Combination radiofrequency and light energies: electro-optical synergy technology in esthetic medicine

In the past decade, there has been an astonishing insurgence in the number and variety of commercially available nonablative resurfacing devices. This is related in part to a continually increasing market demand for noninvasive cosmetic procedures that are associated with minimal recovery time and fewer complications than the traditional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser.

The goal of nonablative devices is to selectively heat the target tissues without injuring surrounding tissue. This article reviews the mechanism, results of clinical studies, and treatment parameters for a combination optical and radiofrequency (RF) energies system.

To see modest clinical improvement, the patient often requires a series of treatments over the course of several months (sometimes up to 18 months).

Preliminary studies with combination optical and RF energies have shown promising results in different dermatologic applications, including skin rejuvenation, hair removal, and leg vein treatment.

A new technology that integrates bipolar RF and optical energies, ELOS (Syneron Medical Ltd, Yokneam, Israel), is based on the premise of a synergistic activity between the two forms of energy. The bipolar RF component enables the use of lower levels of the optical component, reducing the risk from optical energy and potentially improving its use across different skin types and hair colors. The optical component is believed to drive the bipolar RF energy to concentrate where the optical energy has selectively heated the target.