Choosing the Right Skin and Body Treatment Devices

Skin and body treatment devices are divided into two categories: skin rejuvenation machines to fight against the signs of aging and body contouring machines to reshape the figure. Here are the devices in each of these categories:

• Skin rejuvenation:
  • Wrinkle removal:
    • Ultrasound peeling units
    • Microneedling units
    • Microdermabrasion units
    • Mesotherapy units
    • Electroporation units
    • Aesthetic phototherapy lamps
    • Skin rejuvenation lasers and IPL systems (intense pulsed light).
  • For hair removal, tattoo removal and skin patches:
    • Lasers
    • IPL systems

• Body contouring:
  • Machines using shock waves
  • HIFU body contouring units
  • Cryolipolysis units
  • Body contouring radiofrequency systems
  • Dermo-massage units / vacuum suction body contouring units.

Some machines offer combined treatments (radiofrequency + ultrasound, radiofrequency + shock waves, etc.).

Venus Concept multifunctional aesthetic treatment unit

When purchasing skin and body treatment devices, it is important to check a certain number of criteria beforehand, such as the areas treated, the size of the machine and the programs available. Here are some of the main criteria to keep in mind:

• Applications / zones that can be treated
• Number of applicators available / size of application area
• Size / space requirement
• Price
• Ease of use / available programs
• Program duration
• Certification (FDA / CE).

Shanghai Apolo Medical Technology HIFU body contouring unit

Laser and IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) hair removal technology are different techniques. They do not use the same light emission process. Here are their main differences:

• Laser:
  • Better penetration into the skin (deeper into the hair bulb, therefore often more effective)
  • Very precise (less exposure and irritation to surrounding tissue)
  • Faster visible results
  • Can work on darker skin tones

• IPL systems:
  • Shorter sessions
  • More affordable
  • Less painful

Candela Medical IPL hair removal system

Both mesotherapy and microneedling techniques use needles, but the number of needles they use and their penetration length differ, as do the treatment duration, injected products and conditions they treat. Originally developed to inject drugs into the layer of fat under the dermis, mesotherapy is used today in cosmetic surgery to fight against skin aging. There are advantages to both techniques:

• Microneedling:
  • Superior aesthetic results (promotes collagen and elastin production)
  • Mainly used for the following treatments: facial acne scars, expression lines around the eyes, wrinkles on the neck, surgical scars on the abdomen, etc.

• Mesotherapy:
  • More comfortable sessions than micro-needling (shorter sessions requiring only one needle)
  • Mainly used to revitalize the epidermis by treating the deepest layers of the skin
  • Mainly used for: facial acne scars, sagging skin, dull and dehydrated skin, wrinkles and fine lines, hyperpigmentation, etc. 

Anti Aging Medical Systems mesotherapy gun

Body contouring radiofrequency systems deliver thermal energy to the skin in order to cause micro-lesions that in turn trigger the production of new collagen. An RF body contouring machine has several advantages and disadvantages:

• Advantages:
  • Can be used on all skin types and tones, without risk of hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation
  • Suitable for patients of all ages
  • Mainly used for: skin tightening and lifting, skin re-texturing, body contouring.

• Disadvantages:
  • More painful than a laser or microneedling session
  • The application of deep heat to the skin can cause temporary symptoms that may be amplified by the use of occlusive creams or gels
  • If not performed correctly, RF treatment can cause effects such as involuntary fat loss, loss of elasticity, subdermal trauma or facial swelling
  • It is often necessary to have several RF units to cover different types of treatment

Active Optical Systems RF body contouring unit

Cryolipolysis is a non-invasive technique that destroys fat cells using cold. A cryolipolysis unit has several advantages and disadvantages:

• Advantages:
  • Non-invasive slimming technique
  • Low-pain technique
  • There are two main ways to apply the treatment: 
    • By plate or probe (on average ten sessions of treatment are required)
    • By probe and vacuum (two to three sessions of treatment, three sessions per area per year should not be exceeded)
  • Mainly used for: fat destruction, volume loss, combinable with muscular electrostimulation, etc.

• Disadvantages:
  • The number of sessions on the same area is limited per year
  • The technique only works on adipose cellulite and not on aqueous or fibrous cellulite
  • In order for the treatment to be effective, a minimum volume of bulge is required
  • Some bulges can be tricky to treat, especially if there are a lot of vessels and nerves in them

• This treatment should be avoided in the following cases:
  • Patients who are pregnant or nursing
  • Children and teenagers
  • Patients with diabetes
  • Patients with:
    • Cancer
    • Severe kidney failure
    • Untreated endocrine disorders
    • Major blood circulation disorders with anticoagulant treatment
    • Open wounds, inflammations, injuries, hernias
    • A severe or rare disease in which cold is a triggering factor

Biotec Italia cryolipolysis unit