October 19, 2026 | Body Contouring, Facelift, Facial Rejuvenation, Morpheus8™
Will the wand buy you out of a facelift? What I tell patients:
Safe, and Mild, for the Same Reason
Are home radiofrequency devices safe?
“When a patient asks me about home radiofrequency devices, I tell them that they are safe. The main reason being that these devices do not deliver the same energy as medical grade office devices, and do not heat the dermis up to the 40 to 45 degrees Celsius range, which is what actually remodels collagen. This is also the reason why the results are very mild.”
Forty to forty-five degrees. That is the number.
Will a home device cause fat loss over time?
“The fat loss question is a fair one to raise, especially over a long period of time. I tell everyone that the home device may keep the skin looking a little firmer, but it does not replace an office treatment series or a lift.”
A little firmer. That is the whole promise.
What Radiofrequency Does When It Reaches Temperature
“RF, or radiofrequency, uses energy to heat and coagulate the tissues, which contracts the subcutaneous tissue and the skin right away. But it also stimulates your fibroblasts to produce new collagen and elastin over the following weeks and months, so you get an immediate tightening plus a gradual, longer-term improvement.”
Same energy, several devices, picked by body area: Morpheus8 at the med spa, the surgical devices under the skin in the operating room.
“I prefer BodyTite on thinner skin, which is usually in the arms and thighs. I prefer Renuvion J-Plasma in larger areas like the abdomen, the back, the lateral chest wall, and the flanks. I prefer FaceTite in the lower face and neck. And AccuTite around the eyes and nasolabial lines.”
FaceTite, BodyTite, Renuvion J-Plasma:
“Renuvion J-Plasma activates helium plasma and radiofrequency in the subcutaneous layers, making the connective tissue underneath shrink and contract, resulting in skin tightening and a smoother result. The helium plasma is important because it keeps the temperatures cool, which avoids burning.”
Device by device: my radiofrequency skin tightening post; the med-spa side is on swplasticsurgery.com.
| Rung | What it is | Honest expectation |
|---|---|---|
| Home RF device | Consumer wand, below collagen-remodeling temperature | “The results are very mild.” |
| Office RF series | Morpheus8 sessions, or surgical RF stacked with liposuction | “Mild to moderate improvement in skin laxity” |
| Lift | Skin removed, tissue repositioned | Corrects significant sagging |
When the Honest Answer Is a Lift
How does a lift differ from RF?
“The big difference from a surgical lift is that a lift actually cuts out excess skin and repositions the tissues, so it corrects more significant sagging. RF doesn’t remove any skin, it tightens what you have, so it’s best for mild to moderate laxity or for patients who aren’t ready for surgery.”
No device removes skin. Loose neck skin: neck lift. Skin to remove on the face: facelift, numbers in the facelift cost post.
And after major weight loss?
“In the area of GLP-1s, which are Ozempic, tirzepatide, and Retatrutide, small amounts of weight loss cause some skin looseness because of the loss in volume. A lot of times, the tightening effect is done by adding volume, but it can be improved in the early stages with radiofrequency, whether it’s Morpheus8 or something more invasive.”
“Massive weight loss patients will rarely respond to radiofrequency by itself, and although it can still be used, excisional surgery is necessary.”
Who Is a Candidate for Which Rung
Who is a good candidate for RF alone, and who needs surgery?
“Radiofrequency energy is going to work well for mild to moderate cases where the skin is still good quality. By good quality, I mean that the skin has good elasticity and is usually absent of stretch marks. In more severe cases, or when the skin quality cannot give us predictable contracture, then surgical excision is indicated.”
How long do the results last?
“With some of the radiofrequency technologies, we can repeat the treatments for further tightening. And the results that you obtain really are permanent. We create contracture, and we keep going in that timeline from that result. So obviously, as time passes, the skin can begin to lax again, but the actual contracture obtained sets the clock back.”
The exam decides the rung.
The Other Side: What the Reviews Do Not Show
What is the biggest misconception patients pick up from social media?
“I think the biggest misconception is that on social media, practitioners only show their best results. This gives patients a certain expectation which may not actually happen to them.”
Device reviews too. Best case, best light.
Why Choose Dr. Agullo
Dr. Agullo is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery, completed his plastic surgery fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, and serves as Clinical Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. He has been a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for thirteen consecutive years, 2014 through 2026. He has used Renuvion J-Plasma since 2019 and uses it almost every day.
Ready to Talk?
Bring the wand if you like. I will tell you what it can do for your skin and what it cannot.
Call (915) 590-7900, text 1-866-814-0038, or book online at agulloplasticsurgery.com. #StayBeautiful
Find me at @RealDrWorldWide on Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, @Agullo on X, or @AgulloPlasticSurgery on Facebook.
