Nonsurgical Treatments for Skin Tightening Technologies Described

At the Summer Academy Meeting 2007 of the American Academy of Dermatology, emerging nonsurgical approaches for skin tightening were reviewed, according to a piece published in ScienceDaily. The approaches can be used for a variety of body locations, including the jowls, stomach, arms, and neck.

One category of techniques described is broad-spectrum light sources, several of which are on the market. These tools utilize infrared light in the range of 850 - 1800 nm wavelengths. The approach applies deep heat which reaches the middle of the skin layer and is similar to monopolar radiofrequency technology. Choice of which modality to use is generally function of the size of the area to be treated. Effects for skin tightening with broad spectrum light sources generally last for about one year.

Another treatment option currently under investigation for treating cellulite is unipolar volumetric radio frequency. The tool produces high-frequency electromagnetic radiation, which is different than other RF devices that produce electrical currents. The approach allows heating to deep skin structures through ultra-rapid rotation of molecules within the epidermis.

The study underway to investigate this approach used the RF heating over six sessions, delivered every two weeks. 27 of 30 patients who received the therapy had signs of improvement in cellulite, judged by an independent reviewer. Findings indicate cellulite tightening with unipolar volumetric RF superior to technologies already available. Data to determine the long term benefits are limited by short periods of follow-up. Another question for further evaluation is if combining the various treatment approaches offers superior outcomes.

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