0.3–10 MHz
Radiofrequency range
40–43°C
Dermal target temperature
~1% / yr
Collagen lost from the mid-twenties
12 min
Per session
The science
Radiofrequency, explained.
Radiofrequency has been used in dermatology clinics for more than two decades. Here is what it does, why the dermis is the target, and what fractional delivery changes.
The fundamentals
What radiofrequency energy is.
Radiofrequency is electromagnetic energy in the 0.3–10 MHz range. Passed through tissue as an alternating current, it meets natural resistance; that resistance generates controlled heat in the dermis rather than on the surface. Because the effect depends on the water and electrical properties of tissue — not on pigment — it behaves the same way across every skin tone.
Skin structure
Why the dermis is the target.
Skin has three layers. The epidermis is the surface you see. Beneath it, the dermis holds the collagen and elastin that give skin its firmness — collagen alone makes up the majority of the dermis by dry weight. Under that sits the fat layer. From our mid-twenties, collagen production declines by roughly one percent a year; lines, laxity and thinning follow.
Creams act on the surface. Radiofrequency delivers energy to the dermis itself, without disturbing the epidermis above or the fat below.
Mechanism of action
Three phases of skin renewal.
Phase 01
Immediate contraction
As the dermis warms toward 40–43°C, hydrogen bonds within collagen fibers loosen and the fibers contract — a controlled response, not damage.
Phase 02
Fibroblast activation
Over the following days the skin's repair response recruits fibroblasts, the cells that manufacture collagen, and signals them to begin synthesis.
Phase 03
Neocollagenesis
Across weeks four to twelve, new collagen is laid down and matures, and the dermis remodels. Published histology on radiofrequency treatment documents increases in collagen types I and III (El-Domyati et al., J Am Acad Dermatol, 2011).
Fractional technology
Why fractional.
Full-coverage RF heats the whole treatment surface at once. Fractional RF delivers energy through a grid of small points, creating microscopic thermal zones with intact tissue in between. That reservoir of untouched skin speeds recovery, lowers the risk of overheating, and lets the same session deliver more energy where it matters.
How RF compares
Against the alternatives.
Ablative and non-ablative lasers reach the dermis but carry pigment risk on deeper skin tones and days of downtime.
Microcurrent works the muscle beneath the skin; it does not build collagen.
LED acts on the surface layers.
Injectables add volume; they don't change skin quality.
Fractional RF reaches the dermis, suits every skin tone, needs no downtime, and can be done at home.
Safety profile
Designed to be safe for all.
Because radiofrequency isn't absorbed by melanin, it is suitable across Fitzpatrick types I–VI. It is non-ablative — the surface is never broken — and the most common effect is mild, temporary pinkness that resolves within an hour or two. Most people return to their routine immediately.
Consult a healthcare professional before use if you have an active skin condition, a pacemaker or implanted electronic device, or metal implants in the treatment area. Not for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Ready to begin?
Clinic-grade fractional radiofrequency, without the clinic. Twelve minutes. Sixty-day guarantee.
The Sonaveil Eclipse is a cosmetic device intended to improve the appearance of skin firmness and texture. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Clinical studies referenced describe the general effects of radiofrequency documented in peer-reviewed literature, not Sonaveil-specific trials. Individual results vary.