Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combination facial treatment by 3 technologies.
Materials and methods: Eleven patients completed the clinical trial that consisted of alternate treatments of intense pulsed light (IPL) in 3 sessions and continuous + fractional bipolar radiofrequency (RF) in 3 alternating sessions, 3 weeks apart. Follow-up visits were made at 6 and 12 weeks following the last treatment. Lesions were evaluated by photographs taken at baseline and at follow-up time points according to predetermined scales.
Results: Results showed statistically significant improvement in wrinkling (24% after 6 weeks and 33% after 12 weeks), pigmentation (38% after 6 weeks and 62% after 12 weeks), vascular lesions (29% after 6 weeks and 67% after 12 weeks), and laxity (37% after 6 weeks and 40% after 12 weeks).
Conclusions: Combination facial treatment by IPL, and continuous and fractional RF is safe and enables the treatment of a variety of facial lesions, taking advantage of accessible applicators for different clinical indications on the same device. Thus, comprehensive facial skin rejuvenation has become feasible.
Keywords: IPL; RF; facial skin improvement.