Overview
The authors tested whether a single treatment with a nonablative radiofrequency device (ThermaCool TC, Thermage) safely tightens skin around the eyes. 86 subjects at several centers were treated once and followed for 6 months. Results were scored from blinded photographs, by treating physicians, and by the subjects.
Findings
- 86 subjects; one treatment; 6-month follow-up; multicenter.
- Blinded photo scoring: Fitzpatrick wrinkle score improved at least 1 point in 83.2% (99/119) of treated periorbital areas.
- Treating physicians, without pre-treatment photos, noted improvement in 28.9% (48/166) of treatment areas.
- 50% (41/82) of subjects were satisfied or very satisfied with wrinkle reduction.
- 61.5% (40/65) of eyebrows lifted at least 0.5 mm on photo analysis.
- Swelling and redness were very low in rate and duration compared with ablative procedures.
- Second-degree burns: 0.36% (21 per 5,858 RF applications).
- 3 patients had small areas of scarring remaining at 6 months.
What it means for a patient
- A single radiofrequency treatment produced measurable changes: a brow lift of at least 0.5 mm in 61.5% of brows.
- Only half of subjects were satisfied, and physicians saw improvement in fewer than a third of areas without photos to compare.
- Burns were rare, but 3 people had small scars at 6 months.
- This study did not compare the device with surgery or with an untreated group.
Why this paper matters
It gave early multicenter data on nonablative radiofrequency skin tightening around the eyes, with photo, physician and patient ratings and burn rates. The authors attribute the effect to heat-induced early tightening followed by further tightening during wound healing. Cited 238 times (NIH iCite, 2026-09-25).
Terms
- Radiofrequency (RF): energy that heats the deeper skin to tighten it.
- Nonablative: a treatment that heats skin without removing its surface.
- Periorbital: the area around the eyes.
- Fitzpatrick wrinkle score: a scale for grading wrinkle severity.
- Blinded photographs: photos scored by reviewers who do not know which are before or after.
- Edema: swelling.
- Erythema: redness of the skin.
- Second-degree burn: a burn that damages the outer and part of the deeper skin layer, often with blisters.