A Safety and Feasibility Study of a Novel Radiofrequency-Assisted Liposuction Technique

Abstract

The authors' study suggests that the removal of moderate volumes of fat with concurrent subdermal tissue contraction can be performed safely and effectively with radiofrequency-assisted liposuction. Additional benefits of this technique are excellent patient tolerance and fast recovery time. Nonetheless, a larger sample is required to confirm the authors' results and guarantee the efficacy and safety of the procedure. Direct comparison with traditional liposuction or energy-assisted liposuction techniques may provide some insights to tailor future indications of this novel technique.

Radio-Frequency Assisted Liposuction (RFAL)

“…RFAL technology provides a higher power and more efficient energy transfer than laser energy systems and thus, allows the treatment of larger volumes of the subcutaneous tissue with optimal thermal profiles, facilitating the significant tightening of the tissue. Recently introduced radio-frequency assisted liposuction and soft tissue contraction technology has shown tremendous promise for thermal contouring [3,4,[16][17][18][19]. When considering skin contraction, it is important to differentiate two-dimensional horizontal x-y tightening of the skin surface from three-dimensional x-y-z tissue tightening of the subcutaneous tissue, where the skin is also more firmly connected and adjacent to the deeper anatomical structures.…”

“…Skin biopsies taken from an RFAL study patient at 12 months, show normal dermal architecture, with healthy collagen and elastin fibers in the deep reticular dermis with no evidence of scar tissue or abnormal collagen fibers [ Figures 19,20]. A magnetic resonance imaging study of five patients before and three months after RFAL [18] showed a reduction in the thickness of adipose tissue in treated area and an increase of collageneus tissue in subcutaneous fat [ Figure 21]. Signals of remaining edema could be observed 90 days after treatment, signaling the continued persistence of the reparatory process.…”

Application of the Liposuction Techniques and Principles in Specific Body Areas and Pathologies

“…To obtain a more accurate and better skin contraction we then begin the treatment of fat through the use of an Nd: YAG 1064 laser assisted liposuction or bipolar radiofrequency assisted liposuction (RFAL) with the Body Tite® (12) . The action of laser or radiofrequency energy on the adipocytes causes the rupture of cell membranes due to the abrupt rise of interstitial temperature, causing a characteristic noise known as "Popcorn Effect".…”

“…Another region that responds to liposuction is the sacral region, thus enhancing and defining the buttocks. In our practice the best results are obtained with RFAL (Body Tite®) (12) that allows us to achieve greater tissue retraction in less time.…”

Non-Excisional Face and Neck Tightening Using a Novel Subdermal Radiofrequency Thermo-Coaugulative Device

“…This minimally invasive procedure has shown significant contraction capability when deployed in liposuction and lipo-contouring procedures [7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. RFAL technology harnesses the adipose tissue and septofascial fibrous structure of the subcutaneous space for thermal tightening and remodeling of subcutaneous tissue.…”