BOSTON Monopolar radiofrequency energy delivered to the eyelids through a shallow treatment tip is an effective noninvasive option for rejuvenating both upper and lower eyelid skin, Dr. Brian S. Biesman said at the annual meeting of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.
In a multicenter clinical trial, Dr. Biesman, who is in private practice in Nashville, Tenn., and his colleagues evaluated the efficacy of the ThermaCool radiofrequency system from Thermage outfitted with the newly designed shallow tip for tightening the eyelid skin of 72 patients ranging in age from 23 to 58 years.
Of the 72 patients treated at four medical centers, 64 underwent treatment of both upper and lower eyelids, 7 underwent upper eyelid treatment only, and 1 underwent only lower eyelid treatment. All of the patients were evaluated at 1 hour, 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months after treatment.
Based on physician assessment at the 6-month follow up, significant reductions in both upper eyelid hooding and skin tightening were noted in, respectively, 86% and 88% of the patients who underwent the procedure. The physicians reported lower eyelid tightening in 83% of the patients who had the procedure done.
In terms of adverse events, two patients at one center sustained burns that resolved without problem, and there were no ocular injuries.
The key to the "impressive results after only one treatment," said Dr. Biesman, was the shallow tip delivery device that he and his colleagues previously tested in a series of animal and experimental models.
The standard Thermage treatment tip is 1 cm by 1 cm. "The center heating zone [with that tip] is too far beneath the skin's surface to be safely used on the thin skin of an eyelid," Dr. Biesman noted.
The new shallow tip, at 0.5 cm by 0.5 cm, is a quarter of the size of the standard tip, which results in a treatment area of 0.25 cm
"By using a smaller electrode, the treatment is done more superficially," he said. "In the eyelid area, this means impacting the dermis without injuring the epidermis or the eyelid muscle."
The results of this trial suggest that the ThermaCool TC device with the shallow treatment tip is a viable option for eyelid tightening.
"The obvious benefits are that the procedure is quick, painless, and requires no anesthesia or downtime," Dr. Beisman commented.
Dr. Beisman reported receiving consulting fees, a research grant, and honoraria from Thermage.