What is Pelleve?

Pelleve is a procedure which represents the most significant advance in non-surgical skin tightening available. Pelleve uses continuous high frequency radio wave energy,(RF) to generate heat in the skin to cause it to contract. Aging and sun damage cause the collagen in the skin to become less dense and less tightly bound. Fibrous bands that hold your skin firmly to the muscle also weaken causing the skin to lose definition and eventually sag. Heating the collagen to a point that it can release and re-contract results in skin tightening.

How does it work?

By delivering constant gradual energy, heat is built up in the deep skin where skin and the fat layer come together. The heat increasing toward the surface denatures(melts) the collagen protien bundles causing them to contract horizontally which makes the skin more dense and tight. Heat increasing in the deeper layer contracts fibrous bands that run through the fat layer and pull the skin closer to the underlying muscle giving vertical contraction as a “shrink wrap” effect. The skin is then rapidly cooled to force further immediate contraction. The key is to give the amount of energy it takes to trigger maximal contraction for each individual patient, not in a predetermined fixed dose of pulses.

Does Pelleve burn the skin?

There is no surface burn because a nutrient enriched cooling gel is applied to the skin throughout the procedure. This gel keeps the surface, epidermis, cooler than the deep dermis where the heat is concentrated. At the same time the energy is driving nutrients such as hyaluronic acid, DMAE, phospholipid and other nutrients important to skin rejuvenation, into the skin as the hydrating gel is absorbed.  In the deeper tissue, a controlled thermal injury gradually and painlessly raises the temperature to the point collagen can denature and contract.

 If I need filler why should I get the area treated with heat?

Anyone needing filler for a wrinkle line, crease, or groove that is visible at rest has lost enough skin integrity, firmness, thickness, and elasticity to need it replenished. Nasolabial folds, glabellar lines and marionette lines can be reduced to a shallow softer groove by reducing the thickness of the high side of the fold. Crow’s feet can be softened by flattening the high ridges and firming the low areas of the creases. In overall volume restoration with Sculptra® or Radiesse® the sub-dermal plane that is being filled is compressed with the “shrink wrap” effect of skin contraction and allows for firmer results with less filler needed. Dr. Stampar always heats first then uses the appropriate filler. Pelleve can actually “iron” away wrinkles.

What if I already have had filler or a facelift?
What about colored skin?

Tests show no harm in heating over fillers currently available. Pelleve is blind to skin type and color because there is no wound at the surface to heal. Care is taken to not heat directly over permanent make-up because artificial pigments can affected. In dr. Stampars hands, there are no medical contraindications to Pelleve so many patients who cannot have a surgical procedure can benefit from non-surgical skin tightening.