Radiofrequency skin tightening in Medellín

You'll see it called facial radiofrequency, body radiofrequency, RF skin tightening or non-surgical skin tightening. The idea is the same: a device placed against your skin heats the tissue underneath, as the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) explains. That heat stimulates collagen, and your body takes its time to make it. That's why results are gradual. A typical plan is 4 to 8 sessions of 30 to 45 minutes each, and your doctor decides how many you need.

Not all radiofrequency is done the same way. The AAD distinguishes between the kind done from the outside, with the device on your skin, and a minimally invasive version in which a thin tube or needles are inserted to deliver heat right to the area you want to tighten. That version is done under sedation, and you need to care for the wound afterward. The FDA also addresses RF microneedling: it considers it a medical procedure, not a cosmetic treatment, and warns that these devices shouldn't be used at home. If someone offers you radiofrequency, ask what type it is and which device they use. Your doctor will tell you at your consultation whether it's right for you.

Radiofrequency works on firmness when skin laxity is mild. According to the AAD, if there's a lot of sagging skin it may not help, and a surgical lift gives the most noticeable results. Depending on what you're looking for:

• More firmness: it can be combined with collagen biostimulators or body treatments, depending on your plan.
• Tightening the face and neck with a different technology: HIFU.
• Localized fat: cryolipolysis (in Spanish), also known as fat freezing.
• Excess skin on the abdomen, arms or face: surgery (tummy tuck, arm lift or facelift), with the plastic surgeon.

At your consultation, we'll tell you what makes sense for you.

According to the AAD, a skin tightening treatment isn't for you if you're pregnant, have a skin infection or take certain medications. In its guide to non-surgical body contouring, the FDA also says not to use radiofrequency devices if you have:

• A pacemaker, an implanted defibrillator or another active implant.
• Metal under your skin, from an implant or an injury.
• Tattoos with ink that contains metal particles in the area to be treated.

If you have an IUD, the FDA recommends asking your gynecologist whether the treatment adds any risk for you. If you're breastfeeding, tell your doctor.

Every procedure has risks, and this one does too. The FDA lists, among others:

• Pain or discomfort.
• Redness and swelling.
• Blisters or burns.
• Nodules.
• Changes in skin color.
• Scarring.

The FDA warns that some complications can be long-lasting, become permanent or need surgery to correct. With RF microneedling, the FDA has received reports of serious complications, such as burns, scarring, fat loss and nerve damage. Before you decide, your doctor will go over each one with you.

For your consultation, bring a list of everything you take, including vitamins and supplements, and tell us if you have any implants or have had surgery in the area to be treated, as the FDA recommends. It's a good time to ask how many sessions you'll need, how long the effect is expected to last and whether you'll need maintenance later. According to the AAD, after radiofrequency on the skin it's normal to have some redness and swelling, and you can often put on makeup as soon as you leave. If you notice anything afterward that worries you, such as blisters or a burn, contact your doctor.