Table 1.
Key Studies Evaluating Radiofrequency Treatments
| Device | n | No. Treatments | Area | Complications | Findings | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitzpatrick et al27 | ThermaCool TC (Thermage, Inc., Hayward, Calif.) | 86 | Single | Lateral canthal, forehead | 0.36% secondary burns | 6 mo | 83.2% had improvement by 1 point on FWCS, 50% satisfied with improvement in periorbital wrinkling, eyebrow lift of ≥0.5 mm in 61.5% of patients |
| Bassichis et al28 | ThermaCool TC (Thermage, Inc.) | 24 | Single | Upper face | None recorded | 12 mo | 0.5 mm in 87.5% patients, 64% did not perceive a cosmetic benefit |
| Nahm et al20 | ThermaCool TC (Thermage, Inc.) | 10 | Single | Left side of face only | No major complications noted | 3 mo | Statistically significant elevation 4.3 mm of mid-brow and 2.4 mm of lateral brow with 1.9 mm increase at the level of palpebral crease |
| Jacobson et al30 | ThermaCool TC (Thermage, Inc.) | 24 | 1–3 monthly | Lower face/neck | No major complications noted | 3 mo | Notable improvement of neck, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and jawline |
| Alster and Tanzi31 | ThermaCool TC (Thermage, Inc.) | 50 | Single | Lower face/neck | No major complications noted | 6 mo | Significant improvement in cheek and neck skin laxity in majority of patients. Satisfaction scores paralleled the clinical improvements observed. |
| El-Domyati et al32 | Biorad (GSD Biorad, Guangdong, China) | 6 | 12 treatments (3 mo of treatment at 2-wk intervals) | Face | No major complications noted | 6 mo | All 6 patients had improvement of periorbital and forehead regions 70%–75% at 3 mo following treatment |
| Javate et al33 | Pelleve (Ellman International, Inc., Oceanside, N.Y.) | 32 | 8 weekly treatments | Face (periorbital, frontal, midface) | No major complications noted | 6 mo | Progressive improvement in Fitzpatrick wrinkle classification (P < 0.01) |
| Taub et al34 | Pelleve (Ellman International, Inc.) | 17 | 6 treatments | Face | No major complications noted | 6 mo | 25%–30% improvement 2 wk after first treatment with an average improvement of 50% after last treatment |
| Theodorou et al37 | Bodytite (InMode, Lake Forest, Calif.) | 40 | Single | Upper arms | 2 minor complications (1 burn, 1 seroma) | 3 y | >90% patient satisfaction at 6 mo |
| Dayan et al39 | Bodytite, Fractional RF combination (InMode, Lake Forest, Calif.) | 247 | Single | face, lower neck | No major complications noted | 5 y | Statistically significant 0.8 point improvement on Baker Face Neck Score |
FWCS, Fitzpatrick wrinkle classification system.