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How radiofrequency works to reduce cellulite and tighten skin

How does radiofrequency (RF) work?

LipoTherapeia: Check our advanced phototherapy, skin tightening and cellulite treatments in London, based on the best technologies in the world and on more than two decades of experience over more than 20,000 sessions

What is the aim of radiofrequency treatment?

  • Radiofrequency is a technology that aims to provide deep heat INSIDE the skin

  • This is in contrast to a hot shower, a hot pack or an infrared-emitting device that provides superficial heat ON the skin

RF is used to stimulate processes in the dermis and hypodermis (second and third layers of skin, respectively), while at the same time not overheating the epidermis (as is the case with a hot shower, a hot pack or an infrared lamp.)

That’s the aim theoretically. In practice, heat with most RF treatments is too superficial and so the whole point of using RF is missed. Plus most RF treatments are too weak to confer any significant benefit.

The information in this article is about real radiofrequency, i.e. high-power, deep-acting RF which, if applied by a well-trained, experienced and knowledgable therapist, can provide deep, intensive heating, SAFELY.

How does radiofrequency-induced heat work for skin tightening, cellulite removal and anti-ageing?

The intense deep heat produced by high-power, deep-acting radiofrequency on the hypodermis and dermis has four actions:

  1. Strong, deep RF stimulates both lipolysis (fat release) in adipocytes (fat cells) AND induce adipocyte apoptosis (programmed fat cell death). The combination of lipolysis and adipolysis gradually leads to smaller cellulite bumps, with repeated sessions.

  2. Strong, deep RF stimulates collagen contraction of existing collagen. This means tighter, more lifted skin, both immediately (with one session) and long-term (with repeated sessions).

  3. Strong, deep RF stimulates collagen and elastin synthesis in fibroblasts (collagen cells). This means long-lasting skin tightness and lifting (with multiple sessions).

  4. Strong, deep RF intensely stimulates circulation and lymphatic drainage on the area it is applied, which helps removes fat molecules from the interstitial tissues in the area without any need of lymphatic massage or pressotherapy. This effect is immediate.

All together, these four actions lead to cellulite removal (on the body) and skin tightening (on the face and body), all at once.

This means that with deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency you don’t need to have a separate treatment for cellulite and another one for skin tightening. Neither do you need a lymphatic massage afterwards to boost circulation.

What about superficially-acting or low-power radiofrequency?

With superficially-acting and/or low-power treatments you just waste your time: temperature never increases to a therapeutic level in the hypodermis, due to superficial action and/or due to low power. So not much happens. Superficially-acting and/or low-power RF is largely ineffective.

An RF treatment can be superficial or low-power either due to poor equipment choice or due to poor use of the equipment, i.e. wrong protocols and poor understanding of the physics of RF.

Have a skin tightening/cellulite treatment in London with the experts

At LipoTherapeia we have specialised 100% in skin tightening and cellulite reduction for more than two decades and 20,000+ sessions.

This is all we study and practise every day and have researched and tried hands-on all the important skin tightening equipment and their manufacturers.

As strong, deep acting radiofrequency and deep-acting, high-power ultrasound cavitation are the technologies of choice for skin tightening and cellulite reduction, we have invested in the best RF/ultrasound technologies in the world.

Furthermore, over the last two decades we have developed advanced RF and cavitation treatment protocols in order to make the most of our technologies, for maximum results, naturally and safely.

And for even better, faster results, we now combine our RF/ultrasound treatments with high-power red/infrared light LED treatment.

Our radiofrequency/ultrasound/LED treatments are comfortable, pain-free, downtime-free, injection-free, microneedling-free, 99.5%+ safe and always non-invasive.

And our focus is on honest, realistic, science-based treatment, combined with caring, professional service, with a smile.

We will be pleased to see you, assess your cellulite, skin laxity or fibrosis, listen to your story, discuss your case and offer you the best possible treatment.

Learn more, check prices and book an expert cellulite / skin tightening treatment at our London clinic.

Advanced, infrared / blue / red light therapy treatments in London at LipoTherapeia

At LipoTherapeia we are passionate about phototherapy (also known as photobiomodulation/PBM, red light therapy, infrared light therapy, blue light therapy, LED light therapy etc) and we use the most powerful equipment available today (up to 200mW/cm2), for best results and treatment of large body areas.

We use specialised therapy protocols for skin rejuvenation / anti-ageing, pigmentation / post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), moderate/severe acne, skin redness, sensitive/inflamed/irritated skin, wound healing, sports injuries / musculoskeletal pain and overall wellness / well-being.

Our LED phototherapy sessions are comfortable, deeply relaxing and super-safe and are great to enhance our radiofrequency/ultrasound treatments for skin tightening / cellulite reduction.

On our booking page you can book stand-alone phototherapy sessions or combine them with our other treatments, as an add-on.

Learn more or check prices and book an expert LED phototherapy treatment at our London clinic.

The Cellulite School™: Get advanced training in cellulite reduction and skin tightening

Do you want to deeply understand radiofrequency, ultrasound cavitation, LED phototherapy, cellulite and skin tightening?

Attend a half-day, 1-day, 2-day or 3-day one-to-one masterclass and confidently offer your clients the safest, strongest and most effective treatment possible.

Service available via Zoom or at our central London practice.

Learn more or check prices and book training at our London clinic or via Zoom.


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About LipoTherapeia

The LipoTherapeia® Plus treatment, a combination of deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency, deep acting, high-power ultrasound cavitation and high-power LED phototherapy, is arguably the strongest SAFE skin tightening/lifting, natural anti-ageing and cellulite treatment in London

The treatment is provided with advanced protocols based on the Physics of radiofrequency, ultrasound and phototherapy and on the anatomy and physiology of cellulite and skin laxity

The LipoTherapeia® Plus treatments are exclusively provided at our practice in central London (The Light Centre Marylebone, 10 Portman Square, London W1H 6AZ)

Genuine, AI-free content

This website is human-written 100%. We do not use Chat-GPT or any other AI tool for our pages and articles to bombard you with low quality, copy-paste spam articles and inaccurate information.

Chat-GPT and similar tools copy the web to regurgitate meaningless lowest common denominator platitudes, i.e. generally accepted myths that often have nothing to do with reality. Plus plenty of inaccuracies, misinformation and a healthy added dose of literally made up stuff - what AI experts call “AI hallucinations”.

No AI tool has the depth of experience accumulated over tens of thousands of sessions with real human beings (in fact, AI tools have zero experience, obviously). Neither can an AI tool discriminate what is reality and what is made up BS on the web.

Of course, the aesthetics industry is already full of myths, inaccuracies, platitudes and hallucinations anyway, so the advent of AI does not make much of a difference. The beauty industry has always been full of BS (sorry, that’s the correct word), AI or no AI.

So 24+ years on, we still keep it real, regardless of AI.

Trademarks & copyright

Copyright: All text and before & after pictures: © 2003-2025, LipoTherapeia Ltd. All rights reserved. No reproduction without written permission (plagiarising web pages will be reported to search engines for removal from their index).

Trademarks: Meso-CRF®, LipoTherapeia®, and Celluence® are registered trademarks in the UK & EU and belong to LipoTherapeia Ltd. All rights to the usage of those trademarks and copyrights are strictly reserved and are only allowed with prior written approval. The term LipoTherapeia® Plus is used by us to refer to our skin tightening / cellulite / anti-ageing treatments based on ultrasound, radiofrequency and phototherapy.

Disclaimers

Efficacy: As with any medical / aesthetic treatment or skin product, results vary from person to person depending on lifestyle, genetics, state of health (how each individual body responds to treatment), so specific results cannot be guaranteed. BTW, there is NO cellulite removal or long-term skin tightening/lifting with one, two or even three sessions and there is neither 100% (nor permanent) cellulite removal/skin tightening/lifting, with ANY technique, including ours, so we never make such misleading claims.

Safety: Our treatments have proven 99%+ safe over the last 14+ years (with minor/temporary irritation occurring in the other 1%- of treatments). However, as with any medical/aesthetic treatment or skin product, sensitivity varies from person to person, and from time to time even on the same person, depending on lifestyle, genetics and state of health (how each individual body responds to a treatment at a specific time), so we cannot guarantee 100% safety.

Accuracy: The information presented on this website is based on our interpretation of peer-reviewed research and/or our extensive 24-year experience and study in our field of specialisation, but it cannot be guaranteed 100% accurate or impartial.

Prices and special offers: Subject to change without prior notice. Special offers can not be combined.

Non-medical: No information, treatment or product on this website aims to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide/replace medical advice. Always consult your doctor.

Not professional advice: No information on this website is intended as direct or indirect professional (or personal) advice

For information purposes only: All content on this website is strictly for information purposes only.