Tripollar STOP V RF skin tightening review

The Tripollar models are small handheld devices that send painless Radio Frequency current into your skin’s dermis layer.  Resistance in your tissues to this RF current creates heat. This heat tightens your collagen fibres, whilst also stimulating your fibroblast activity which gradually remodels the collagen & elastin structures in your skin. After a regular-use start-up schedule, it’s clinically proven to tighten your skin and reduce wrinkles. The increased collagen also firms, plumps and brightens too. Use it with Tripollar or CurrentBody RF prep gel. Learn more about Radio Frequency here.

The Tripollar V and Vx models also have DMA (Dynamic Muscle Activation) mode used around the mouth and along the jaw. This is a like a mini Electro Muscle Stimulation (EMS) pulse working deep on the SMAS layer facial muscles, below the dermis and hypodermis. Tripollar say it strengthens muscles to build tone, and works with the RF enhancing lift and countouring along your jawline. Phew!

What it fixes: Smooths texture, tightens pores, plumps skin reducing fine lines & wrinkles, tightens loose skin around facial contours jowls, chin, jaw & eyes, refreshes for firm, supple, glowing, younger-looking skin.

In this Tripollar Stop RF review:

First impressions

The Tripollar is beautifully packaged in mostly cardboard, with a little plastic to protect the contents. The box is small but robust, and fits in a draw so you can store the device, power cable and gel in it when not in use.

What’s in the box:

• Tripollar device
• Power cable & UK, EU, US plugs
• 50ml tub of preparation gel
• User guide booklet
• Warranty booklet

Tripollar V quality & design

The Tripollar is a small, light-weight, handheld device decorated with pleasing geometric shapes. It stands upright on the protective cap and the design resembles a bottle of expensive perfume. It comes in various colours; black, white, pink and rose-gold (as pictured).

The mains-powered device comes with a 2-metre-long flexible power cord and a choice of mains adaptors. Depending on how close you are to a socket, the cord may be long enough. However, I like to sit on my bed and there’s not quite enough slack, so I use a small extension cable too.

However, it’s a shame that this white cable somewhat spoils the striking look of the device. A black cable to match the black accents would complement the design a little better.

Radio Frequency routine

You can do your routine at any time of the day, but I prefer an unrushed, quiet evening as a relaxing wind-down before sleep. I have a snug set-up in bed (one of my favoutite places), which requires a small power extension cable, and adjustable mirror on a small laptop tray in front of me.

The Tripollar routine is simple enough, although the instructions make it sound more complex than it really is. Work on one side of your neck and face, then repeat on the other. I start on my under-chin and neck, then my jaw, cheek, and under-eye, and finally my forehead.

The gel’s consistency is thick and tacky so the brush helps keep your mitts clean. A headband keeps your hair clean and try not to get the gel in your mouth because it tastes sickly-sweet.  On the plus-side, I love it doesn’t dry out at all, so I happily apply to one entire side of my face and neck to start.

Start LOW until you’re used to the sensation. The aim is to heat your skin in small sections with slow circular motions. Place the electrodes firm against your skin and draw a small circle, then another next to it, both roughly the size of the treatment head. Overlap is fine. Move it slowly – slower than you’d think – and feel the gentle heat build in your skin.

The green light stays on as the RF current flows.  The temperature sensor monitors your skin so soon after you’ll see an orange light too, closely followed by a beep-beep. This means your skin has reached the target temperature. After another slow circle or two, move slowly to the next spot and repeat. If you don’t move, the RF and green light turns off so as not to overheat your skin. So, you must pay attention! Ideally you want to see both the green RF light and orange indicator light for most of your treatment.

TIP: Sometimes that pesky beep just doesn’t come! So, move on if you’ve been circling awhile and the orange light is constant. And keep your eye on that green light. If it flickers on/off your skin is hot enough and you’re wasting time circling the same area! Move on to the small area next to it.

Follow this technique until you’ve warmed all your skin on one side of your face. To make sure I cover all my skin, I like to work in sections (as below), regularly circling over treated areas again to keep up the temperature, and circling over the whole completed section once more before moving on.

To keep your skin nice and warm, as you go, occasionally and slowly swoop over previously warmed areas and sections. Once all areas are warm, slowly glide the electrodes up over your skin for a few minutes more looking for the orange light. It’s quite precise work and it can take a while, depending on the temperature of your skin. I’m meticulous and it takes me around 20 minutes per half neck and face.

Once you’re happy, leave the gel on your skin, then apply more gel to the other side and repeat the routine.

RF & DMA mode for your jawline

Next, use the RF and DMA mode on your jawline for 5 minutes each side. Press the power button again until the indicator lights show one blue light for LOW RF and DMA mode. Press it again for HIGH.

Start on LOW to see how you find the DMA sensation. Slowly glide the electrodes along your jawline area, from chin to ear.

Start at the jaw bone gradually moving up to under the cheek bone. You feel heat from the RF, and the orange light shows as your skin gets up to temperature. Every few seconds, you hear a series of clicks as the electrical DMA energy pulses, then switches off again. Keep going slowly for 5 minutes. Then, repeat on the other side.

Finally, you can remove the gel from your face. It’s a bit slimy, so I prefer to wipe it with a face-cloth then rinse or wash away the residue. It feels lush to drench your skin with a nourishing face mask or serum and moisturiser afterwards.

The DMA mode feels quite different to the soothing RF, so let’s cover this next.

What does it feel like?

First up, the gel is thick and sticky. This is messy to apply with your fingers so a cosmetic brush is best. The advantage of the sticky formula however, is you don’t need a lot and it doesn’t dry out. So, you won’t need to reapply. Make sure your hair doesn’t get stuck in it!

Some users report they break out if the gel stays on too long. So, ensure you wash your face thoroughly after use. There are no added anti-aging skincare benefits from the gel (see the ingredients here).

The RF routine feels soothing and warm on most facial areas. It’s not as pleasant on my forehead where the skin is thinner and the electrodes don’t glide smoothly over my expression lines!

And remember, you must continuously move the electrodes. If not, they create a small area of intense heat. It’s uncomfortable, but if you have normal sensation in your skin you can feel it build so it’s unlikely to cause a burn.

Some areas are harder to cover with the large treatment head too, such as under the eyes and around the nose. Take care, especially under your eyes, but crow’s feet are easy to cover.

You can feel the RF & DMA mode! As it gently clicks, and if you have it on the right spot, you can feel teeny contractions in the muscles around your mouth! It feels a bit zingy and can involuntarily pull your lips when around the side of your mouth. Take care not to zap it on your lips as this is quite a startling sensation. For me, I feel it most around my mouth but I can’t feel it on my jaw area towards my ear. Other users don’t like the sensation at all, so use it on LOW or use it just once a week.

I like how my skin feels after each session. After a sufficient dose of heat, it looks pinky-to-red, and is slightly swollen, but in a good way. It feels warm and invigorated as after a workout, and plumped up. It gradually fades a few hours after your session. And the next morning my skin feels exceptionally smooth and soft.

Effort & results

For all Tripollar RF devices you’ll need an RF session roughly every other day (2 or 3 times per week) for 6 to 8 weeks. So, this start-up routine requires commitment. And more time than advertised too.

Tripollar says you can treat your full face in 20 minutes with the Tripollar V. I’m very precise and want my skin at the optimum temperature as I work, so it takes me 20 minutes per side (including neck). Plus 10 mins for the RF + DMA mode on both jawlines. Phew! That’s around 50 minutes in total. I double-checked the most helpful online reviews and they say it takes around 30 minutes total for their face (but not neck).

But, if you have the time and motivation, it’s a pleasant way to pamper your skin. And you can also do it whilst watching TV (although I find it takes me slightly longer again because I’m not as focused!)

After 6 to 8 weeks, you can then switch to less regular maintenance sessions, weekly or one every two weeks (2 to 4 times per month). These sessions are much easier to fit in, but you must remember to schedule the time with yourself. It’s so easy to skive off (but then see your results fade! 😲)

Although most users feel immediate plumping and smooth skin results from the Tripollar, you must allow at least 6 weeks to see noticeable results. It’s during the first 6 to 8 weeks of concentrated use your collagen and elastin gradually rebuilds to tighten and rejuvenate your skin.

Some users do feel changes in their skin before 6 weeks such as smoothed texture, tightened pores, and brighter skin. Then, wrinkles gradually soften, scars fade, skin plumps and tightens, with best results at 6+ weeks.

For some, their results are a subtle tightening and brightening. For others, a dramatic lifting of the jawline and brows, or plumping of nasolabial lines and wrinkles. Therefore, results vary in significance and by individual. Home beauty tech can give you a healthy-skin “I’m not wearing make-up” confidence boost, but they aren’t overnight miracles!

The negatives

There are a few negatives to consider with the Tripollar V.

First, as mentioned earlier, a full face and neck session takes quite a bit of time to do properly. However, it’s not complicated once you know what you’re doing. And you can do it whilst watching TV.

But if you want a faster option, try the Tripollar Stop X or the lastest Vx models. They give faster sessions because they have larger RF electrodes. Tripollar say you can treat your full face in 12 to 15 mins. So, add a bit more for your neck (and because Tripollar seem over optimistic). Note: the Stop X model doesn’t have the DMA mode.

Second, the shape is not as comfy and ergonomic as other rivals. That’s because you must hold the Tripollar device at a right angle to your skin. This means holding your arm up at an uncomfortable angle, especially on the forehead. Plus, it occasionally obscures your view so you must move your head to various angles to see in the mirror. Thankfully it’s very light so not too tiring. However, I’d prefer an angled treatment head so you can better support your arm, held lower and closer to your body, and easy see where you’re cicrcling on your neck and face. (But I guess that wouldn’t look so pretty).

Some users suggest a cordless design would be better. However, cordless means a heavy rechargeable battery inside and so tiring to use for longer periods of time. Plus, the battery may not last long enough to complete a session. Therefore, with this particular design and length of routine, mains-power is best.

Next, the Tripollar preparation gel is rather expensive at £30 to £39 for 50ml. On the plus side, it lasts aaaages. The 50ml tub/tube lasts way past the start-up schedule if using it 3 times per week. So, it’s pretty good value compared to other device consumables such as Nuface and Ziip. But you do have a cheaper alternative from CurrentBody.com too. You get double the amount (100ml) for £30 (bulk offers available too!). It’s almost identical, super-sticky, and works just as well.

Should I buy the Tripollar Stop V?

Yup. I like this device despite the upfront effort of time-consuming sessions. That’s because you see your best results in 6 to 8 weeks, so there’s no “false summit” where you’re encouraged to keep going to see even better results (ahem, Nuface).

However, I’d like to compare the Tripollar V model to the latest Vx model to see if the increased cost is worth it for the faster sessions. If you’re short on time, I suggest it is as you’re more likely to fit in your sessions and stick with it.

But the maintenance sessions are super easy to fit in with all models. Just remember to pick a quiet evening with a relaxing hour in front of the TV each week to pamper and plump. The results are noticeable too for fresh, bright, tight and healthy skin.

If you need the fastest sessions, look at the latest model Tripollar Stop Vx with its bigger nobbles for faster warming. The Tripollar X model is the same but without the DMA mode. Or try another technology such as one of my fave rivals, the Mira-skin, to plump skin with ultrasound & Hyaluronic Acid.

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Preparation gels