Viora's Blog

Reaction™’s CORE™ technology introduces a new dimension in RF aesthetic treatments that allows practitioners to independently control heating depth, but how and why is this important?

First though, what is Radio Frequency and why is it important to control it in the aesthetic world?

Radiofrequency (RF) energy is a form of electromagnetic energy. When applied to tissue, it produces electromagnetic fields, which results in the generation of heat.  This heat effect has various aesthetic applications such as treatment of cellulite, tightening of lax skin, and for the reduction of thigh and buttocks circumference.  Radiofrequency used for aesthetic purposes can be either monopolar (meaning a single electrode tip) or bipolar (two electrode tips).  Since bipolar energy is more localized, less energy is required to achieve the same heating effect thus allowing safer treatments.

Radio frequencies’ aesthetic effects are based on a mild heating of the skin’s underlying network of collagen and elastin fibers which can lead to collagen shrinkage and thickening, improving skin’s firmness and elasticity.  To this end, depth control of the heating effect is highly desired since different aesthetic imperfections originate from different skin layers and in different anatomical sites the thickness of skin layers varies significantly.

What is CORE™ technology?

Reaction™’s CORE™ technology incorporates unique variable frequency settings to precisely control RF penetration depth in underlying tissue. Reaction’s four different frequency modes can be independently chosen by the operator for any energy and probe setting to control the heating depth effect as required with each patient and each application. In addition, CORE™ technology incorporates tissue vacuum massage which assists in achieving even greater heat penetration which is important when treating the subcutaneous layer.

To prove that the Reaction™ does what Viora says it does, an in-vivo study was conducted using a thermal video camera to determine the tissue heating depth effects at the different RF frequencies available with CORE™ technology in the Reaction™ system.  The Reaction™ system was applied on animal skin using protocols similar to those recommended for the different human aesthetic applications using Reaction’s three different RF applicators which are intended for large body areas (BC), small and sensitive body areas (FC) and smaller areas using RF energy only (ST).

Results from the study showed that heating depths for the different RF frequencies confirm the theory that RF penetration depth in tissue is an inverse function of frequency.  For all applicators tested, heating depth observed was greatest for the lowest RF mode (0.8 MHz) applied and smallest for the highest frequency (2.45 MHz).  As an example, for the ST applicator (no vacuum) heating depths measured were 7.2 mm, 5.1 mm & 3.9 mm corresponding to frequencies of 0.8 MHz, 1.7MHz and 2.45 MHz.  A total heating depth range from 3.9 mm to 18.6 mm was measured for the treatment parameters used in the study on porcine skin.

To summarize, the unique variable frequency capability in Reaction™’s CORE™ technology, in addition to the ability to vary tissue heating effects by changing RF intensity level, vacuum intensity level and applicator configuration, allows utmost control when performing the full range of available RF aesthetic applications on different body areas and patient types.