What is the name of the cosmetic procedure that uses radiofrequency to tighten skin?

The cosmetic procedure that uses radiofrequency to tighten skin is called radiofrequency skin tightening. It is an aesthetic technique that delivers radiofrequency, or RF, energy into tissue to produce controlled heating and encourage remodeling associated with firmer-looking skin.

RF devices may be monopolar, bipolar, or use other electrode arrangements that affect how deeply energy travels. Treatments can be noninvasive or minimally invasive, including microneedle RF. The heat is intended to stimulate new collagen and elastin production and improve the appearance of lax skin, fine lines, and wrinkles.

The concept belongs to a broader history of medical radiofrequency use. In the late nineteenth century, Jacques-Arsène d’Arsonval studied how high-frequency currents could warm the body without producing the same muscle stimulation as lower-frequency electricity. Modern cosmetic systems adapted controlled RF heating for dermatologic and body-contouring applications.

Radiofrequency skin tightening is not the same as laser tightening, which uses light, or Ultherapy, which uses focused ultrasound. Brand names such as Thermage describe particular devices or treatments, not the general procedure name.