Profound Radio frequency treatment: What happens if I don't ice it afterwards?

Question

Hello, I am considering getting Profound RF on my face. Searching online, it seems that doctors recommend icing the treated areas afterwards. Because I am having some arthiritic hand problems, icing the face constantly isn't practical. I don't really want to wait until after my fingers ache resolve to do Profound, because not sure when that'd be. I'd like to know what will happen if I do the Profound but not ice it much or at all? What's the worst case scenario? Thank you

Ali Sajjadian, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi,
You did not need to put ice on the treated area after Profound. The swelling is a normal reaction  of skin after profound. it stays for a few days and it will be resolved by itself.

Best regards,

Dr Ali Sajjadian

Michael A. Persky, MD · Answer

Hi R,

No problem, you will heal just the same after your Profound RF rejuvenation treatment, your swelling may take a day or two more to come down.  Good luck and be well.

Dr. P

Jeff Rapaport, MD · Answer

The Downside of not icing is that swelling can last 3 to 7 days. An alternative would be a low-dose steroid pack.

Jeff Rapaport MD FAAD
Realself Verified All-star

Edward I. Lee, MD · Answer

Our clinic performs a lot of Profound RF and we do recommend icing post procedure to reduce inflammation from this heat based procedure. If you do not ice post procedure, it will most likely increase your healing time and swelling. 
My recommendation is to find a provider that offers a "jaw-bra" to be used post procedure. The jaw bra is compression for the lower face and neck that we give to all of our Profound RF patients. Because you have arthritis and are affected by the cold, you could ice without using your hands with this garment. You could place ice inside the jaw bra and secure it without having to hold it in place. It is necessary to protect your skin with gauze placed under the ice in order to not cause local freezing of the tissue. Recommendations for icing are 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off.

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Profound Radio frequency treatment: What happens if I don't ice it afterwards?

Answers (4)

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