Published 10 October 2026 · Reviewed by Dr Sin Yong
VF Lift – Vertical Figure Lift is the body version of the VF Lift – Vertical Facelift: Dr Sin Yong's firming protocol on CLASSYS Volnewmer 6.78 MHz monopolar radiofrequency, worked along vertical vectors on the abdomen, buttock fold, upper arm and thigh so that skin which has lost recoil is heated along the direction it needs to sit. It heats the dermis and its superficial fascial septa. It does not remove fat (that is the 4K Body Lift) and does not add volume.
Key facts
Platform
CLASSYS Volnewmer, monopolar RF at 6.78 MHz, water-cooled (FDA K240248)
Zones
Abdomen, buttock fold, upper arms, inner and front thighs
For
Skin that has lost recoil on the pinch test: loose, not fat
Not
Fat reduction (4K Body Lift), focused ultrasound, or a surgical lift; marked excess skin after large weight loss is referred
Where VF Lift – Vertical Figure Lift matters on this site
The Vertical Figure Lift is the skin protocol in Dr Sin Yong's body work, so it appears on every body page where the pinch test shows a fold rather than a pocket.
If the skin hangs in a sheet, no radiofrequency will fold it away; I say so at the pinch test, not after.— Dr Sin Yong
Sagging tummy, buttocks and arms: the concern page that runs the three-protocol choice between the Figure Lift, Time Freeze Laser LCLR® and the 4K Body Lift.
Loose skin after weight loss: recoil lost after a large change in weight, and where the line to surgical referral sits.
Every one of these pages starts with the same test: skin that lifts away in a loose fold and returns slowly has lost recoil, and that is the Figure Lift's territory.
Not to be confused with
Body treatments are named for devices, mechanisms and protocols all at once, which is why the Figure Lift is often confused with the following.
4K Body Lift: radiofrequency through insulated needles on Secret DUO, directed at compact fat and the skin over it. The Figure Lift uses no needles and does not target fat.
Time Freeze Laser LCLR®: the laser protocol for laxity over a thin fat layer, and for excess after liposuction or grafting.
HIFEM: electromagnetic muscle stimulation. It contracts muscle and does not heat the dermis; it has no part in the Figure Lift.
HIFU for the body: focused ultrasound. The Figure Lift is monopolar radiofrequency on Volnewmer, the same class as Thermage, and uses no ultrasound.
Onda Pro: microwave energy for localised fat, cellulite and laxity. A different energy and a different target.
Skin retraction: the skin's own ability to shrink over a smaller volume. The Figure Lift is what is considered when retraction has fallen short.
Where the abdomen shows a fold, a pocket and a muscle gap at once, which is common after pregnancy, each is named separately and the protocols are sequenced rather than stacked.
Face and figure: one protocol, two names
On the face the protocol is the VF Lift – Vertical Facelift; on the body the same vertical-vector method becomes the Vertical Figure Lift. The pinch test decides whether it is the right tool: skin that lifts away in a loose fold and returns slowly has lost recoil and suits the Figure Lift; a compact, pinchable fat deposit is treated with the 4K Body Lift; laxity with a thin fat layer is where the Time Freeze Laser LCLR® is used. Full page: VF Lift – Vertical Figure Lift; concern page: sagging tummy, buttocks and arms.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used for abdominal skin that has lost recoil on the pinch test after pregnancy. The muscle gap of diastasis recti is a separate question and is assessed as such, because radiofrequency on the skin does not close it. Timing after delivery and breastfeeding are discussed at the assessment rather than set by a rule.
It is considered for mild to moderate loss of recoil, where the fold lifts away and returns slowly but the skin is not hanging in a sheet. Marked excess skin after a large weight loss is a surgical matter and is referred, and Dr Sin Yong says so at the pinch test rather than after a course of treatment.
No. It firms skin that has lost recoil. Fat is addressed with the 4K Body Lift or other methods, and the two are often sequenced: skin first.
No. It is monopolar radiofrequency on Volnewmer, the same technology class as Thermage; no focused ultrasound is used.
Abdomen, the buttock fold, upper arms and thighs, chosen by where the pinch test shows loss of recoil.
References
Roh H, Lee YI, et al. Monopolar radiofrequency with water cooling versus cryogen cooling: a prospective randomised split-face trial in 22 Asian women. Ann Dermatol. 2025;37(6):397-407. doi:10.5021/ad.25.166. source
US FDA 510(k) summary K240248 — Volnewmer (CLASSYS), 2024: monopolar RF, 6.78 MHz; indication: electrocoagulation and haemostasis of soft tissue; predicate Thermage FLX. source
US FDA 510(k) summary K170758 — Thermage FLX (Solta Medical), 2017: 6.78 MHz; indications include non-invasive treatment of wrinkles and periorbital wrinkles. source
The Landscape of Radiofrequency Technology for Skin Rejuvenation. Health Science Reports, 2025. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
