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Pushing the Envelope Using
RF-Based Treatments
Key Methods to Grow Your Practice
TAS 2016 Product Showcase
THE Aesthetic Show 2016
Program Enclosed
May/June 2016
Circulation 25,000
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As the already large market for corrective skin procedures continues to expand, so do the techniques
available to achieve high quality outcomes. Past approaches to addressing skin-related issues frequently
involved unpredictable and painful chemicals or laserbased resurfacing treatments, which were problematic
for patients. However, recent advancements in fractional ablative radiofrequency (RF) based technology
now give physicians the ability to treat these concerns
quickly and virtually pain-free with minimal downtime.
continued on page 3
Innovative Technology Takes Skin
Resurfacing and Tightening to the Next Level
By Jeffrey Frentzen, Executive Editor
Representative of a new wave of fractional ablative energy-based technology, the Eclipse Skinfinity RF™ device from Eclipse Aesthetics (Dallas, Texas)
offers sophisticated innovation that advances RF-based treatments for skin resurfacing and tightening.
Jason Emer, M.D.
Cosmetic Dermatologist
Beverly Hills, CA
Operating as a roller, the Skinfinity RF applicator consists of electrodes that
look like wheels mounted on the surface of the device tip. It works using two
distinctive types of energy to heat the skin: microfractional RF technology, in
which tiny electro currents heat the skin on contact; and proprietary Micro
Plasma Technology™ that creates multiple controlled microscopic thermal injuries via Directed Radiofrequency Ablation (DRFA).
Garry R. Lee, M.D.
DRFA’s use of fractionated RF-based energy only affects targeted areas
while leaving the surrounding skin unaffected. Moreover, DRFA technology
allows for rapid healing and can be used on patients of all skin types.
Dermatologist and Cosmetic Laser
Surgeon
Salt Lake City, UT
Look Younger MD
Henderson, NV
Mark B. Taylor, M.D.
After it achieves the necessary thermal endpoint, Skinfinity RF delivers a
secondary mechanical injury that stimulates a healing response, which yields
skin rejuvenation and tightening effects. Other indications addressed by this
system include fine lines, wrinkles, the appearance of scars and stretch marks.
Unlike fractional ablative bipolar RF devices that create hot spots on the
outer electrodes, or CO2 laser-based approaches that can lead to extreme
patient discomfort, Skinfinity RF offers a safe procedure with less downtime.
In addition, complete control of the treatment is restored to the practitioner,
which can lead to uniform, consistent results that involve less patient discomfort by comparison.
It is the device’s patented unipolar RF In-Motion™ treatment tip that allows practitioners complete control over the ablative and thermal effects of
Skinfinity RF, as it enables constant delivery of energy across the entire application area. The device also features user adjustable energy output (up to
100 Watts) and a variable phase filter that lets operators customize therapy
for each patient.
Clinical benefits of this minimally ablative procedure include the ability to
perform rapid sessions that are completely regulated by the practitioner’s
command of the roller device and its contact with the skin’s surface via userdefined energy levels.
”The device is just so
unique. I think the trend
right now in aesthetics,
and skin rejuvenation
in particular, is moving
towards being able to
treat all different skin
types using a single
device and technology.”
“The device is just so unique,” stated Jason Emer, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist in Beverly Hills, Calif. “I think the trend right now in aesthetics,
and skin rejuvenation in particular, is moving towards being able to treat all
THE Aesthetic Guide May/June 2016 www.miinews.com
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different skin types using a single device and technology. RF-based therapy
offers much less downtime, as well as less risk for hypopigmentation and scarring when compared with laser-based procedures.”
Before Tx
After Skinfinity Tx
Photos courtesy of Jason Emer, M.D.
Garry R. Lee, M.D., medical director of Look Younger MD, in Henderson,
Nev., witnessed a Skinfinity RF demonstration at a scientific meeting and,
as he put it, was mesmerized by what he saw. “This device is really interesting,” he said. “I truly believe in this type of technology. It works very well
as both a standalone treatment for skin concerns, such as acne and stretch
marks, as well as an adjunct to other therapies that work together to achieve
specific results.”
According to Mark B. Taylor, M.D., a dermatologist and cosmetic laser
surgeon in Salt Lake City, Utah, “Skinfinity RF hits a sweet spot in the practice
of cosmetic dermatology. It addresses skin texture and the appearance of
scars, as well as other indications that are plentiful in all of our practices. I
don’t really consider it to be a true microneedle product because the tips don’t
actually penetrate the skin very much. I have microneedling devices in which
the needles actually enter the skin, but this is a lot easier to use and in a lot of
ways it produces an exceptional treatment.”
Reinforcing that view, Dr. Emer stated that Skinfinity RF should not be confused with standard microneedling devices. “Unlike some products using needles that penetrate the skin or stamp the skin with pins, this system uses more
of a rolling effort when delivering the treatment, as well as a kind of plasma
shock therapy.” This approach is considerably faster and more predictable
than bipolar RF ablative technologies that employ stamping, he noted.
Acne scarring before Tx
“You can produce different levels of ablation with very little risk to the skin
type. What I have found is that it is very useful on dark skin types and for treating the look of acne scars, as well as crepey skin,” Dr. Emer reported. “You
can do low-energy treatments over time and get a really good result, or if it’s
warranted do a higher-energy application with an equally good outcome. It’s
a different kind of modality that we have not seen before, and I have been
pleasantly surprised by the high-quality results.”
In addition, with Skinfinity RF, “You simply don’t have the kind of downtime
that you do with CO2 laser treatments, which can be tremendously painful,
and patients can have significant burning and complications,” stated Dr. Lee.
“What is nice about this technology is the energy waves are unipolar and
harmless for all skin types. This device is something that we can utilize in relative safety especially vis-a-vis using older technologies.”
After Eclipse Skinfinity, microneedling, autologous
and Juvéderm fillers
Photos courtesy of Garry R. Lee, M.D.
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One of the unit’s best features, according to Dr. Taylor, lets physicians
take control of the roller and adjust the speed, pressure and energy intensity
manually. “You can be more assertive with it,” he said. “You can control the
rolling movement and pressure against the skin, which gives the operator a
lot of flexibility. Usually, when we treat the face we will do four passes, and
that might take 20 minutes or so. The applications are easy for the physician.
If you’re doing high-energy sessions then you may have to do some blocking
or a little more anesthesia.”
User control over the device’s energy output can be a blessing, but it places
extra responsibility on the practitioner when compared with more automated
systems, Dr. Emer noted. “The Skinfinity RF system has a very strong amount
of wattage that most RF-based devices don’t have,” he expressed. “When you
roll the device over the skin, you can deliver energy very quickly and evenly.
Based on the pressure exerted by the operator, the energy will travel to different depths depending upon how much is applied. ”
In addition, due to the device’s compact form factor and operator ease of
use it is possible to treat a wide variety of body areas, Dr. Emer commented.
“For instance, large areas of the face can be treated very quickly,” he stated.
“The Skinfinity RF device also offers us the ability to contour. We can treat
large swaths of the body quickly, such as arms. You can also roll the device
around, up the nose and around the face to the jawline. I’ve seen some
dramatic improvements on the neck. It gets into places that other devices just
can’t approach, such as ear lobes and even wrinkles on the knuckles. When
we treat the skin on the buttocks our patients see a remarkable improvement
and tightening.”
By utilizing both the thermal and ablative settings, physicians can achieve
multiple levels of improvement, expressed Dr. Taylor. “We use it a lot on the
face for addressing the appearance of acne scars and big pores, and currently for treating stretch marks, this is the best technology available. As you
proceed across the skin, especially in the ablative mode, you’re actually removing thousands of little dots. If you’re moving across the skin in multiple
passes, then you get some skin tightening in addition to the ablation of tissue.”
Before Tx
After one Skinfinity Tx
Photos courtesy of Dong-Hye Suh, M.D.
Before Tx
Although Skinfinity RF can be used across the entire body surface, it really
shines on the face, Dr. Lee shared. “This is where we are getting the very best
results,” he said. “We had one patient that presented with tremendous scarring all over her face. She had lived with these scars for years and had been
told by many physicians that nothing could be done about them. It really hurt
her self-esteem. If men have a scar, it’s not a big deal and it’s kind of macho;
but if a woman has a scar on her face, then it’s a different story.”
Dr. Lee’s treatment plan started with injections. “Eventually, Skinfinity RF
helped with skin tightening and resurfacing for treating the appearance of
shallow scars, but with deep scars you have to put in a base, such as a filler
After Skinfinity Tx
Photos courtesy of Jason Emer, M.D.
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to lift the skin up. Once that happens, Skinfinity RF can take over,” he said.
“After I placed a Juvéderm base in the scars, we did a combination therapy.
The results were just amazing.”
After treatment was completed, Dr. Lee noticed that the patient was crying.
“At first I thought maybe I had hurt her during the therapy, but she told me she
was so happy with the outcome.”
Before Tx
After Skinfinity Tx
Photos courtesy of Jason Emer, M.D.
“It is a powerful device and while it gives you the ability to fine tune and
customize the treatment, you have to be more careful than you would with
a device that is more automated or does mechanical stamping,” Dr. Emer
reiterated. “Rolling devices can achieve a better outcome depending on the
skill of the operator, and if done properly this device allows you to perform
a speedier process across wide surface areas. I’ve tried other rolling devices
that use needles and plasma delivery of energy, but this is the best one. Safety
is very important, though. Operators have to be sure that the skin is well hydrated and the device is in perfect alignment prior to performing treatments.”
Patient satisfaction with Skinfinity RF outcomes has been exceedingly high,
reported both Dr. Taylor and Dr. Emer. “I’ve been using the product for months
and my patients love the results,” Dr. Emer expressed.
According to Dr. Taylor, “People are very happy with it. We’ve done some
body treatments comparing this technology to various other approaches we
have used, essentially when treating stretch marks, to tighten the skin and help
the wrinkling. The Skinfinity RF results have been quite good.”
Stretch marks before Tx
Left side: After non-ablative 1540 fractional
laser Tx
Right side: After five passes of Eclipse Skinfinity
(four passes in thermal mode and one pass in
ablative mode)
Photos courtesy of Mark B. Taylor, M.D.
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There is one thing upon which all three physicians can agree: Skinfinity RF
is excellent when used in combination treatments. “We always do combinations,” Dr. Lee advised. “In the case of Skinfinity RF, we use it with dermal fillers and BOTOX or other neurotoxins. Occasionally, we’ll do some subcision
of acne scars and other types of resurfacing. Skinfinity RF is a very useful
tool in our armamentarium.”
Increasingly, aesthetic surgeons trust multiple modalities to provide a more
all-inclusive, non-surgical solution for addressing the needs of aging skin.
Skinfinity RF can be a valuable adjunct to multiple modalities that are used
synergistically, Dr. Lee maintained. “I don’t have any research validation, but
when you approach a problem using a variety of mechanisms in tandem
sometimes the final result is more than the sum of the parts. The secret to know
is, what combination works best? We’re only at the beginning of trying to
discover what combination of protocols is best to use. The ones that we have
used with Eclipse products have worked very well.”
“Skinfinity RF can act as a foundation for new collagen synthesis and as a
baseline for other treatments,” Dr. Emer reported. “It squares the efficacy of
traditional ablative modalities with the low downtime recovery experience that
in the past we associated with less successful non-ablative procedures.”
Dr. Emer uses Skinfinity RF in tandem with other therapies, including microneedling and autologous fillers. “When used this way, especially for addressing scars and pigmentation, patients see a much better outcome.”
Aside from producing superior results, Skinfinity RF also offers a good return
on investment (ROI) for practices, Dr. Emer pointed out. “This device provides
one of the best returns on investment of any device I have, and I have a lot of
them. RF-based devices, in general, offer a terrific ROI. Also, since Skinfinity
RF can be used on any skin type, for any physician that wants to achieve some
diversity in his or her practice this is the energy modality to get,” he said.
Dr. Taylor concurred. “The ROI with this product is very good because you
can do treatments fairly quickly. Overall, compared with other technologies
and the amount of money we could earn for the time spent, this is a really valuable device to have. Also, patients have been happy with the fee I charge,
which is very reasonable because the unit has paid for itself and also because
they can see and appreciate the results, which are uniformly good.”
Before Tx
After Skinfinity Tx
Photos courtesy of Jason Emer, M.D.
“I paid for Skinfinity RF in less than one year, so everything we are making
on it now is pure profit,” Dr. Lee reported.
Additionally, beyond the bottom line, physicians have been pleased with
Eclipse’s support, Dr. Emer noted. “Training has been good, and after-sale
assistance is excellent with the company. The support people are always available,” he expressed. “Skinfinity RF is not that hard to use, but you just need to
gain some experience with it. You need to understand how the energy works,
and be able to effectively manipulate the roller with your hand motion in order
to achieve a good outcome.”
Before Tx
“The company has been very good in these areas,” noted Dr. Taylor. “They
have paid a number of visits to my practice and have showed me nothing but
solid support.”
Ultimately, Skinfinity RF is as diverse of a device as one can find on the
market today, Dr. Emer stated. “Not only can it treat all skin types, but almost
any area of the body,” he said. “It gives you an alternative approach and
can differentiate your practice, providing a strong return and it is an attractive
service to offer patients. Plus, it has little or no downtime if used properly.”
After Skinfinity Tx
Photos courtesy of Jason Emer, M.D.
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