Secret RF Microneedling is the latest anti-aging technology that safely and effectively returns your skin to a more youthful and radiant state. RF Microneedling is one of the most effective skin-tightening treatments to improve fine lines and wrinkles, especially around the eyes, mouth and cheeks. RF Microneedling also reduces pore size, acne scars and stretch marks.
How does Secret RF Microneedling work?
Secret RF Microneedling uses ultrafine needles that gently puncture your skin and deliver RF energy. As your skin heals from these wounds, your body’s collagen production soars, resulting in firmer, more youthful-looking skin.
The Secret RF Microneedling device uses disposable 10 or 25 microscopic needle tips that attach to the end of the handpiece. The tips gently puncture the skin’s surface at various predetermined depths.
By delivering precisely controlled RF energy deep into the skin, there’s no risk of over-heating or burning. The majority of the energy reaches collagen fibers in the mid-level dermis. RF Microneedling targets the skin’s underlying support system and restructures areas damaged by aging, acne scarring or stretch marks. By rebuilding the skin’s support system, the top-most layer of the skin appears smooth and strong, with long-lasting effects.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnt37fJOD88
How are RF Microneedling and traditional microneedling different?
Traditional microneedling uses a hand-held mechanical device with sterile ultra-fine disposable needle tips to create micro-injuries to the skin. This stimulates the body’s own healing response and initiates collagen and elastin production. Applying serums or platelet rich plasma (PRP), during the treatment allows for deeper and more effective penetration of nutrients and growth factors through the microchannels created in the skin.
RF Microneedling adds the element of radiofrequency energy to the traditional microneedling procedure. RF Microneedling gives you the benefits of traditional microneedling, plus skin tightening and additional collagen and elastin production. The RF energy delivered deep into the skin produces a faster, more dramatic results over traditional micro needling devices.
What is radiofrequency (RF) technology?
RF is essentially electrical energy. In aesthetic medicine, RF technology is used to gently and safely heat the skin. Heating the dermis to approximately 60 degrees Celsius initiates new collagen and elastin formation to visibly tighten the skin.
Most radiofrequency technologies use monopolar or bipolar polarity. In monopolar devices, a grounding pad must be applied to the patient. Secret RF is bipolar, meaning the electrical energy is conducted between the electrodes and does not require a grounding pad.
RF devices are also classified as nonablative, sublative and ablative, depending on whether the RF technology injures the top layers of the skin. Secret RF device is fractional.
What are the benefits of fractional RF technology?
Secret RF uses a fractional RF technology to help minimize downtime and maximize results. The percentage of skin treated is adjusted according to each patient’s condition. Treating the entire area at once would lead to a very long recovery with high risk for post treatment infection and complications. Treating a fractional portion of the skin enables the skin to recover much quicker and keeps risks and complications at a minimum. Using a series of treatments, fractional RF treats each cell at least once during the series. This way you can achieve the same effectiveness as an invasive treatment, with fewer risks and a shorter downtime.
What are the advantages of RF microneedling over other skin resurfacing treatments?
The main advantages of RF microneedling is that it can offer similar results to ablative laser procedures, but with significantly less discomfort, downtime and risk for hyperpigmentation, especially in darker skin types.
RF microneedling stimulates new collagen and elastin in the deep layers of the skin, while bypassing the epidermis, the most superficial layer, which is most prone to side effects and prolonged downtime.
Before RF Microneedling, when people wanted significant results, they needed to undergo aggressive skin resurfacing lasers or deep chemical peels. But lengthy recovery times made it difficult to fit these treatments in to their busy lifestyle. These treatments were also not safe for people with darker skin due to significant risk for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Unlike laser skin resurfacing or deep chemical peels, fractional RF can deliver the energy where it’s needed most, in the lower dermis, while minimizing the damage to the skin’s surface. This means minimal visible downtime, without sacrificing results.
Since RF Microneedling minimizes damage to the skin surface, Secret RF is a better alternative to skin resurfacing lasers for improving the skin texture and skin tightening for dark skin or skin that is prone to scarring or hyperpigmentation.
Benefits of Secret RF Microneedling Procedure
What are the differences and advantages between Secret RF Microneedling device and other RF Microneedling devices?
The secret of Secret RF is the perfectly spaced, conductive microneedles, which safely emit high energy radiofrequency waves between the microneedles to target deeper layers of the skin while sparing the skin’s surface. Because Secret RF microneedle tips have sufficient spaces between the needles, it minimizes side effects that can be caused by overheating, during high frequency treatments. Secret RF is also far less painful than other RF Microneedling devices.
What skin conditions can be treated with Secret RF Microneedling?
RF Microneedling addresses the following issues:
- Fine lines and loose skin around the eyes and mouth
- Facial wrinkles
- Acne, chicken pox and traumatic scars
- Mild to moderate skin laxity on face, neck and chest
- Irregular skin texture and tone
- Large, visible pores
- Stretch marks
How many Secret RF treatments are recommended?
Most patients will see significant results with a series of 3 treatments, spaced about three to four weeks apart. The number of treatments will depend on how well the patient responds to the treatment and the severity of their skin issues.
Who can benefit from Secret RF Microneedling?
Secret RF is a very safe treatment that can be performed on the face and body for almost all skin types. Side effects are uncommon.
What is recommended before my treatment?
Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths and airbrush tans 1-2 weeks prior.
Avoid taking blood thinners (i.e. aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, fish oil) for at least 10 days prior.
Taking arnica montana tablets the day before your treatment and for one week after will help speed recovery.
How is the RF Microneedling procedure performed?
After thoroughly cleansing your skin, we apply a strong topical numbing ointment to the treatment area to make you as comfortable as possible. For those who are sensitive to pain, oral analgesic and ProNox (nitrous oxide + oxygen gas) can be used to help you relax. (Secret RF treatment is one of the least painful RF microneedling devices.) After 45 minutes of topical numbing, the treatment takes 20-30 minutes, depending on the size of the treatment area.
RF Microneedling has the potential to create pinpoint bleeding due to the microneedles and the depth of the skin being treated. However, bleeding is minimal and resolves immediately without any additional side effects or required action.
We apply a cool, soothing peptide mask to your skin following the treatment.
At Serenity MedSpa, we can add PRF (Platelet -Rich Fibrin) treatment right after the Secret RF procedure to further enhance the results. Platelets are found in the blood and contain important growth factors that promote cell regeneration and repair. When PRF is injected into the skin as well applied topically immediately following the Secret RF procedure, the two treatments work synergistically to improve your skin’s appearance.
We are offering Tensage® Intensive Serum 40, which contains a high level of growth factor derived from Cryptomphalus aspera snail secretions.
These growth factors can help:
- Repair skin following Secret RF
- Minimize healing time
- Reduce negative procedural side effects
- Restore elasticity, tone and texture
For best results, use one ampoule daily for 7 days, followed by one ampoule weekly for 3 weeks in the evening.
What is the downtime after the RF Microneedling procedure?
Your skin may look flushed right after the treatment. However, most of the redness will resolve by the next day. The treated skin should be kept clean and not washed until the following day. The treatment area may feel slightly rough like sandpaper for 2-3 days.
There is little to no discomfort after the procedure and you can typically return to regular activities within a day. You can wear makeup 24 hours after the procedure to mask any residual redness and return to your normal skin care routine in 1-2 days.
We recommend that you take the evening off from social activities on the day of the treatment. You should feel comfortable to return to normal social activities no later than 48 hours post-treatment, without anyone knowing you’ve had a procedure.
When will I start to see results from a RF MicroNeedling treatment?
Because fractional radiofrequency causes your skin to produce new collagen and elastin and rebuild old and damaged cells, results are not immediate and depend upon the speed at which your body heals. Typically, more visible improvements are seen 6-8 weeks post session. Although results are visible after the first treatment, you’ll start to notice more significant changes in your skin following the second treatment. Expect to see optimal results 3-6 months after you complete your series.
Before and After Photos of Secret RF
Is RF Microneedling safe?
RF Microneedling is very safe. Because the energy delivered spares the most superficial layer of the skin and because RF technology is color-blind, most of the potential side effects seen with aggressive lasers or deep chemical peels, such as hyperpigmentation or blistering, is minimized or completely avoided.
Can the Secret RF Microneedling treatment be combined with other procedures?
Yes. Secret RF treatment can be used to complement other treatments. BOTOX® or Dysport® may be administered at 2-4 weeks prior to Secret RF to relax overactive muscles to help with wrinkles. Fillers such as Juvederm® or Restylane® can be performed after the Secret RF procedure to provide volume for the face and to further reduce wrinkles.
Ultherapy® or VZet Skin Tightening treatments can be performed first to tighten and lift deeper tissue layers, followed by Secret RF to tighten the dermis of the skin.
Sun damage and brown spots can be address more completely using IPL or BBL treatments.
At Serenity MedSpa, our providers will customize the optimal treatment combinations to meet your aesthetic goals.
RF microneedling is a new and advanced procedure that is offered by only a few physicians at this time. Please schedule a consultation to see if you are a good candidate for the Secret RF Procedure.
For San Francisco, North Bay and East Bay clients, please call our SF office at (415) 781-9200 or email us at Info@SerenityMedSpa.com.
For Peninsula and South Bay clients, please call (650) 887-7777 or email us at Burlingame@SerenityMedSpa.com.
