Is it possible to reverse the signs of aging without surgery?

Undergoing a surgery can be daunting. A surgery can have multiple side effects and can also cause extreme discomfort and mental stress to a person. Traditionally, multiple surgical treatment options have been utilized to achieve anti-aging effects. However, these procedures can lead to complications and have longer recovery times. With the advent of technology, multiple innovative non-surgical and minimally invasive anti-aging treatments are gaining popularity. Radiofrequency procedure is one such treatment.

Radiofrequency (RF) is a non-surgical procedure for enhancing the appearance of skin, by maintaining the skin tone and tightening the loose skin. RF is based on the radio waves technology to treat the aging signs and wrinkles. It works by heating the deeper layer of the skin, which stimulates collagen and elastin, a necessary element for improving the quality of the skin and opposing the aging effect. RF waves heat the skin to between 50–75°C, which further results in the release of heat-shock proteins. RF treatments are affordable and are typically effective in treating saggy skin, sunburn, and unwanted skin lines.^1,2

There are multiple surgical treatments options available to achieve anti-aging effects, including facelift, eyelift, laser treatments etc. However, most of these treatments have serious side effects and can cause extreme discomfort to a patient. Some of the disadvantages associated with various surgical skin related treatments include:

• Expensive – The surgical treatment options are quite costly, and hence are lesser accessible for everyone. Undergoing some of the advanced surgical procedures might involve huge costs and, in case multiple sittings are required, the costs would add on to make the overall procedure quite extensive.

• Doesn't always meet expectations – There is no assurance of the results, post-procedure or the results achieved may not be up to the mark as per the patient’s expectations. This may further lead to a feeling of dissatisfaction and regret, among patients, after the long surgical procedure.

• Mistakes during surgery – The surgeries can sometimes go wrong and can cause serious issues, which can be long term, non-reversible and permanent as well. As an example, everlasting nerve damage can occur due to facelift, that can lead to paralysis.
• Recovery Time – The recovery period post-surgery is quite extensive and it can last from 2 or 3 weeks to upto few months. This would further increase the dependency of the patient on others. The daily activities will be stopped untill the complete recovery post-surgery and the patient will need some resting time. The patient might also experience pain during recovery and need pain relievers to ease the pain, which would impact the health of the patient.³
  
• Post-operative complications- Some of the complications that are associated with the surgical procedures include reaction to anesthesia, infection, hematoma, and bleeding.

• Some other complications associated with surgeries include damage to vital internal structures, adverse reactions to medications, difficulty in wound closure, loss of hair, skin loss, numbness or tingling sensation around the incisions and discoloration of the skin in some cases. ^7,8

Although surgeries are a great intervention for skin related treatments, and they help to make the skin look younger by removing the wrinkles, however, various risks and disadvantages, related to patients, are associated with the skin related surgical procedures. Radiofrequency based anti-aging treatments, on the other hand, are effective, usually safe and do not have any significant side-effects.

Radiofrequency based skin procedures are usually non invasive and are completed in typically few hours, without the use of any needles or medical tools. These procedures are a natural way of enhancing the production of collagen and elastin in the body, which decrease with age and because of other environmental factors. RF based treatments help to rejuvenate the decreased collagen and elastin by utilizing heat produced by RF waves.

Patients report that the Radiofrequency skin procedures are quick and painless and make the skin look firmer and tighter giving it a youthful appearance. The RF based treatments are effective in multiple issues including for people facing issues like loose, saggy, or wrinkled skin.

Patients start experiencing results, immediately after the treatment, however complete results might be visible in up to 3 months. RF based treatments increase the self healing capability of skin and help in the long lasting production of collagen and elastin fibers. The results can last for up to 2 years if the skin is maintained well. Also, there  is no recovery time required after the procedure, unlike surgical methods which might require long recovery periods. The procedure, however, should be avoided in pregnant women and in people suffering from skin infections.^4,5

As technology advances, newer forms of skin rejuvenation and home based Radiofrequency treatments are emerging, which have increased efficacy and further reduced recovery times, with no or minimal side effects. The EvenSkyn Lumo includes features such a photo rejuvenation, electrical muscle stimulation, and phototherapy beyond the main radiofrequency function and therefore, helps with skin tightening and anti-wrinkle/anti-aging processes. The device also comes with 5 modes including Photon, ION, ENI + Photon, EMS + Photon, Cool + Photon, which can be used for multiple skin rejuvenation purposes.

High recovery time, increased cost and multiple side effects associated with complex skin related surgical procedures are limited their use on a day to day basis. Radiofrequency in dermatology is now gaining traction and popularity as a therapeutic method for the treatment of facial and corporeal skin sagging, as well as for improving body contours. Multiple clinical studies have also established the efficacy and safety of RF based skin procedures. With the advent of radiofrequency home device, which are easy to use and have minimalistic side effects, it can be safely assumed and forecasted that RF based treatments would take a larger role in the overall skin care market, in times to come.

1. http://www.drmarthastewart.com/
2. https://www.healthline.com/
3. https://flawless.org/
4. https://www.nyib.edu/radio-frequency-skin-care/
5. https://skinbase.co.uk/
6. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/
7. https://www.drsherris.com
8. https://dermnetnz.org/
9. https://www.wearebodybeautiful.com/