The present invention improves the
cosmetic appearance of
skin by controllably heating a superficial layer of
skin thereby inducing acute tissue contraction or shrinkage and a wound response leading to the production of biomolecules, all of which result in improved
cosmesis. The invention incorporates a source of radiofrequency electrical energy coupled to coil, with requisite
impedance matching network, thereby resulting in the production of an alternating
magnetic field. When tissue is brought into proximity of the alternating
magnetic field, inductive heating of the tissue results as a consequence of either or both of
dipole formation and oscillation, and
eddy current formation. Optionally, cooling is provided to remove heat from the coil, the source of radiofrequency electrical energy, or the surface of the
skin alone or in combination. The invention exhibits the significant benefits of, among other things, being non-invasive, not requiring electrical contact with the body of the subject, and providing controllable heating only to a
thin layer of tissue.