Overview
Accent is a new wave in Radio Frequency technology.  R.F. has been used in surgery for over the last 70 years.  The principal effect is the controlled heating of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, preserving the epidermis, resulting in a non invasive, body shaping and skin tightening treatment.  The Accent system is the only one of its type that provides two kinds of Radio Frequency technology: UniPolar and Bipolar. This unique dual Radio Frequency technology, RF2, provides controlled volumetric tissue heating to two distinct depths of tissue.

The Bi Polar R.F. hand piece penetrates deep into the tissue, between 2 and 6 mm, providing structural and superficial change.  The Uni Polar R.F. hand piece has the capability of penetrating up to 20 mm into tissue – reaching the adipose tissue and cellulite.  Heating to these tissue depths therapeutically improves local circulation, promotes fibrous tissue breakdown, and helps to manage areas subject to oedema by promoting the release of fluids and toxins.

Is this right for me?
This treatment is particularly good for patients who have found it hard to tone or tighten areas of loose skin on the body or face, as a result of weight loss.  It is very good for areas such as thin, loose and crepey skin often found on the neck and under the upper arms.  It is also an excellent treatment for stubborn cellulite on arms, abdomen, buttocks and thighs.

Accent Radio Frequency can be used to treat sagging skin anywhere on the face and body.

What results can I expect?
The immediate effect is a contraction of collagen fibres, increasing and retracting the skin tissue.  The increased temperature in the dermis causes the deep structures of your skin to tighten straight away and stimulates new collagen production which continues to build over several months.  The effect is to tighten and rejuvenate the skin in the treated area.  On areas treated on the body thermal tightening takes place which causes an increase in local blood circulation, promotes fibrous tissue breakdown, drainage of fatty deposits into the lymphatic system and disintegration of fat cells. 

This combination of effects provides an immediate tightening of the skin which is progressive over the next 2-3 months when the full effects will be seen at their best.

What is involved?
Radio Frequency heats the skin’s inner layer (dermis), to between 40 and 44 degrees, while the outer layer (epidermis) is continually cooled.

For treatments of cellulite, the Radio Frequency allows varying depths of fat to be attacked (volumetric thermotherapy).  Radio waves penetrate deeply into the skin at depths of 2-20mm causing the vibration of water molecules, which in turn generates heat. This causes destruction of fat cells, causing flow and drainage to the lymphatics.

For treatments for Skin Tightening, the temperature causes contraction and remodelling of the collagen fibres within the skin, leaving a more rejuvenated appearance.  The collagen production continues to build over several months.

Patients will generally experience a warm sensation on the skin as it starts to heat up but the machine has a cooling system built in to ensure comfort.  Unlike some cosmetic procedures, many patients find the treatment is quite pleasant.

Treatments can take approx 1 hour, depending on the size of the area treated.  For body treatments a course of 6-8 sessions is recommended - weekly treatments are advised.  For treatments to the face, a course of 2-4 treatments every 2-4 weeks is recommended.

What are the benefits?
This treatment can help create change without the need for invasive surgery, with long lasting results, and without any downtime involved.  There is no pain or discomfort involved, with an easy and cost effective procedure.

What are the risks?
Radio Frequency procedures have an excellent safety record and have been in medicine for over 70 years.  As long as you are generally healthy and don’t have any skin diseases or infections in the area treated, there are few medical reasons why patients should not undergo this treatment.

People with electrical devices e.g., pacemakers, metal implants, plates or pins in the area being treated, cannot be treated because R.F. current flowing through the body may interfere with these devices or heat up metal implants, which could be dangerous.  The treatment should also not be performed on persons who have any of the following conditions: cancer, autoimmune disease/collagen disease, diseases of the connective and muscular tissue, pregnancy or breastfeeding, filler injections in the area of treatment.

Aftercare
Some people experience mild redness immediately following treatment, but this usually disappears quickly.  Most people find that they can return to work and normal activities immediately after treatment.  It is advised to drink plenty of water afterwards and to protect the skin from sun exposure.

How long will the results last? 
Following a course of treatment, results are expected to last 1-2 years, depending on the individual, and the lifestyle they have.