Radiofrequency microneedling is a cosmetic procedure using tiny needles and radiofrequency waves to rejuvenate facial skin. For tightening and refreshing the skin, RF microneedling – sometimes referred to as fractional radiofrequency microneedling, is fast becoming one of the most talked-about tweakments on the market due to its low downtime and impressive results.
Radiofrequency microneedling brings together the two technologies of radiofrequency (with its skin tightening benefits) and microneedling (with its collagen-boosting, skin-smoothing and rejuvenating benefits) into one powerful treatment.
You will see the best results after a course of 3-6 treatments.
RF microneedling delivers radiofrequency energy into the skin through microneedles of varying lengths, which have been insulated, so that the RF energy emerges just at their tips.
Both radiofrequency and microneedling do very similar things, namely boosting collagen and elastin production in the skin.
Radiofrequency: a type of energy derived from radio waves, delivers heat into the deep layers of the skin, stimulating the body’s cellular responses, helping to tighten existing elastin and collagen and, over time, boosting new collagen.
Microneedling: Also known as collagen induction therapy, creates tiny holes or micro-wounds in the skin to stimulate the body’s wound healing response, stimulating growth factors and collagen production, resulting in tightening and boosting of new and existing collagen and elastin and helping to address surface skin and textural problems such as acne scars, large pores, stretch marks and wrinkles.
RF Microneedling is not comfortable, and therefore will need numbing cream beforehand to reduce discomfort as much as possible.
Radiofrequency microneedling treatment can have side effects. It is using both heat and needles, so there is the potential for things to go wrong, albeit very rarely.
Side effects can include:
Bleeding, Redness, Bruising, Itching, Herpes/cold sore breakout, Dryness, Pin prick marks on the skin
Your skin will feel warm and look red after treatment.
This redness will calm down over the next day or two, and will look like a fading sunburn. Your skin will start to feel a little rough as it heals, as the channels of damage in the skin will be healing, creating new collagen and pushing out the old, dead skin cells on the surface.
As the new skin comes through, it will leave the surface of the skin smoother, firmer and tighter. Peak collagen production is at 3 - 4 weeks following treatment, though you may see results continuing to improve for up to 6 weeks
The effects of radiofrequency microneedling treatment should be long-lasting – usually up to a year – however this depends on your own baseline (the quality of your skin before treatment) and your lifestyle factors i.e. how you look after your skin post treatment and whether you drink/smoke/eat an unhealthy diet or sunbathe.
You will typically need around 3-4 treatments at regular 3 - 8 week intervals, allowing your skin to heal between treatments. It can take three to six months to see final results, with occasional maintenance treatments recommended to preserve the effects as long as possible.
