Profound RF for the face in London

Facial wrinkles are the use Profound is FDA-cleared for in the US, through the 25-degree Dermal handpiece in the FDA's description. Fine needle pairs are placed through the skin across the face in one session, usually under local anaesthetic. Each point is heated to a set temperature, so the skin firms over the following months as new collagen and elastin form. In the 100-person trial on the face and neck, the average gain at six months was 25.6% on the wrinkle scale and 24.1% on the laxity scale. Every treatment is given by Dr Marie Duggan, GMC 7488383, at Profound RF London Clinic, 8 Devonshire Place, with the price in writing at a free consultation.

What it does on the face

The cheeks, the lines around the mouth, the jawline and the brow are each treated in the same session, with the needle pairs placed zone by zone; the cheeks page, the jawline page and the rest set out each zone. It firms skin that has loosened but still has spring; it does not replace a facelift in heavy jowls, and the doctor says so where surgery is the better route.

What the studies measured

• 100 people, seven US centres, 2013: one pass on the face and neck; in the 42 graded at six months the average gain was 25.6% on the wrinkle scale and 24.1% on the laxity scale, with more than 90% satisfied.
• 15 people, 2015: 67 degrees gave the best result, wrinkles improved by 40% and laxity by 34%.
• 15 people against facelift photographs, 2010: the predecessor device gave a laxity gain of 37% of a surgical facelift's, a photographic comparison rather than a measurement of lifting.

The session and after

Local anaesthetic, in the trials a dilute lidocaine solution infiltrated into the area, then about an hour in all. Redness for hours to a day or two, swelling for up to five to ten days, some bruising, and most people back to normal activities within 24 hours. The result builds over months and was still improving at six months in the trials, when we photograph it in our practice. The how long it lasts page sets out the timeline.

Who it suits

In our practice, an adult with mild to moderate wrinkles or loose skin across the face who wants one treatment and a natural result. Not in pregnancy or breastfeeding, with an active infection or cold sore, with a pacemaker or other electrical implant, or with a history of keloid scarring without the doctor's advice first. The full guide covers the rest.