis always occur after lipo and is it permanent?
Fibrosis (i.e. internal scar tissue) is the result of inflammation. Not all Inflammation results in fibrosis, but quite often it does. Fibrosis after liposuction surgery can happen as a result of: Mechanical trauma, i.e. the movement of the liposuction cannula under the skin. This usually manifests as fibrous nodules (i.e. bumps / hard lumps) or occasional adhesions (skin stuck to underlying tissues and inhibiting movement / causing pain during movement). This kind of fibrosis is inadvertent…