Skin Tightening and Body Sculpting

Radiofrequency (RF) energy has been used in aesthetic medicine and dermatology for some time to induce tissue contraction and tightening via heat. RF travels from one emitting pole to another; as it passes through the body’s tissue, there is resistance which creates heat. The heat causes instant coagulation within the skin layers for instant tightening and lift. This is followed by the natural healing processes within the body that stimulate new collagen and elastin production and maintain the skin tightened effect to the area over time.

Many different devices with different depths and intensities of delivery of RF energy have been designed over the years, but the problem has been that the energy is always delivered from the surface of the skin and concentrated across an area. Deep delivery of radiofrequency energy, in large sections, especially in the face can lead to undesirable side effects such as facial volume or fat loss alongside the tissue tightening. Devices like this make it more difficult to treat more superficial cosmetic concerns such as acne and chicken pox scarring, stretch marks, lines and wrinkles, poor skin texture, open pores, and other signs of ageing, thus the concept of radiofrequency micro-needling was born.

Radiofrequency micro-needling uses an array of radiofrequency conducting micro-needles, instead of one large tip. These penetrate the surface layers of the skin where they can deliver controlled energy into the dermis from the tiny tips of the needles, directing heat into the more superficial dermis and epidermis as well. This allows for a more targeted and precise delivery of the RF energy and associated heat, tissue contraction and collagen stimulation or neocollagenesis.

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, or HIFU for short, is a popular non-invasive treatment for skin tightening, lifting, and contouring. HIFU has many applications in other areas of medicine where it has been used safely for decades.

Unlike the more familiar, low intensity ultrasonic waves that are used to view an unborn baby on a screen, the ultrasound wave energy in a HIFU device is condensed. It is delivered in a higher intensity and focused to a point for targeted delivery; this changes its action completely. HIFU penetrates the skin (without damaging the surface) and is delivered to a prescribed depth depending on the device settings to cause collagen contract and fat cell destruction within the tissue. This controlled trauma stimulates the body’s healing responses to flush fat debris and create new collagen and elastin to further tighten and recontour the area of skin treated. HIFU is used for facial rejuvenation including non-invasive face lifts, brow lifts, and to improve lines and wrinkles on the face, neck, and décolletage plus body contouring to reduce love handles, bra bulges etc.

The Lynton Focus Dual can be tailored to treat a variety of skin concerns. It combines the latest clinically proven technologies used in aesthetic medical clinics for face and body treatments – radiofrequency micro-needling and High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU).

At Blemish Clinic, we chose this device because it comes with sound clinical evidence that it works. Unlike other devices, it uses super fine micro-needles in its radiofrequency micro-needling treatment heads allowing us to deliver safe, precise, controlled treatments, which are more comfortable for you.

We can treat all skin types and colours with the Focus Dual because we have a flexible choice of needle depths and RF energy settings to tailor each treatment to the skin concern, area of the face or body, and the skin type of the patient.

Younger patients, who do not yet require lifting and tightening of their skin can still benefit from the use of the Focus Dual micro-needling treatment to stimulate the skin without the use of the RF. This is useful for evening out skin texture, reducing large pores and improving overall complexion and skin quality. For our more mature patients with concerns about skin laxity and ageing, we can use the dual effect of the micro-needling with the radiofrequency to add lifting, tightening and firming alongside improving the skin quality.

The HIFU element in the Focus Dual gives great non-invasive face lifting opportunities. It has a unique feature called Safety Assist Transducers (SAT) that emit high intensity ultrasound waves in a unique pattern that allows for safer and more comfortable treatments for all skin types.

Within the deep facial tissue is a layer called the SMAS (Submuscular Aponeurotic System) which cosmetic surgeons lift and tighten to reduce sagging skin and jowls in the mid and lower face when performing a surgical face lift. The SMAS is a strong sheet of tissue that forms the connecting layer between the muscles in the face and neck and the skin. Due to its depth, it is very difficult to target with non-surgical cosmetic treatments. However, the Focus Dual can use HIFU to radiate energy and create deep, focused points of tissue coagulation and contraction in the SMAS layer to immediately tighten and stimulate new tissue formation to naturally firm up and tighten the SMAS, without the need for surgery.

HIFU and ultrasound waves can also be used reduce small areas of fat, to define, sculpt and contour areas of the face and body for non-surgical fat reduction and skin tightening. The ultrasound energy is focused to specific depths so that it is within the subcutaneous fat layer where it can break up stubborn fat cells without damaging other nearby areas. The fat cells simply pop thanks to the sound waves and their contents are released and flushed away by the body’s natural metabolism and lymphatic system, with the fatty contents disposed of in the same way as our food. The additional heat created during treatment also tightens the skin for all round sculpting and body contouring.

The Lynton Focus Dual gives our practitioners the flexibility of using radiofrequency micro-needling or High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) as standalone treatments or in a combination treatment plan, depending on the face or body concerns.

Focus Dual RF micro-needling and Focus Dual HIFU can be used to treat:

Skin tightening and contouring on the face including:

• General skin ageing in the face and neck – lines and wrinkles, loose, sagging or crepey skin, uneven or dull skin tone, texture, or complexion, large pores and milia spots
• Targeted skin ageing in areas such as the forehead or worry lines, smokers’ lines, loss of facial volume in the cheeks or nasolabial folds, the eye area (periorbital) including lax skin around the eyebrow and reducing eye bags
• Double chins and jawline definition

Scar reduction in the face and body including:

• Stretch marks
• Acne scarring or chicken pox scars
• Surgical scars
• Pigmentation

Fat reduction and body contouring of the:

• Chest area, including underarms
• Back, including bra bulges
• Abdomen and flanks, including love handles and muffin tops
• Thighs and underneath the buttocks
• Upper arms
• Tightening lax skin on the body following pregnancy or mild weight loss

In the couple of weeks before your treatment, you will be advised to avoid sun exposure or the use of tanning equipment and sun beds. You should also avoid skincare products and peels which contain acids such as retinol, glycolic or salicylic.

The area to be treated will first be cleansed to remove any surface dirt, bacteria, or make-up residue. If you are having a facial treatment, you will be advised to attend your appointment without wearing any make-up.

During treatment, the RF micro-needling handpiece is placed on the skin and moved around the target area as the energy is delivered. If you are having a HIFU treatment, we first mark the areas so we can be sure to treat all the targeted zones deep within the tissue.

Treatment times vary depending on the use of radiofrequency micro-needling or HIFU and the size of the area being treated, usually from 15 minutes to 1 hour.

Although results can be seen after a single treatment, a programme of treatments with the Lynton Focus Dual is recommended for optimal results.

The number of treatment sessions required will vary depending on the skin concern being treated and the area of the face or body; usually between 2 and 6 treatment sessions form an RF treatment programme. These are carried out spaced 4 weeks apart. Treatments for scarring, including stretch marks may require up to 8 sessions. For HIFU facial and body sculpting treatments, sessions are performed 4-6 weeks apart and best results are achieved with a programme of 1-3 treatment sessions.

Your suitability for facial skin tightening or fat reduction and body contouring using the Lynton Focus Dual will be assessed by our dermatology specialist consultant nurse during a consultation where a full medical history will be taken to determine if there are any underlying medical conditions or medicines that you are taking that may preclude you from treatment. The procedures cannot be performed if you have a pacemaker, other implantable electronic medical device or metal implants.

If you are generally in good health, then treatment is usually suitable for all men and women of all skin types.

If you have an area of active skin infection – bacterial, viral, fungal, etc. – or broken skin in the area to be treated, you will not be suitable for RF micro-needling or HIFU treatment and will be required to wait until that is resolved and healed. If you have a history of cold sores (herpes simplex virus), we may recommend a prophylactic medicine in the weeks before micro-needling treatment to avoid a flare up.

Radiofrequency micro-needling cannot be performed in an area where dermal filler is still present.

If you are pregnant or breast feeding, you will not be suitable for treatment and will need to wait until after this time.

HIFU is not a weight loss solution, it is used to tone, sculpt, and contour areas of the body where small, troublesome areas of fat are found that do not respond to diet and exercise. Those who wish to have this treatment, should have a BMI of 30 or less with pinchable areas of fat.

Treatment with radiofrequency micro-needling is usually well tolerated, with a warm, prickling sensation, but we will be happy to offer you a topical anaesthetic cream to numb the skin before commencing treatment, should it be required.

If we are using the HIFU facial treatment to target the deeper SMAS layer within the face for a non-surgical face lift procedure, you can expect to feel a sensation of heat during treatment and the area may tingle. Most patients do not find this very uncomfortable. We cannot use a numbing cream for this as it will not penetrate as deep as the HIFU, however settings can be altered to modify any discomfort.

With the HIFU body contouring treatment, you may experience a feeling of mild heating with a tingling sensation during treatment. It is usually well tolerated.

After Focus Dual treatment, the treated area will be red and feel warm to the touch for a few hours, with mild swelling likely. You can use a cool pack at home if required. It will also feel tight immediately after your treatment session due to contraction of the collagen fibres during treatment. This feeling will be temporary; however, your skin will start to feel firmer as your natural healing processes initiate new collagen production to improve skin elasticity in the area.

If treatment is performed in delicate areas, such as around the eyes, you may experience some bruising which will usually clear completely within a week. Other side effects such as burns, or blisters are very rare, although you may experience mild crusting or scabbing on the tiny entry points of the micro-needles. It is important to avoid picking, scratching, or exfoliating the scabs to avoid scarring. Crusts will shed naturally within days.

Downtime from treatment is virtually none, with most people returning to all their normal activities within 24-48 hours as the redness and swelling subsides quickly.

Make-up can be applied again after 12 hours. You will be advised to use a high SPF sun protection after treatment and avoid direct sun exposure to the treated area for 4 weeks to avoid pigmentation formation (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation). You should also avoid heat-based activities like saunas, steam rooms and hot baths for a week post-treatment. You will be given full advice on how to look after your skin after treatment, including appropriate washing and skincare regimes.

There is virtually no downtime with HIFU treatments, although you may experience slight redness, minor swelling, tingling, or tenderness in the area treated. Such side effects will be mild and temporary, and you can usually return to your normal activities straight away.

Skin tightening results will be visible immediately after treatment due to the initial trauma and swelling, although most people will notice a significant improvement 2 to 3 weeks after their first treatment session.

The results are natural, and rely on your body’s own healing response, with continued improvement. Therefore, you will need to wait 12 weeks after your last session for the end results to become visible from radiofrequency micro-needling. Further improvements can continue up to 6 months after treatment, especially following HIFU, as the body remodels the collagen within the skin over time. Skin will feel firmer, tighter, renewed and more supple.

The results achieved from Focus Dual HIFU for body contouring should be maintained in line with a healthy lifestyle including good diet and exercise to avoid renewed fat deposits and weight gain.

Results from Lynton Focus Dual treatment usually last 1-2 years depending on lifestyle and maintenance. You will be advised on diet, exercise, sun protection, and the avoidance of alcohol and smoking which can prolong your results.

Depending on the skin concern being treated and the procedure performed, top-up treatments will be recommended every 6-12 months to maintain your results.

We believe in being transparent with our prices and want you to be fully aware and comfortable with the cost of your treatment. A full list of our prices can be found here. We will always agree a final price with you though before treatment commences.