Abstract
BACKGROUND: Skin laxity and age-related aesthetic concerns in the lower eyelid area are common focuses for rejuvenation treatments. Although lower blepharoplasty remains the gold standard, it has associated risks and downtime. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of helium plasma radiofrequency (RF) as a minimally invasive alternative for managing skin laxity in the lower eyelid. METHODS: In this single-center prospective study, 16 subjects were treated with helium plasma RF in the lower eyelid area. Blinded review of before-and-after photographs was conducted at day 180 postprocedure. Key outcomes included change from baseline in the snap-back test, medial canthal laxity test, and lateral canthal laxity test, as well as investigator- and subject-assessed global aesthetic improvement at posttreatment days 30, 90, and 180. On day 180, subjects completed a satisfaction questionnaire. RESULTS: All subjects showed improvement in laxity, with 100% achieving grade 0 in the snap-back test by day 180. Independent photographic review success rate was 53% at day 90 and 33% at day 180 largely due to challenges with photographic consistency. Patient satisfaction was high, with 100% of participants noting improvement; 53.3% (8 of 15) were very satisfied, and 40% (6 of 15) were satisfied. All subjects (100%) indicated they would recommend treatment to their friends and family. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that helium plasma RF is a viable and safe minimally invasive option for improving the aesthetic appearance of the lower eyelid.