Basic Radiofrequency: Physics and Safety and Application to Aesthetic Medicine

This chapter summarizes the basic science of radiofrequency (RF) and its application in aesthetic medicine. The main parameters of RF including RF frequency, waveform, power, pulse duration, and penetration depth are described, and its application for treatment is analyzed. Monopolar and bipolar devices are described in detail for different clinical applications. The effect of RF electrode geometry on tissue heating is shown, and tissue-specific electrical parameters are summarized. The chapter discusses which RF parameters are required to reach therapeutic temperatures for tissue ablation, coagulation, or subnecrotic heating. RF parameters used for noninvasive, minimally invasive, and fractional treatment are compared. Finally, the chapter explains the main safety concerns associated with RF treatments and details the most common causes of adverse events.