In our aging population, patients have long been interested in lifting and toning their faces to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, sagging and volume loss, most recently turning to noninvasive treatment options to achieve those results.
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In our aging population, patients have long been interested in lifting and toning their faces to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, sagging and volume loss, most recently turning to noninvasive treatment options to achieve those results.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic popularized onscreen meetings, bringing our faces more sharply into focus, I’ve seen a rise in requests for these kinds of procedures1,2 from women and especially men. The trend is evident across our field, and not surprisingly, the market has responded3,4 with a flood of new nonsurgical treatments.
As a result, I took some time to consider whether my offerings were inclusive enough to answer my patients’ needs. I realized I needed to find a device that would surpass superficial skin rejuvenation and address the multiple signs of aging in a single device, streamlining both the provider and patient experience. I knew that the combination of muscle stimulation and radiofrequency microneedling was gaining popularity in the literature, but had yet to find a tool that combined both modalities. I was also looking for something that was highly delegable and easy to use, had a small footprint and would allow my practice to provide immediate value to a larger portion of my patients.
I wasn’t sure such a solution even existed, but after researching 20 devices and testing 12, I found that through a combination of three technologies merged into one device, triLift fit the bill. I have been able to comprehensively address facial structure, contour and texture using the device's three technologies: Dynamic Muscle Stimulation (DMSt), TriPollar radiofrequency heat and TriFX RF Microneedling. Across four to five weekly, 20- to 30-minute office procedures, the technology safely provides a face lift-like effect5-7 without injections or the burdens of surgery.
While triLift stimulates more dramatic results than traditional microneedling, it is significantly more comfortable and convenient for patients due to its ultrathin RF needles. And despite some skin redness that may last for two or three hours after treatment, it doesn’t necessitate any downtime for patients.
Determining Patient Selection
In the months since, I’ve found triLift to be effective on a wide age range of patients, but especially those between 30 and 45 years old who want to look refreshed without surgery.
For patients opposed to injectables or who don’t like the way fillers change their facial balance, I frequently recommend these treatments as an alternative. However, for those patients open to fillers and Botox, using them in combination with these treatments can reduce the amount needed by tightening and smoothing fine lines and thickening skin for a naturally fuller look.
The device can also be used safely on all skin types, unlike some of the older radiofrequency microneedling devices, which can cause hyperpigmentation in darker skin, allowing me to provide this service to my patients no matter their skin tone.
Across these subsets of patients, I’ve observed significant toning and tightening in most patients after five weeks of treatment, especially along the jawline, chin and upper cheeks, in addition to improvements in skin conditions such as acne scarring, redness and sun damage. As it takes time for collagen to build and tissues to remodel, these differences may become more pronounced two or even six months after treatment.
Feedback from my patients has been extremely positive, with one recently telling me that her nasolabial folds had softened and her face had filled out — without any help from injectables.
Considering the Technology
The combination of these three technologies in one device allows us to treat both the muscle and skin, targeting all three elements of aging: muscle tone, volume loss and wrinkles. Dynamic Muscle Stimulation (DMSt) lifts and tones muscles for a well-defined, lifted look. TriPollar radiofrequency heats the skin to stimulate collagen remodeling and tightens it to combat wrinkles. The third element of the treatment protocol involves TriFX RF Microneedling on the first, third and fifth treatments that can be administered with a variety of ultrathin needle sizes to spark wound healing, which in turn resurfaces and regenerates the skin. This schedule allows tissue the time it needs to recover after microneedling while keeping the muscles consistently stimulated.
Beyond its effectiveness, the device is extremely well tolerated by patients. While older microneedling devices are notoriously painful, even my male patients, who typically have a lower pain threshold, tolerate the microneedling treatments with triLift quite well.
Comfort is certainly a big selling point for patients. They’re able to relax during appointments, although they remain engaged in the process as they feel the device warming their skin and working their muscles. Another aspect of this comfort is the ability to quickly get back to their daily routine, as the treatment doesn’t require any downtime. This comfort is just as meaningful to myself and other practitioners running busy clinics, as patients are less likely to prolong appointments by asking for breaks from needle application, or more disappointingly, to withdraw from treatment altogether.
The triLift trifecta
Like any in-office skin care device, triLift is an investment, but one with the potential to generate excellent, fast returns.
The technology appeals to both my existing and new patients as a noninvasive and safe way to generate a face lift-like effect without downtime. The trifecta of technologies has been particularly helpful to the population of patients I treat, largely young professionals with limited free time, who would find it challenging to seek aesthetic results through standalone services. The short time commitment associated with the procedure fosters swift patient turnover within our practice, which is also highly delegable. The device’s size is another advantage. With a footprint of less than a square foot, the tall, sleek design fits well within my urban Los Angeles facility, where space is at a premium — and, if needed, can be transferred from one room in the clinic to another.
A learning curve is involved, as with all new devices, and operating triLift involves specific hand motions and foot pedal coordination. Ultimately, though, the device is not difficult to use, and has quickly become a high-demand, revenue-building service for us. The combination of these three technologies in a single device has allowed us to provide the lifting effect of a facelift without the downsides of traditional facelift surgery.
References:
- 2023-2030 Microneedling Devices Market: Growing Trends Report. MarketWatch. Published April 28, 2023. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/2023-2030-microneedling-devices-market-growing-trends-report-2023-04-28.
- Globally, the Non-Invasive Aesthetic Treatment Market is expected to reach US$ 19.94 Billion in 2028. GlobeNewswire by notified. Published November 30, 2022. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://tinyurl.com/49u6sxma.
- Anti-aging Products Services and Devices Market Outlook (2023 to 2033). Future Marketing Insights. Published December 2022. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://tinyurl.com/2p9arbrv.
- Brien C. The innovative treatments you could be booking in 2023. Etre Vous. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://tinyurl.com/mweyhu38.
- Potekaev N, Zhukova O. Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy of the Maximus System for Facial Wrinkles. JCDSA. 2013; Vol. 3: 151-156. doi:10.4236/jcdsa.2013.32024.
- Boisnic S, Branchet MC. Ex-vivo study of hybrid energy technology using a human skin model. Eur J Dermatol. 2014;24(1):46-52. Doi:10.1684/ejd.2013.2233.
- Kaplan H, Gat A. Clinical and histopathological results following TriPollar radiofrequency skin treatments. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2009;11: 78–84. doi: 10.1080/14764170902846227.
Lori Aliksanian, MD, CWSP, heads up MedBeautyLA, the only physician-owned med spa in downtown Los Angeles, California. A wound care specialist, she uses her knowledge and expertise in skin healing to maximize custom treatment plans for every client, focusing primarily on nonsurgical anti-aging treatments. Dr. Aliksanian holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine and earned her medical degree at Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica, Windward Islands. She completed an internship in general surgery at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, then returned to Los Angeles for a residency in general surgery at Harbor-UCLA and a fellowship in wound reconstructive surgery at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center.
