Hello Dr. Irwin! I’m a 58 y.o. who had corrective jaw surgical procedure a few years in the past. It left me with some titanium pins and screws completely within the bone. Am I precluded from doing radio frequency skin-tightening remedies? Or lasers? Thanks in your nice recommendation and useful suggestions! Kathleen
It is a considerably sophisticated matter, however I’ll attempt to distill it into one thing that is smart. Lasers are mild based mostly gadgets and don’t have an effect on steel implants.
Two sorts of RF gadgets
There are two foremost sorts of RF (radiofrequency) gadgets used for aesthetic pores and skin enchancment….. monopolar and bipolar. Why does this even matter to you? It’s as a result of it pertains to the query above. And…it impacts the protection of the gadget for you, if in case you have any steel in your physique that’s everlasting or semi everlasting.
- Monopolar. On this sort a “grounding pad” is used and connected some other place on the physique. Power flows between the gadget “head” and the pad. Whereas it travels by way of the physique, it could actually warmth up any steel that’s close to the vitality circulate. Typically surgical glues are used to assist maintain pins, and plates, and so forth in place. So that you all are good, and we don’t need the warmth to have an effect on the glue or steel and loosen it, maybe inflicting it to fail.
- Bipolar. In these, the 2 “poles” for the RF vitality to move between are each within the therapy head of the gadget, so the vitality is unlikely to journey past the native space of therapy.
What this implies for you?
Backside line is that your physician or “supplier” or it’s best to completely discuss to the corporate who makes the gadget, if there’s any query or confusion. You need an opinion from the medical director for the gadget. Some examples:
- Thermage: This has a grounding pad, so if the grounding pad is on the again and face is being handled, you don’t need steel anyplace close to the top or in between. So for instance, if in case you have a steel hip, and are treating the face, that shouldn’t be an issue.
- Profound: This does not have a grounding pad, so that you don’t need steel implants underneath or close to the realm being handled, however a steel pin within the shoulder might be advantageous.
In abstract, the underside line is examine with the corporate for an opinion, if there’s any query.
Hope this helps,
Dr. Brandith Irwin
