Coblation - an acronym for "cold ablation" - is a technique for skin resurfacing that works by a mechanism entirely different from other techniques. Unlike lasers, which burn the superficial skin layers with a high temperature beam, coblation removes the skin surface layer using radiofrequency(RF) energy that generates significantly less heat resulting in a "gentler" injury that accounts for faster healing and fewer complications as compared with comparable laser treatments.

Even though coblation is the latest innovation for treatment of wrinkles and age spots, this technique has been used for many years in orthopedic surgery, and prior to its introduction for skin resurfacing, data regarding the safety and effectiveness of the coblation technique was submitted to the FDA. The agency has cleared this instrument as being safe and effective for treatment of wrinkles, and it is the only device currently cleared by the FDA for this purpose.