FAQs
Want to find more about the INDIBA technology? How do the treatments work? Or how to use it with other treatments? The answers to these and more can be found below.
General FAQs
INDIBA is approved by specific country’s regulatory bodies, it is CE marked and FDA approved. INDIBA provides comprehensive training and specialist courses. We are constantly working with leading universities and research centres to ensure we deliver safe and effective technology.
INDIBA invests a lot of resources on researching their technology to ensure the best results. During this research, a team at the highly recognized Spanish University Hospital Ramon y Cajal in Madrid (Dr Ubeda and team) have been looking into what happens to the body’s cells when INDIBA is applied. They have found that INDIBA’s 448kHz frequency is effective at stimulating stem cell proliferation and differentiating them. Normal healthy cells are not injured. It was also tested on certain types of cancer cells in vitro, where it was found that it decreased the number of these cells establishing, but not normal cells, so that it was safe to use in humans and, therefore, on animals as well.
Depending on the reached temperature, different effects are obtained:
- At non-heating intensities, due to the effect of the unique 448kHz current, bio-stimulation occurs. This can help in the early stages of an injury by accelerating the body’s action. It can also help with pain relief and accelerate through the inflammatory pathway.
- At mild temperature increase the main action is vascularization, increasing deep blood flow delivering more oxygen and nutrients for repair. Muscle spasms reduce and there is a reduction in pain. Oedema can be dramatically reduced.
- At high temperatures there is a hyperactivation effect, which increases both deep blood flow volume and intensity (Kumaran & Watson 2017). In aesthetics the high tissue temperature may reduce wrinkles and fine lines as well as improve the appearance of cellulite.
Due to the action on the body of both people and animals we have developed devices that are adapted to be used with people for performance and injury with our Activ devices (AT7 CT8, CT9), and our Animal health devices; Equine (VET905) and small animals (AH100). INDIBA has an aesthetics division for beauty therapists (Deep Beauty) and medical aesthetics (Deep Care), with devices engineered for this specific purpose.
Your therapist will discuss why INDIBA treatment may be of benefit.
During the treatment the therapist will use conductive media on the skin to conduct the current. It is completely painless, they use either a coated electrode called a capacitive which generates more superficial warmth or resistive which is a metal electrode, developing a deeper heat and targeting tissue deeper in the body. This is a pleasant treatment for both humans and animals receiving treatment.
This depends on the type of treatment. Chronic conditions normally need more sessions than acute conditions. It can vary from 2 or 3, to many more. Ask your health professional for more information.
There is no limit; number of sessions will depend on the disorder or condition to treat and its severity. You can have maintenance treatments to prolong the results if you have a chronic problem or you want to benefit from more lasting effects.
There is no limitation, but the amount will depend on the type of treatment, severity and at which state of treatment progress. In early stages sessions this may be very frequent. In most cases it is 1 to 3 sessions a week. In professional sport it can be twice a day! This is different in aesthetics treatment.
This depends on what is being treated. In an acute injury the effects can be immediate, there is often a reduction in pain from the very first session even in chronic conditions.
In aesthetics some treatments, such as the face, can have results by the end of the very first session. With fat reduction results are seen over a couple of weeks, some people report a reduction in a couple of days. Your professional will be measuring your results.
The effects may last for a long time depending on the treatment session features. Often the result lasts longer once you have had a couple of sessions. For chronic Osteoarthritis pain, people have reported the effects lasting up to 3 months (Kumaran and Watson 2019). Also the results of the aesthetic treatments can last up to several months later.
No, it is not painful, in fact is a very pleasant treatment. You should tell the health professional if you feel any discomfort.
INDIBA therapy is innocuous to the body and very pleasant. However very sensitive skin or when very high temperatures are reached there can be some mild redness that will fade quite quickly and/or momentary tingling in the skin. Your health professional should go through this with you.
It is very likely that INDIBA will speed up recovery from injury. This is because of multiple actions on the body at different stages of healing. Bio-stimulation early on helps with the bio-chemical processes going on at a cellular level. When blood flow is increased the nutrients and oxygen it delivers helps healing take place, by introducing heat the bio-chemical reactions can be increased. All these things help the body to do its normal job of healing in a more efficient way and not stall at any stage.
It has been shown to reduce osteoarthritis pain significantly with people able to increase their activity levels.
Lower back pain can be reduced significantly enabling strengthening exercises and improvement in movement.
In the case of pelvic pain, patients have reported a decrease in pain that has lasted a number of weeks in between treatments.
Post-operative pain and swelling can be managed more effectively from the first treatment.
Fibromyalgia patients have had it as part of a biopsychosocial approach to pain management.
INDIBA should be delivered as part of a whole package of treatment including advice and self-management guidance from your therapist.
- Pacemakers or other types of electronic implants.
- Pregnancy.
- Thrombophlebitis.
Devices working at 448 kHz are not contraindicated in the case of metallic implants (hip, knee replacements and metal pins and plates)
There are some instances where INDIBA can be used but your therapist will decide if it is appropriate in the case of the following;
- Infections: do not treat the involved area.
- Anticoagulant medication: ask the doctor in charge.
- Impaired sensation: Apply less output power, close attention to skin colour changes and skin palpation by the therapist to control the local heat.
Find all precautions in the User Manual
INDIBA has 4 different categories, depending on which uses you do that determines who could apply the device. We want to ensure anyone using INDIBA has the appropriate qualifications to enable them to treat others. Please contact your local representative in your country.
We cannot certify the security in a general form, it should be explicitly explained by the manufacturer of the device.
The recommendation is that you do not directly touch the electrode and do not contact the patient with both hands during the treatment. This will avoid some current, even very weak, going through your body.
Yes. INDIBA provides a lot of training to those who are trialing and purchasing a device. Everyone who is using the device should have had training before using it on others to ensure it is used in the correct way and to get the best results.
We have more advanced training as you become familiar with the devices that enable you to specialise. Contact us if you are interested if you wish to know about upcoming training events in your country.
Yes, the presence of a prosthesis is not a contraindication of the treatment as the action of the system does not heat metal. We will therefore work according to the therapeutic objective, with bio-stimulation, vascularisation or hyperactivation.
Yes, of course. The physiotherapist will decide how to perform the treatment and will decide what are the best options for your faster recovery.
Yes, the sooner the treatment is started, the sooner the oedema will be effectively reabsorbed due to the bio-stimulation effect. We recommend waiting 6 hours before applying INDIBA.
Yes, as it will help to accelerate the healing process. The bone is covered by a membrane (periosteum) of connective tissue. This membrane contains blood vessels and nerves that nourish the bones. With the INDIBA technology we are able to increase the vascularization of this area that contains osteogenic cells that transform into osteoblasts that are responsible for increasing bone thickness. The improve of the microcirculation also contributes to provide the basic nutrients need to build bone matrix.
If high temperatures have been used in the injured area during the treatment, you should avoid any excessive training on that day. The area should be left in “semi-rest”. The analgesic effect is very strong, and the injured area could be over-worked without the patient’s awareness.
Pelvic Health
In case of metallic ID, a 448 kHz current is not contraindicated in metal implants. In case of hormonal ID’s direct and sustained hyperthermia on the uterine should be controlled in case it could mean a lack of contraceptive efficacy protection. Ask your health professional for more advice.
You can start with INDIBA within the first week after having a baby to help speed your recovery and reduce pain. Your therapist may start with bio-stimulation first. Although they cannot treat over open wounds your therapist will be able to treat around this until it has closed, like in caesarean sections. INDIBA may help with improving scar formation and ensure it is supple.
Yes you can, the therapist will take some precautions such as limit the use of temperature.
No. INDIBA is not contraindicated if you are following any hormonal therapy. Ask your health professional for more advice.
Not at all, you can be treated while breastfeeding. Just keep in mind to clean the area before breastfeeding your baby as it can be difficult for your baby to grab the nipple.
It is recommended not to use the INDIBA® Proionic® Anticellulite Cream in this case because it has vegetal extract that could be absorbed during the treatment and eliminated through the mother milk.
Of course – INDIBA treatment helps in reducing the symptoms of the patient. The effect of the current will help a lot in case the patient has pain and inflammation. Therefore, it will be your health professional who decides if the patient will need (or not) heat treatment as well.
Yes. Menstruation is not a contraindication in any case. The health professional can work with a patient during the period in any type of treatment, although the patient may feel uncomfortable during the treatment.
However, treatment with INDIBA is completely safe, since it does not affect the hormonal cycle directly. In any case, since there is an increase in metabolism due to the effect of the current, it may be the case that the period is more abundant during the day the treatment is done. If the patient does not feel comfortable being treated at the perineum level (extra or intracavitary), please tell your healthcare professional so that you can address the situation differently.
In case of having any type of sexual dysfunction, either male (erectile dysfunction, Peyronie’s disease , etc..) female (Dyspareunia, vaginismus, etc…) please ask your health professional for more advice.
We can treat rectal dysfunctions such as hemorrhoids and anal fissures. You can start your treatment from the very first moment and have very fast relief. Ask your health professional for more advice.
Yes. INDIBA is effective in the treatment of incontinence, whether urinary or fecal it should be combined with exercises. Your health professional will discuss the combined approach to treating this problem.
Having a transvaginal mesh is not a contraindication if you don’t have complications or symptoms related directly with the use of this materials. Ask your health professional for more advice.
No. It is very effective for women who may feel dry and itchy, the treatment will be mainly focused to restore the vaginal mucosa. Ask your health professional for more advice.
Yes, without problems. After this type of surgery, your healthcare professional may treat you with INDIBA, either treating for the reduction or prevention of scar fibrosis, as well as restoring mucosa and improving the mobility of the area. Ask your health professional for more advice.
No, it’s an absolute contraindication. Even if the patient would like to be treated on her knee during any stage of her pregnancy, any health professional is not allowed to do it.
No, it’s an absolute contraindication. We can only work with removable electronic implants, so if the patient cannot remove or turn off the device, it is a condition of exclusion from treatment with INDIBA.
Not at all. In some cases, the patient may feel uncomfortable during the insertion or disinsertion of the electrode depending on the distensibility of the area being treated. Your health professional will discuss any concerns you have and should gain your informed consent before any internal/external examinations or treatments.
On occasion the patient may be asked to use the pelvic floor muscle while he/she is being treated and notice an increase in thermal sensation. It is completely normal, just tell the health professional so they can adjust the power.
The intracavitary electrode does not necessarily have to be used in all pelvic floor treatments. Depending on the pathology that the patient presents, it will be the health professional who decides the most efficient treatment approach and therefore the type of electrode to use.
Yes. It’s completely safe. In fact, your health professional of choice should combine different techniques in order to be the most effective as possible.
Normally, the health professional can do manual therapy or myofascial techniques while treating with INDIBA at the same time without issues. When working with a different tool or device, it should be with each one separately for the determined amount of time decided.
Aesthetics
There is a special protocol for combined treatments which states how long after the botulinum toxin you should wait for INDIBA to be applied. Ask your health professional.
Yes, providing there is no extreme sensitivity induced by the other treatment techniques and skin has returned to its natural state. Ask you professional for more advice.
Differently to other type of technologies, such as laser, sunbathing is not contraindicated for radiofrequency therapy. But if hyperthermia has been used, it is better to avoid sun exposure.
Yes, you can apply make up after a session. Your therapist may have a specific protocol whereby they apply creams to the face after a session so they may ask you not to. Please ask your professional before your session
Yes. INDIBA can be applied 24 hours before treatment to improve tissue condition and compactation, and inmediately after if there is any side effect (heamatoma, swelling, pain). Depending on the filler we need to wait 2 weeks or a month to continue treating the area. A correct application of INDIBA will not reduce the filler effect.
A thread lift is not a contraindication to use INDIBA. There are specific protocols to improve the results and safety of the application of threads.
Yes, INDIBA can be combined with microneedling sessions. It is recommended to start INDIBA treatment the day before the microneedling procedure, and one week after it. In case of edema, hypersensitivity or hematoma, INDIBA can be applied immediately after.
Yes. We have different protocols to help the cicatricial process and to improve the aesthetic of an old scar as well. We can treat recent scars, which are still in an inflammatory stage, hypertrophic scars, retracted scars and can reduce the development of keloid scars in early stages. Ask your specialist for more advice.
No. INDIBA can be used as a body remodeling treatment because it promotes lipolysis in fat deposits. It can help to show results earlier in those who are working on adopting healthy habits regarding nutrition and sports. Ask your health specialist for a healthy life plan.
Yes. INDIBA can be applied in subthermia after the surgery to reduce the oedema, haematoma and pain associated to the procedure, as well as to produce a bio-stimulation effect and accelerate the recovery. After the acute stage it can be applied to enhance the skin tightening and reduce fibrosis.
There are two types of LipoLaser, one invasive and one non invasive. There is no contraindication to apply INDIBA after the procedure. During the first days the treatment should be in subthermia to stimulate the tissue recovery.
Yes. We can use INDIBA on breast implants in inmediate post-surgery to reduce swelling and pain, and continue in non-acute stages to accelerate tissue recovery and prevent implant incapsulation.
Yes, INDIBA can increase the local blood flow in the scalp having beneficial effects in the hair cycle. It also has a bio-sitmulating effect that promotes the hair growth. Due to the time it takes a hair to grow, the treatments need to be for periods of at least to 2 or 3 months. There is no contraindication to combine INDIBA hair treatments with other pharmacological treatments, like minoxidil.
INDIBA can be applied to prepare the tissue before receiving the transplant. After the implantation, the treatment can be done once there is a full recovery.
Yes. One of the benefits that patients refer from the first session is the relaxing effect of INDIBA. It helps patients to sleep well and feel better.
Yes, INDIBA helps to control the inflammatory process, regulates the production of sebum and promotes the regeneration of the skin. It may produce an apparent “worsening” of the condition in the posterior days after the first session, but it is actually shortening de recovery period and will improve after a few days.
Yes, there is an INDIBA protocol for Rosacea. As it is a pathology that involves an inflammatory process we can reduce this condition and help relieving the congestion. The treatment also improves the vascularisation of the skin, helping to calm the hyperactivation phase of Rosacea.
Yes, there is an INDIBA protocol to combine with mesotherapy sessions. It is recommended to start INDIBA treatment the day before the session, and one week after it (depending on the duration product injected). In case of edema, hypersensitivity or hematoma, INDIBA can be applied immediately after in subthermia.
Yes, INDIBA can be combined with carboxytherapy. It is recommended to start INDIBA treatment at least 72hs after the session.
Yes, INDIBA can be used to speed up the reabsorption of hematomas. In its first stages the treatment in subthermia is recommended.
Animal Health
Yes, please speak with your veterinarian providing INDIBA or contact us for more information.
Yes. INDIBA works in a closed circuit, which means that the current goes all the way from the point of treatment to the receiving plate.
No, they are very relaxed. Some can be a little nervous before the treatment starts but many will show signs of being extremely relaxed by falling asleep as soon as treatment starts
Your professional has been trained to ensure the best results and to limit the risk of a localised burn (this is extremely rare).
If for any reason you think there has been an adverse event, please tell your professional or contact INDIBA directly. We investigate all adverse events thoroughly.
Currently there have been no direct comparison studies. However, we know from the published research that INDIBA penetrates far deeper than laser. Laser is very superficial and is hindered by hair and skin as this absorbs a lot of the energy.
No. Although they fall in the same category of physical modalities (electrotherapy modalities), ultrasound and shockwaves have a different way of delivering the energy and different modes of use. The main practical differences are that they are contraindicated for many parts of the body and in acute conditions. Shockwave is a painful treatment and sedation is required in animal treatments.
No, not at all. Although the hair could provide a less efficient pass of the current. This will pass through as long as the gel and water are used to wet the fur thoroughly. Nonetheless, clipping or shaving the hair may be an option for extremely hairy animals or when the connectivity is limited.
There is no need for sedation for an INDIBA treatment on any animal, as the treatment is very pleasant to them. Your health professional may choose to sedate if he/she feels that there could be a safety risk from the behaviour of the animal (e.g. a horse that is too nervous). Sedation must always be done by a qualified veterinarian.
In general, yes, but depends on the specific sport. INDIBA (referred as diathermy) is a Restricted Supportive Therapies under Art. 1065 of the FEI Veterinary Regulation (14th Edition 2018, effective 1 January 2019), which means it can be used by a certified professional without any other condition other than a written communication to the FEI Committee of the specific event. Events not regulated by the FEI, please consult the specific regulating entity. In canine sports (agility, canicross, sled dog, etc.) please consult the regulating entity of the specific competition.
INDIBA is not contraindicated in cases of skin problems. Nevertheless, as we use topical gel and the current needs to travel through the skin, your health professional will determine the best way to apply the treatment.