Why we should take radiofrequency facials seriously

Facials with an added extra are increasingly popular, and one of those extras is radiofrequency. Here’s why I think it’s well worth a try.

How does radiofrequency work?

Radiofrequency energy tightens the skin by heating up the collagen to the point where it ‘denatures’. Collagen is a protein and when heat starts to break it down, it shrinks a bit, then realises that it has been damaged and works to repair that damage by creating new collagen… which leads to firmer, tighter skin.

Why add it in to a facial?

For an instant lift and glow! A short session of radiofrequency at the end of a facial tightens the skin and improves your facial contours – just a little, but enough to notice.

What does it feel like?

Whereas a clinical session of radiofrequency treatment will be strong and require numbing cream, and may leave you red for a day or so afterwards, an RF facial which uses a much lower intensity of RF energy will feel more like warming, hot stone massage. The device is kept moving around your face, heating the skin without allowing any part of it to feel scorched.

In the picture here, I’m trying a radiofrequency facial with Teresa Tarmey, the global super-facialist who has made radiofrequency devices a key part of her practice for years, to amp up results for her clients – her celeb clients love this sort of treatment as a pick-me-up for their faces before red-carpet appearances.

Do I rate them?

What I like about radiofrequency facials is that you see a small immediate improvement as the heat delivered into the skin makes the collagen contract – just a bit, but it’s enough to give your face a bit of a boost. The deeper changes take longer to show up in your face, as the damaged collagen repairs itself and re-grows, firmer and stronger.

They’re a celeb favourite, too

And just recently we’ve seen Kim Kardashian, who’s no slouch when it comes to picking up on the latest tweakments, praising the effects of the ‘HydraTite’ facial, where a deep-cleansing HydraFacial treatment is followed with a session of Forma radiofrequency.

Do RF facials work?

For sure, a radiofrequency facial isn’t going to give you the same dose of skin tightening as a high-intensity clinical session of RF –it’s all a question of dose. But a small dose repeated several times as part of an effective facial will show enough results to keep you wanting to come back.