Systems and methods for creating an effect using microwave energy to specified tissue

A system for the application of microwave energy to skin, comprising:

• a signal generator adapted to generate a microwave signal having an electric field component;
• an applicator comprising one or more microwave antennas and a tissue interface, the applicator connected to the signal generator and adapted to apply the microwave signal to the skin, wherein the microwave signal has an electric field component;
• a tissue chamber adapted to move a skin surface into thermal contact with a cooling plate in the tissue interface, the cooling plate being oriented with respect to the antenna so as to be parallel with the electrical field component of the microwave signal;
• a vacuum source connected to the tissue chamber;
• a coolant source connected to said tissue interface and adapted to cool skin in thermal contact with the tissue interface;
• and
• a controller adapted to control the signal generator, the vacuum source, and the coolant source, wherein the one or more of the microwave antennas is configured to radiate the microwave energy into the skin, the microwave energy having a frequency and electric field orientation which generates a standing wave pattern having a constructive interference peak in a target tissue in the lower portion of the dermal layer of the skin, thereby creating a peak temperature at the target tissue, creating a lesion core;
• wherein the coolant source removes heat from the skin surface and at least an upper portion of the dermal skin layer to prevent the heat from spreading into an upper portion of the dermal skin layer;
• wherein the controller is configured to stop the application of the microwave energy after a predetermined time sufficient to raise the temperature of the tissue structure;
• and
• wherein the microwave signal has a frequency in the range of:
• between about 5 GHz and about 6.5 GHz.