High frequency radio waves — An innovative approach to the correction of age-related skin changes: Clinical and immunohistochemical research

Abstract

The aim of investigation was to evaluate the efficiency of high frequency radio wave exposure (4.0 MHz) for the correction of age-related changes of facial skin by studying aspects of its regeneration, on the basis of morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics. Materials and Methods. The study consisted of two parts. The clinical part included an analysis of the results of high frequency radio wave facial rejuvenation (4.0 MHz) (5 procedures: on days 1, 30, 60, and months 6, 12). Immunohistochemical investigation was performed on repeated punch-biopsy specimens of the skin behind the ear, before the exposure, and at 30, 60, 180 and 360 days after a single exposure. Collagen of types 1 and 3, elastin, Ki-67, CD34, SMA, MMP2 and TIMP1 were identified. Results. It was found that the most evident morphological changes after high frequency radio wave exposure occurred in the deeper dermis layers and in the adjacent adipose tissue. Such remodeling of the extracellular matrix of the dermis causes an expansion of the deep dermis layers with the accumulation of collagen of types 1 and 3 with a greater proportional increase in favor of type 1. The key anti-ageing factor of radio wave exposure is considered to be the activation of neoangiogenesis in the dermis, which occurs gradually, reaching its maximum by month 12 after a single exposure.