Frank Konstantin, Kaye Kai O, Casabona Gabriela, Glaue Emily, Zeng Rui, Moellhoff Nicholas, Brebant Vanessa, Prantl Lukas, Alfertshofer Michael, Cotofana Sebastian
Aesthet Surg J. 2025 Apr 16;45(5):525-530. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjaf009.
Effects of upper facial aging can present as static forehead and periorbital rhytids as well as soft tissue volume loss. The latter can occur in conjunction with bony changes of the calvarial eyebrow and eyelid ptosis. Injection-based treatments can yield positive outcomes but are not free of procedural risks.
The goal of this study was to assess the clinical outcome of synchronized radiofrequency (RF) and high-intensity facial electrical stimulation (HIFES) when targeting the upper face, with special focus on effects on the musculature, subcutaneous fatty layer, and eyebrow position.
This nonrandomized, prospective study included 37 patients with a mean age of 45.46 years and a mean BMI of 21.84 kg/m2. Patients received 4 synchronized RF and HIFES treatments spaced 7 days apart. Efficacy measurements were taken at 4, 16, and 24 weeks posttreatment with 3-dimensional surface imaging, surface electromyography (EMG), and high-resolution facial ultrasound.
Forehead and lateral canthal line severity showed statistically significant improvement at each follow-up visit when compared to baseline, all P < .001. At week 24, the position of the medial/central/lateral eyebrow increased by 3.18/3.02/2.27 mm, respectively, when compared to baseline, with P < .001. At week 24, no statistically significant changes were observed in the thickness of frontalis muscle or the overlying fatty layer.
The application of synchronized RF and HIFES to the frontal region reduced frontal and lateral canthal rhytids and elevated the position of the eyebrow until week 24 after the initial treatment. Based on the results obtained, this noninvasive energy-based treatment option may be a viable alternative to injectable treatments of the upper face when trying to ameliorate the signs of upper facial aging.
面部上半部分衰老的影响可表现为前额和眶周静态皱纹以及软组织容量丧失。后者可能与颅骨眉部的骨质变化和眼睑下垂同时发生。基于注射的治疗方法可能会产生积极效果，但并非没有操作风险。
本研究的目的是评估同步射频（RF）和高强度面部电刺激（HIFES）针对面部上半部分的临床效果，特别关注对肌肉组织、皮下脂肪层和眉毛位置的影响。
这项非随机前瞻性研究纳入了37名患者，平均年龄为45.46岁，平均体重指数为21.84kg/m²。患者接受了4次同步RF和HIFES治疗，每次治疗间隔7天。在治疗后4周、16周和24周，采用三维表面成像、表面肌电图（EMG）和高分辨率面部超声进行疗效测量。
与基线相比，每次随访时前额和外眦纹严重程度均有统计学显著改善，所有P < 0.001。在第24周时，与基线相比，内侧/中央/外侧眉毛位置分别增加了3.18/3.02/2.27mm，P < 0.001。在第24周时，额肌厚度或其上方脂肪层厚度未观察到统计学显著变化。
在额部区域应用同步RF和HIFES可减少前额和外眦皱纹，并在初次治疗后24周内提升眉毛位置。基于获得的结果，当试图改善面部上半部分衰老迹象时，这种基于能量的非侵入性治疗方法可能是面部上半部分注射治疗的可行替代方案。
