Patent ID: 8273080

Claim:
A method for cosmetically treating skin by maximizing a treatment lesion in a dermal layer of tissue by applying energy to the dermal layer of tissue located beneath an epidermal layer of tissue, the method comprising: providing an energy transfer unit comprising a plurality of electrodes each having an active area, the plurality of electrodes advanceable from the energy transfer unit at a fixed angle relative to a tissue engaging surface; advancing the plurality of electrodes into the epidermal layer and into the dermal layer by a uniform depth and at the fixed angle relative to the tissue engaging surface such that the active area of the electrodes extends at the oblique angle through the dermal layer; applying energy to the active region to create the treatment lesion, where a length of the treatment lesion along the active area in the dermal layer is larger than if the plurality of electrodes were advanced perpendicular to the epidermal layer; and placing a portion of the epidermal layer in traction by moving the portion of the epidermal layer in a direction away from the electrodes prior to advancing electrodes through the surface tissue.