RF first vs cavitation first in 6 in 1 fat reduction treatments
Our 6 in 1 fat reduction protocol combines multiple technologies, utilizing cavitation first. We teach the protocol in our Body Contouring 6 in 1 Masterclass certification course. It’s the clinically proven protocol we’ve used for many years in our Texas medspas, So you’d think it’d be settled, right? Not so. Recently, one of our former students told us she had a new hire strongly opposed to employing cavitation first. Turns out this new hire was taught to use RF first in a 6 in 1 class provided by a machine manufacturer. In this article we’ll settle this difference of opinion about RF vs cavitation first. We ‘ll explore the 6 in 1 multi-technology machine and its fat reduction treatments. We’ll dive into the 6 in 1 technologies, cavitation, RF, vacuum/LED and lipo laser. Then we’ll point out the fallacies of the machine manufacturer’s ‘RF first’ protocol and explain why our 6 in 1 ‘cavitation first’ protocol remains on top.
You can trust what we say. Here’s why.
- We’re Shannon, an Esthetician, and Kay, an RN/Attorney.
- For the past twenty years, we’ve built medspa businesses, for which we and our team have developed protocols, techniques, systems, tools, blueprints, and more…all of which we share as faculty of Body Contouring Academy.
We’re open to new ideas, so we studied the ‘RF first’ protocol
We are very happy with our ‘cavitation first’ protocol, but we love new ideas and we love to explore new options (like the suggestion that a 6 in 1 fat reduction protocol should start with RF).
We performed research, studied the manufacturer’s videos and closely examined every aspect of the ‘RF first’ protocol taught by the machine manufacturer. We discuss our findings and our conclusions later. But first, let’s lay the foundation.
What is the 6 in 1 cavitation machine?
A 6 in 1 cavitation machine is a multi-technology body contouring machine that houses between three and nine technologies on a single 6 in 1 platform.
There are many variations of the 6 in 1 machine, but most 6 in 1’s house the following technologies:
- Fat Cavitation
- Radiofrequency (RF)
- Vacuum/LED; and
- Lipo Laser
The 6 in 1 machine corrects multiple body issues
Because the 6 in 1 machine houses multiple technologies, it can be used to treat many different body issues.
- Ultrasound Fat Cavitation breaks down and reduces fat.
- Vacuum Therapy assists in lymphatic drainage, eliminating excess fluids and toxins from the body.
- (RF) Radiofrequency tightens and tones the skin.
- LED/Lipo Laser increases collagen and elastin production and can reduce fat.
That’s why our 6 in 1 course includes five different 6 in 1 protocols, to
- Reduce fat - large areas and smaller areas
- Tighten Skin
- Minimize Cellulite
- Reduce Stretch Marks
Our discussion today is limited to 6 in 1 fat reduction protocols and making the decision to use cavitation first or RF first.
Before diving into protocols, let’s first break down each of the technologies.
A breakdown of the most common 6 in 1 technologies
The different technologies that can be delivered via 6 in 1 hand-held applicators
1) Technologies delivered via hand-held applicators
Ultrasound Cavitation
Ultrasound cavitation utilizes sound wave technology to destroy fat cells in the treatment area.
- Produces low frequency sound waves inside the body.
- The vibrations produce a process that ruptures the fat cell membranes.
- When the fat cell membranes rupture, the fat cells release their lipid contents into the surrounding tissue, then die.
- Over the next several weeks, the dead fat cells and other debris produced by the treatment is eliminated from the body via the lymphatic system.
Combination Vacuum/LED Technology
- The combination Vacuum/LED 6 in 1 applicator works synergistically.
- The LED technology creates temporary ‘holes’ in the fat cells, which allows the lipid contents to escape from the fat cells.
- The vacuum technology increases circulation and provides a lymphatic assist for both the blood and lymphatic circulatory system. This assists the body in eliminating the waste, fluids, fats, and toxins.
PRO TIP: Unlike other non-invasive fat reduction technologies, LED technology reduces fat by damaging, but not destroying fat cells.
RF (Radiofrequency) Technology
- Radiofrequency (RF) Technology utilizes wavelengths of energy which produce a controlled heating.
- The amount of energy produced is variable. Most 6 in 1 machines are Level III machines, and as such (for safety), produce energy at a lower end.
- The heat produced by RF technology wavelengths heats the skin’s layers to tighten and tone the skin.
- The massaging action with the RF applicator works to assist the lymphatic flow post fat reduction technology.
PRO TIP: The RF energy levels produced by most Level III 6 in 1 machines is not high enough to penetrate deep into the subcutaneous tissue for fat reduction.
2) Technologies delivered via Static Paddles
LED (Red Light) Technology
- Each paddle emits 635nm - 650nm laser wavelength via several (usually ten) lights.
- The LED paddles use “red light therapy” to reduce fat.
- The LED red light wavelengths create temporary pores in fat cell membranes allowing lipids to escape into the surrounding tissue which must be eliminated by the lymphatic system.
PRO TIP: As with any non-invasive fat reduction treatment, a lymphatic assist treatment should follow the lipo laser treatment.
And overview of the 6 in 1 fat reduction protocols
1) Combination Technology Fat Reduction Protocols
The beauty of the 6 in 1 machine is that you can combine the technologies delivered via hand-held applicators to amplify your results, since
- Cavitation damages fat cells and permanently reduces fat in the treated area.
- Vacuum/LED assists in eliminating the damaged fat cells from the body.
- RF tightens and tones the skin in the treated area.
* This treatment protocol requires an hour time block.
2) Lipo Laser Paddle Fat Reduction Protocols
Or you can use the static Lipo Laser paddles to
- Reduce fat cells and sculpt the body;
- Tone and smooth the skin;
- In a larger treatment area than what can be treated with the hand-held applicators.
* This treatment protocol requires an hour time block.
PRO TIP: We provide two fat reduction protocols in our 6 in 1 course, one using a multi-technology combination of applicators and another using the delivery of Lipo Laser via the paddles.
⇨ Discussion of our Lipo Laser protocol is beyond the scope of this article, but….learn about Lipo Laser here!
Are you curious about all five of our 6 in 1 Protocols?
Take a look at the details of our Body Contouring 6 in 1 Masterclass!
Our proven 6 in 1 combination technology fat reduction protocol
‘cavitation first’
Our 6 in 1 Fat Reduction Protocol
A ‘cavitation first’ protocol
A sequential and systematic combination of fat reducing technologies that (1) liquify unwanted fat, (2) send it out of the body for elimination, and (3) firm and tone the skin in the treatment area.
Treatment time: 44 minutes, with 11 minutes ‘patient time’
Total Appointment Time needed: 55 minutes
Requires a one-hour appointment time block.
- Cavitation first: 20 minutes mechanical massage using the Cavitation handpiece; cavitation destroys fat cells by causing the liquified release of lipids into the interstitial; tissue.
- 4 minutes mechanical massage with the Vacuum/LED handpiece; Vacuum/LED assists the lymphatic system in eliminating the newly released lipids and debris from the body and nourishes the skin cells;
- Next, use the RF handpiece for 20 minutes to continue the lymphatic assist via the mechanical massage of the hand-held RF applicator;
- And to derive the benefits of RF energy to firm and tone the skin.
Compare this ‘cavitation first’ 6 in 1 fat reduction protocol with the ‘RF first’ 6 in 1 fat reduction protocol below.
A sequential and systematic combination of fat reducing technologies that (1) liquify unwanted fat, (2) send it out of the body for elimination, and (3) firm and tone the skin in the treatment area.
Treatment time: 44 minutes, with 11 minutes ‘patient time’
Total Appointment Time needed: 55 minutes
Requires a one-hour appointment time block.
- Cavitation first: 20 minutes mechanical massage using the Cavitation handpiece; cavitation destroys fat cells by causing the liquified release of lipids into the interstitial; tissue.
- 4 minutes mechanical massage with the Vacuum/LED handpiece; Vacuum/LED assists the lymphatic system in eliminating the newly released lipids and debris from the body and nourishes the skin cells;
- Next, use the RF handpiece for 20 minutes to continue the lymphatic assist via the mechanical massage of the hand-held RF applicator;
- And to derive the benefits of RF energy to firm and tone the skin.
Compare this ‘cavitation first’ 6 in 1 fat reduction protocol with the ‘RF first’ 6 in 1 fat reduction protocol below.
Total Treatment time: One hour, 15 minutes (Applicators 55 minutes + Paddles 20 minutes)
Total Appointment Time needed: One hour, 30 minutes
Requires a One-hour + 30 minutes appointment time block.
- Massage the treatment area with oil for 5 minutes. (The purpose for this pretreatment massage is not stated.)
- RF ‘body’ applicator, spend 15 minutes. (Stated purpose: skin toning and firming, not fat reduction)
- Cavitation applicator, spend 20 minutes.(Stated purpose: fat reduction)
- Vacuum/RF applicator, spend 15 minutes.(Stated purpose: skin firming)
- Lipo Laser paddles, spend 20 minutes.
Fallacies of the manufacturer’s 6 in 1 ‘RF first’ protocol: why our ‘cavitation first’ protocol remains on top
Two major fallacies in the manufacturer’s fat reduction 6 in 1 protocol:
- The protocol does not end with a treatment to assist lymphatic detox.
- The protocol requires more than an hour time block.
And a question we have…
- Has the manufacturer’s protocol been proven effective in clinical settings?
Discussion
We admit it. We are pro ‘cavitation first,’ but we’re not opposed to switching the order of technologies, as long as the treatment
(1) can be completed within an hour appointment time block
(2) ends with a lymphatic assist treatment/therapy.
The manufacturer’s ‘RF first’ protocol meets neither of these criteria.
1) The ‘RF first’ protocol requires an hour and a half time block.
- The problem with longer treatment times is this: your time is money. And most of your patients have limited budgets and time.
- You are in business to make a profit. And we’d be willing to bet that most patients will not be willing to pay the increased fees you’d need to charge to cover the extra thirty minutes treatment time…especially when your competitors are not having to cover this extra time.
- And quite frankly, it’s not necessary. Your patients don’t need to spend more time and pay a higher fee since our ‘cavitation first’ 6 in 1 fat reduction treatment can be completed within an hour time block.
2) The ‘RF first’ protocol does not end with a lymphatic assist treatment.
- Even more important than the order of technologies is this: a lymphatic assist technology/therapy must be delivered as the final touch of any fat reduction treatment.
- Non-invasive fat reduction technology destroys fat cells but it’s up to the patient’s lymphatic system to eliminate the fat cells and other debris left behind from the treatments.
- Since modern day lifestyles lead to poorly functioning lymphatic systems, most (if not all) of our patients need our help with lymphatic support.
- The ‘RF first’ protocol does not end with lymphatic support, but rather with a fat reduction treatment.
PRO TIP: Both the 5 minute pretreatment massage and the first RF application of the ‘RF first’ protocol would better serve the patient later in the treatment protocol following the use of the fat reduction technologies (cavitation).
⇨⇨ Finally, we have a question about efficacy.
- Our ‘cavitation first’ 6 in 1 protocol has been proven effective over many years of clinical practice.
- We would want to make sure the manufacturer has adequate clinical records proving the efficacy of their ‘RF first’ protocol
Conclusion
The clinically proven “cavitation first” protocol taught in our Body Contouring 6 in 1 Masterclass remains the most effective, efficient, and profitable method for combination technology fat reduction treatments using the 6 in 1 machine.
With a streamlined one-hour appointment time and an emphasis on lymphatic support, this protocol delivers exceptional results for patients while maximizing your body contouring business success.
Learn more and start mastering this protocol today by enrolling in our 6 in 1 Masterclass!