By In-DERM Skin Clinic, Chelsea
If you’re curious about facial RF skin tightening and want a real look at the before and after, this guide is for you. At In-DERM Skin Clinic in Chelsea, we use medical-grade radiofrequency and aesthetician-led protocols to deliver natural-looking lift, smoother texture, and crisper definition with minimal downtime. Below, we focus on what the camera actually captures over time, who gets the best results, and how to care for your skin so those results last.
What “Before” Typically Looks Like (and Why It’s Noticeable)
Most people come to us because their baseline has changed in subtle ways: the jawline looks softer in selfies, fine lines crease make-up around the mouth, and cheek skin doesn’t bounce back like it used to. In close-up photos you might see a hint of jowling, shallow crepe under the eyes, or makeup that “settles” by mid-afternoon. That’s your before.
What “After” Really Looks Like (By Stage)
Day 0–2: Expect a fresh, “post-facial” glow and a lightly tightened feel. In photos the skin reflects light more evenly, but structural change is minimal. You can usually wear make-up the next day.
Weeks 2–4: Texture looks calmer and make-up sits better. Pores appear a touch more refined, and early fine lines soften. Side-by-sides often show a tidier lip-to-chin line and a cleaner cheek curve in natural daylight.
Weeks 6–12: This is the true after. Collagen remodelling becomes visible: a gentler lift at the jawline, less cheek crepe, and smoother smile lines. The change reads as “refreshed” rather than “done”—friends notice the glow, not the procedure.
Quick take: RF doesn’t yank skin upward; it coaches your collagen to behave like its younger self. The camera catches that as smoother texture and neater contours over weeks, not days.
How RF Skin Tightening Works (Simple, no jargon)
RF sends a controlled warmth into the dermis. Existing collagen contracts a little straight away (the early “held” feeling). Over the next 6–12 weeks, fibroblasts build new collagen and elastin, which is why the most convincing photos are taken later in your series—not after a single session. Because RF leaves the surface intact, downtime stays low.
Who Gets the Best Before & After?
Great candidates usually have mild to moderate laxity: softening along the jaw, fine lines around the mouth, gentle crepe at the cheek/under-eye junction. If you’re pregnant, have a pacemaker or metal in the treatment area, an active infection, or a poorly controlled inflammatory condition, we’ll wait. Darker skin tones are suitable for this treatment.
Your Path from “Before” to “After”
Consultation & photos
We document your baseline in consistent lighting and agree on goals. That photo discipline matters; it helps you see change you might miss day-to-day.
Treatment day
Skin is cleansed; we apply glide gel and keep the handpiece moving. Most people describe the sensation as a warm, gliding massage. A full face takes 30–45 minutes (add time for neck). Expect mild warmth or pinkness for a few hours.
The series
Best outcomes come from 6 sessions, usually spaced 3–4 weeks apart. Think of each session as training: steady, repeated signals encourage stronger collagen architecture. After your course, maintenance every 3–6 months keeps the lift tidy.
What Your Photos Should Capture (so results are obvious)
Keep it simple: same spot, same time of day, indirect daylight, neutral wall. Take front, 45°, and profile angles with hair pulled back and the same expression. Shoot before session 1, before each follow-up, and again 8–12 weeks after your final session. That last set is when the difference really lands.
Aftercare That Protects the “After”
For the first 24–48 hours, cleanse gently, use a soothing, barrier-supporting moisturiser, and avoid very hot classes or saunas. Daily mineral SPF is non-negotiable. From day 3, layer hydration (humectant + emollient). Reintroduce vitamin C in the morning and a retinoid at night if suitable. Avoid over-exfoliation smoothness comes from collagen remodelling, not scrubbing.
Results by Area (What clients usually notice)
- Lower face & jawline: a neater, more supported outline; softer early jowling.
- Cheeks: improved bounce and make-up laydown; less mid-day dullness.
- Peri-oral: subtler feathering; lipstick sits more cleanly.
- Under-eye/cheek junction: gentle firming with careful settings (we keep parameters conservative here).
Stacking Treatments (for a stronger “After”)
We often pair RF on a staggered schedule with microneedling (texture), light peels or enzyme facials (clarity), and LED (calm, recovery support). Your aesthetician will map spacing so the barrier stays happy and results compound rather than collide.
Safety, Comfort & Side Effects
Most people find RF comfortable: warm and relaxing. Short-lived pinkness or mild puffiness can occur, especially in delicate zones; it settles within hours. Rare events like hot spots or post-inflammatory pigmentation are minimised with moving passes, conservative energy, and prep/protection. If you have an active inflammatory flare, we’ll clear it first.
Pricing Guidance (What you’re paying for)
Quotes follow consultation and depend on areas and session count. Many clients choose a full-face series for global tightening, add the neck for continuity, then book maintenance to hold their gains. Your fee covers expert assessment, calibrated energy delivery, medical-grade hygiene, photo tracking, and tailored aftercare the framework behind believable before-and-after results.
FAQs
Is RF skin tightening painful?
No, most describe comfortable warmth. We adjust energy per zone and keep passes moving.
How many sessions will I need?
Usually 3–6+, spaced 3–4 weeks apart, then maintenance every 3–6 months.
When will I see results?
You’ll feel subtly firmer immediately; visible change builds from week 4 and peaks around weeks 8–12 after your series.
Is it safe for darker skin tones?
Yes, with trained providers and the right parameters.
Can I combine RF with microneedling or peels?
Yes, we’ll map timing so benefits add up without irritating the barrier.
Is there downtime?
Minimal mild warmth or pinkness for a few hours; make-up is usually fine the next day.
The Takeaway
A convincing before & after with RF looks like this: a quick glow now, then a steady shift toward smoother texture and neater contours over 6–12 weeks. It’s subtle, cumulative, and natural more “you on a great skin day” than a dramatic change. At In-DERM Skin Clinic in Chelsea, we personalise energy, pacing, and home care so the camera and the mirror show the improvement clearly.
Book Your Consultation
Ready to plan your own before-and-after? Book a consultation at In-DERM Skin Clinic in Chelsea. We’ll document your baseline, design a series that fits your skin and schedule, and guide each step so results build beautifully and last.
