Objective assessment of facial laxity changes after monopolar radiofrequency treatment by using moire topography

Radiofrequency (RF) has been widely used as a noninvasive technique for skin tightening and rejuvenation. Moire is a type of interference pattern corresponding to the shape of the face. We aimed to objectively evaluate the effect of RF on facial skin laxity using moire. Ten subjects participated and were treated with a monopolar RF on the face. Clinical photographs and moire images were obtained at the baseline and after treatment. The periorbital angle from the upper third of the face, zygomatic length ratio (L1/L2), angle from the middle third, perioral perpendicular length, and angle from the lower third were analyzed. After one session of RF treatment, the mean zygomatic length ratio (L1/L2) from the middle third of the face significantly increased in the 4th week (by 49.68%, P = .047). The L1/L2 ratio increased to nearly one, which were not significant after 8 weeks. The mean perioral perpendicular length decreased to 282.25 +/- 84.069 pixels (px) after 4 weeks, and to 281.38 +/- 76.03 px after 24 weeks; these differences were statistically significant. The parameters of zygomatic length ratio and perioral perpendicular length extracted from illuminated moire images can be useful for objectively assessing various facial tightening treatments in clinical settings.