The use of hybrid radiofrequency device for the treatment of rhytides and lax skin.

BACKGROUND Recently, radiofrequency (RF) devices have been introduced and commercialized for nonablative procedures in dermatology and plastic surgery for the treatment of age-related rhytides and lax skin. OBJECTIVE The objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of a novel RF device (Accent, Alma Lasers, Ltd, Caesarea, Israel) for the treatment of rhytides and lax skin. METHODS AND MATERIALS Sixteen female patients (age range, 29-66 years; mean, 47+/-6 years; skin phototypes II to IV) were treated with Accent system. Patients were treated on the chin (n=5), forehead (n=8), cheeks (n=12), jowl lines (n=9), periorbital area (n=7), marionette line (n=3), and nasolabial folds (n=6) for wrinkles (n=27 cases) and skin laxity (n=23 cases). Patients received two to six treatments (mean, 4.3+/-1.1), with the time interval of 2 to 3 weeks. Photographs were assessed 1 month after the last treatment. RESULTS For wrinkles and skin laxity, in 5 patients (42%), the cheeks (n=12) scored 51% to 75% (significant improvement), and 2 patients (17%), 76% to 100% (excellent improvement). For the jowl lines (n=9), 4 patients (44%) scored 51% to 75% (significant improvement), and 1 patient scored 76% to 100% (excellent improvement) for lax skin. For wrinkles on the periorbital (n=7) and forehead areas (n=8), three patients (37%) scored 51% to 75% (significant improvement). CONCLUSION The Accent system is an effective and safe modality for the improvement of age-related rhytides and lax skin.