Effects of Subdermal Monopolar RF Energy on Abdominoplasty Flaps

Radiofrequency has long been successfully employed for medical and, more recently, aesthetic indications due to its ability to cause tissue contraction by thermal induction of neocollagenesis and the subsequent wound healing cascade, leading to collagen remodeling and a tightening effect. Percutaneous RF treatment provides therapeutically relevant thermal stimulation directly to the tissue target in a minimally invasive manner, which is therapeutically ideal because of limitations inherent in transcutaneous RF heating. A novel device combines percutaneous RF with thermistor-controlled temperature regulation and external tissue temperature monitoring, providing the ability to safely deliver RF energy.

Percutaneous subdermal RF treatment was performed on 48 samples of abdominoplasty tissue; samples were marked to standardize measurement of surface area in the treatment zones, and a subdermal temperature target of 51°C was preprogrammed into the treatment device. The treatment cannula was inserted parallel to the dermal plane at four points with a single pass per insertion. Surface area was then re-measured.

Approximate average reduction in surface area was 91.23±19.33 mm2, ranging between 124.45 mm2 and 35.39 mm2 (median 96.83 mm2). Results were statistically significant (P<0.0001). Statistical analysis via analysis of variance (ANOVA) plus Tukey post-hoc testing revealed no statistically significant difference between the sides in all comparisons, demonstrating symmetry in contracture.

Percutaneous subdermal monopolar RF creates dramatic, immediate tissue contraction in vitro and is a viable technology for tissue tightening.