Radio Waves Said to Provide Faster Skin Rejuvenation Treatment

By Jim Greene

Published on February 24, 2010

Radio waves have joined laser beams and intense pulsed light (IPL) as a tool in cosmetic skin rejuvenation treatment, also known as skin tightening. According to the makers of the eMatrix^TM system, their bipolar radio frequency (RF) technology provides faster procedures that leave little or no sign of treatment.

Skin rejuvenation is based on using low-level heat energy to cause tiny injuries to deep skin tissue, which triggers healing, which promotes the growth of new, smoother, fresher skin. Low-intensity laser beams and high-intensity light have been used for some time to initiate the process. Now, RF energy is available for the job.

The eMatrix^TM system is the product of Syneron Medical, Ltd., an Israeli company with offices in Irvine, Calif.

The Syneron^TM Web site uses the term Sublative Rejuvenation^TM to describe treatment with their product. According to the site, RF energy generates the necessary warmth in deep skin tissue without the disruption of surface tissue that can result in reddening of the skin after laser and IPL procedure, allowing patients to resume public activities sooner.

Sublative Rejuvenation^TM is also said to be faster than laser and IPL treatments, because the RF energy is applied over a wider skin area than is possible with a narrow beam of light. The resulting shorter treatment time is intended to make the technology more affordable.