Patent ID: 8103355

Claim:
A system for thermal fat destruction and skin tightening in comprising: (a) an internal RF electrode comprising a handle, a cannula shaft extending from the handle and comprising a dielectric material, the shaft being insertable inside a body at a treatment area, and an electrode tip positioned on the cannula at a location distal to the handle, the electrode tip comprising a RF conductive material; (b) an external electrode comprising a RF conductive element, the element being positionable on a skin surface above the treatment area of the internal electrode and having larger conductive area than internal electrode; (c) a RF generator connected to the internal and external electrodes, the RF generator for delivering RF energy to the internal electrode at the level sufficient to destroy adipose tissue in vicinity of the electrode tip and to the external electrode at a level sufficient to heat the skin below second electrode to a sub-necrotic level.