Hands up who’s concerned about the loss of facial firmness? Well, my hands are firmly in the air, as are a number of clients who comet to me in London. Losing the firmness in our skin is unfortunately part of the beautiful ageing process, which sees our collagen and elastin fibres slowly start to decline, resulting in our facial contours looking less than defined. 

So how do we attempt to halt this inevitable ageing process in its tracks? Enter radiofrequency. It’s my go-to treatment in the clinic to target sagging skin, smooth fine lines and tighten contours, and it’s non-surgical. Hurray! Since investing in my own radiofrequency machine, its become a firm (excuse the pun) favourite with many of my clients. 

Here’s how radio frequency works, why it’s a non-invasive fix and who might benefit from it. 

What is radiofrequency?

Radiofrequency might sound a little scary to some, particularly if you’ve only ever experimented with anti-ageing creams before. But don’t let the name put you off. Radiofrequency uses electrical energy to heat the skin’s dermis, stimulating the collagen and elastin production while tightening the skin. The radiofrequency energy is able to travel below the  skin’s surface and into the deeper skin zones that contain the collagen and elastin, while protecting the delicate top layer. 

This makes it particularly great at targeting loose skin around the neck, jawline and chin, wrinkles and lines that develop between the nose and mouth, droopy cheeks and fine lines around the eyes. 

The average radiofrequency treatment takes anywhere between 20 and 45 minutes, with very little downtime (actually, almost none). Aside from a rosy glow for up to 2 hours afterwards, you’re good to go back to the office or out for dinner straight away. The radiofrequency heats the skin to around 38-40 degrees, which feels similar to a hot stone massage, and causes zero discomfort. In fact, most of my clients fall asleep during this part of the treatment, it’s that relaxing.   

Who should go for radiofreqency? 

The little to zero downtime makes radiofrequency a great choice for people looking to firm, lift and tighten their skin and go right back to work or out to a social event on the same day. The beauty of the treatment is that it is suitable for the vast majority of people. If you’re over 25 and are starting to notice the first signs of ageing, or over 30 and becoming more and more conscious of gravity’s effect on your skin, then radiofrequency is just the treatment. Basically, anyone experiencing a loss of firmness and dullness is a good fit. It’s able to improve cell regeneration, stimulate collagen, increase oxygen levels in the skin, and provide long lasting firming, lifting and pluming effect for the face and neck. 

How many sessions do you need? 

As with anything, better, longer lasting results are attained with consistency. A course of several sessions spread out over 6-12 months will be much more beneficial than just the one treatment a year, because it will keep your skin in a constant state of cell regeneration. Many of my clients start with a course of 6 treatments, taken 2 weeks apart, and then we maintain their results with a monthly facial. The collagen stimulation that takes place peaks after 90 days, meaning fresher, plumper, more youthful skin for longer.

Who should steer clear of radiofrequency? 

Well, if you suffer from rosacea or any skin inflammation, it’s sensible to leave radiofrequency and opt for a more soothing, calming treatment. As radio frequency is a heat based treatment, it naturally causes some mild inflammation to the skin, which could irritate sensitive skin even more. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, then it’s best to wait. Although it wouldn’t actually cause any harm to you or the baby (as the heat is only located to the upper dermis), your skin can respond differently to things when pregnant. Radiofrequency machines are also generally not tested on pregnant clients, so the rule is to wait until after you’ve finished breastfeeding. 

What treatments do you offer? 

In my London treatment centre, we offer radiofrequency as a standalone treatment, as a course, or combined with many other methods and technologies, such as in my signature WOW factor facial. Keep an eye on my website, Instagram and newsletter for some really exciting, exclusive treatments I’ve been designing with the machine manufacturers, as they’ll be launching this April! 

So, radiofrequency isn’t just another buzzword or a fad. It’s an extremely effective treatment that comfortably tightens facial contour, stimulates collagen production, increases firmness and plumpness and smooths wrinkles. And with minimal downtime, you can have the treatment in your lunch break and be back at your desk with fresh, glowing skin. 

Book your plumping, firming and collagen boosting radiofrequency treatment here.