RFAL Treatments

RFAL Background

Radio-Frequency Assisted Lipolysis ( RFAL ) has broad applications ranging from reducing infra-orbital eyebags, addressing skin laxity, facilitating body contouring, treating sagging jowls, and reducing cellulite. RFAL Treatments work by using radiofrequency waves of varying intensities to heat the tissue of interest. I use this controlled heating to internally “melt” fat from areas of interest, stimulate regenerative healing, and promote the formation of collagen fibers externally to tighten the overlying skin. InMode’s RFAL devices (BodyTite®, FaceTite®, and AccuTite®) utilize similar treatment protocols to achieve this result and differ mainly on the size of the device and the treatment area.

How RFAL Works

To begin, I inject a small amount of local anesthesia into the tissue of interest. Next, a pinpoint incision is made to insert a probe tipped with a radio-frequency wave emitter underneath the skin, with a mirroring external probe, essentially “sandwiching” the treatment area with internal and external tissue heating.

Once the device is set up, the exterior and interior components transmit radiofrequency waves that create thermal energy to heat the underlying tissue. The device is then moved around the surrounding skin to heat areas of interest. RFAL devices have multiple detectors and built-in safeguards that recognize changes in tissue thickness, monitor skin and fat temperature, and evaluate composition to maintain safe yet effective heating levels. These excellent safety standards along with a minimal incision, limited need for anesthesia, and rapid recovery—with mild irritation being the only side-effect—make RFAL a remarkably safe and effective procedure for non-invasive fat reduction with skin tightening.

Versatility for Unique Patient Needs: BodyTite®, FaceTite®, and AccuTite®

All patients have specific features and characteristics that deserve personalized treatment options. This requires state-of-the art equipment that can adapt to unique skin and tissue compositions, especially when performing Radio-Frequency Assisted Lipolysis ( RFAL ). To accommodate the diverse need of patients, InMode Aesthetic Solutions has developed separate devices for non-invasive fat reduction in the body, the face, and small sensitive areas such as eyebags and jowls.

The BodyTite® System, as the name suggests, applies RFAL to reduce fat content in larger areas of the body, including the abdomen, the thigh, and the upper-arm. The BodyTite® device has a larger cannula diameter (2.2 mm) along with a deeper treatment area (50 mm), allowing the device to serve as an effective body contouring and remodeling tool. Overall, BodyTite® provides minimally-invasive surgical grade results—similar to those in more extensive excisional procedures.

 

FaceTite® utilizes the same principles of BodyTite® but at a reduced scale, targeting the face, the neck, and the jowl. FaceTite® is a particularly useful option for individuals seeking surgical level face skin contouring and tightening without the downtime and involvement associated with a facelift. As expected, the cannula diameter (1.3 mm) and the depth of treatment (25 mm) are both reduced in the FaceTite® device to accommodate a smaller treatment area.

Finally, let us discuss AccuTite®, InMode’s latest addition to its line of RFAL devices. Like BodyTite® and FaceTite®, AccuTite® follows the same mechanism of action by utilizing radiofrequency waves to elicit skin contouring and tightening. However, what makes AccuTite® such a unique and exciting entrant to this line of devices is its small size and compact nature. This allows the device to treat difficult to reach areas on the face and the body where loose skin is found and provides precision skin tightening and remodeling.

In the face, AccuTite® can be applied to the brow, the upper and lower cheek, the lids, the periorbital zones (around the eye), the nasolabial folds, and the neck. In the body, it can be used in same areas as BodyTite® as well as more sensitive and demanding areas such as the back of the hand, the axilla, the sub-clavicular zone, the inner thigh, and around the knees and elbows. Because of its minimally-invasive nature and small size, AccuTite® can be coupled with other procedures such as injectable soft tissue fillers, Botox® and/or superficial energy devices such as Intense Pulse Light Therapy (IPL) for correction of hyperpigmentation and redness.

In combination, BodyTite®, FaceTite®, and AccuTite® can provide excellent precision fat reduction, skin tightening, and tissue remodeling to enhance patient’s unique aesthetic features. Excellent patient outcomes, built-in safeguards, and extensive peer-reviewed scientific literature clearly illustrate the aesthetic benefits of Radio-Frequency Assisted Lipolysis, and more specifically attest to the incredible therapeutic potential offered by BodyTite®, FaceTite®, and AccuTite®.