Radio frequency treatment at CoLaz

Radio frequency, RF, is an electromagnetic energy delivered through a handpiece into the skin. As the energy passes through the tissue, it generates controlled heat at a target depth in the dermis. This heat does two things: it causes the existing collagen fibres to contract immediately, giving a subtle tightening you can sometimes see in the chair, and it triggers fibroblasts to produce fresh collagen over the following weeks. The result is firmer, more elastic skin that builds across a course of sessions.

Both treatments use energy to heat deeper skin layers and trigger collagen remodelling, but they reach different depths. HIFU uses focused ultrasound to deliver intense energy at a precise depth, typically the SMAS layer, in a single more aggressive session that gives stronger lift but with more discomfort and a longer build time. RF uses a gentler, more diffuse heat that reaches the dermis across a course of six to eight sessions. RF suits patients wanting an ongoing maintenance approach; HIFU suits patients wanting a once-a-year reset.

RF is one of the most comfortable energy treatments on the menu. Most patients describe it as a warm, relaxing sensation similar to a hot stone massage, with no sharpness or sting. The handpiece is moved continuously across the area to maintain a target temperature without overheating any single point. No numbing is needed; many patients find the session enjoyable rather than uncomfortable.

A standard course is six to eight sessions spaced one to two weeks apart. Most patients see a subtle tightening from the first session and a more noticeable improvement at the third or fourth. The full result builds across the course as new collagen matures, with the strongest improvement visible four to six weeks after the final session. Maintenance every four to six weeks once the initial course is complete is recommended to preserve the result.

There is essentially no downtime. The skin is mildly red and warm for a few hours after the session, similar to a brisk walk in cold weather, and settles by the next day. Makeup and normal skincare can be resumed the same day; exercise the same day is fine. Saunas, steam rooms and sunbeds are off the table for twenty-four hours but otherwise there are no restrictions.

We do not treat patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, who have an implanted electrical device (pacemakers, defibrillators) or metallic implants in the treatment area, who have an active skin infection in the area, who have severe rosacea or melasma where the heat may flare the condition, or who are on photosensitising medication. Medical history is reviewed at consultation and treatment is adjusted or declined where appropriate.

A single radio frequency session is £65. A course of six is £380, working out at approximately £63 per session, the protocol most patients choose because RF builds with cumulative sessions. Single sessions are popular as a pre-event tightening top-up. Pricing is for the face; treatment of the neck, jawline or other areas is confirmed at consultation.