TriPollar: What You Need to Know

Written byKali SwensonUpdated on June 13, 2023
You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.
Written byKali SwensonUpdated on June 13, 2023
You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.

Fast facts

73% Worth It rating based on 15 reviews

No downtime

No anesthesia

Suitable for all skin tones


TriPollar (Page Image)
TriPollar (Page Image)

The TriPollar family of radiofrequency energy devices is intended to firm and tone your skin. 

Their radiofrequency energy gently heats the skin’s superficial layers and deeper subcutaneous tissue, tightening existing collagen fibers and stimulating the production of new collagen and elastin for smoother, more supple skin.

The TriPollar Apollo device is cleared by the FDA to treat wrinkles. Doctors also use it to tighten sagging skin along the jawline and under the chin. On the body, TriPollar Apollo can shrink fat cells and temporarily improve the look of cellulite. All TriPollar treatments are safe for all skin tones and types.

Lower wattage TriPollar devices are safe for at-home use. “These home devices are designed to maintain the results achieved by the professional medical device TriPollar Apollo,” says Dr. Mary Hurley, a dermatologist in Dallas, in a RealSelf Q&A.

  • Stop, the manufacturer’s original radiofrequency energy device for home use, heats both superficial and deep layers of the dermis, to regenerate collagen.
  • Stop X, the latest generation of TriPollar home devices, emits multiple waves of radiofrequency, to evenly heat all layers of the dermis.
  • Stop V combines radiofrequency with dynamic muscle activation that stimulates muscle contractions, to tone and lift the face.
  • Stop Eye has a narrow tip, designed for the delicate skin around the eyes and lips.
  • Pose treats the abdomen and butt, to reduce circumference and improve the appearance of cellulite.

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Pros

  • The treatment targets both superficial skin and the deeper tissue, tightening skin and shrinking fat cells.
  • The in-office treatment is pain-free and involves no downtime. 
  • At-home devices can extend the benefits of in-office treatments.

Cons

  • Up to eight in-office sessions are suggested for optimum results—so the cost can add up.
  • Because of their low wattage, at-home devices don’t deliver major results beyond maintenance of in-office treatment results.

Each treatment lasts up to 45 minutes, depending on the size of the area that’s being treated.  

Three large electrodes on the machine’s handpiece deliver radiofrequency energy to the targeted area. This should feel warm, with no pain and little to no discomfort. 

You’ll be able to resume your routine immediately after your treatment, with no downtime.

You’ll need up to eight in-office sessions, spaced a week apart, for best results. (The minimum time between treatments should be four days; the maximum should be two weeks.) Maintenance treatments are recommended every three to six months, though using an at-home device could give your results more longevity.

You may see some mild tightening of the skin right away (because the heat contracts existing collagen fibers), with more significant results in the coming weeks and months, as new collagen is produced.

"The treatment results in contraction of existing collagen fibers and in production of new collagen at an accelerated pace, by stimulating the fibroblast cells,” says Dr. Hurley in a RealSelf Q&A. “Given that collagen stimulation takes time, patient results typically continue to improve over the three months after a treatment course is completed.”

Before using your at-home device, cleanse and dry your skin. Then apply a thin, even layer of the preparation gel or balm that came with your device. The gel helps safely transfer heat from the device to your skin.

If your device has multiple power levels, start with the lowest and work your way up as you get used to the heat.

Press the device’s electrode tip to your skin and slowly glide it across the treatment area in a circular pattern, keeping it in contact with your skin the whole time. As the device is warming your skin, keep it moving to avoid overheating any one spot.

After you’ve treated the full area, wipe away the treatment gel and apply a soothing moisturizer. Your skin may be slightly red for an hour or two afterward.

While TriPollar is considered safe, it shouldn’t be used near pacemakers, dental implants, or other metal devices inside the body, since radiofrequency can cause them to malfunction.

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Updated June 13, 2023

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