With age, skin tends to lose its firmness, and this can cause sagging, wrinkles, and fine lines. One of the reasons for this is a decrease in collagen and elastin production. Although people often turn to fillers or neurotoxins to help, another option that can address collagen and elastin loss is radiofrequency microneedling.
At Timeless Laser & Skin Care, we offer RF microneedling to help with various skin conditions. Read more about what this procedure can offer.
How Does RF Microneedling Work?
Radiofrequency (RF) microneedling harnesses the benefits of traditional microneedling and boosts them.
Microneedling is a procedure that uses tiny needles to create small puncture wounds in the treatment area. These wounds stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, allowing healthier and more youthful skin to grow.
Collagen and elastin are two proteins that perform many tasks, and one of them is to keep your skin firm and hydrated.
Once you enter your 30s, collagen and elastin production decreases, leading to skin that has more laxity than you may want or shows signs of aging, like wrinkles. Microneedling focuses on the cause of these skin concerns.
Like traditional microneedling, RF microneedling creates small wounds or microchannels, but it is a procedure that offers the added benefit of RF energy. This energy heats the layers of skin, stimulating collagen and elastin even more dramatically.
RF microneedling is a good option for people who want treatment for:
- Wrinkles and fine lines
- Sagging skin
- Large pores
- Acne scars
- Hyperpigmentation
- Cellulite
- Stretch marks
It is effective as an acne scar treatment and can offer the skin tightening results you want.
At our clinic, we use the Lutronic Genius device for the procedure. This device is one of the leading technologies in the microneedling industry because of the gold-plated needles that allow us to monitor and change temperature levels to target skin layers most accurately.
The best candidates for RF microneedling are people who are in good health, have realistic expectations, and are showing early signs of aging or skin concerns.
If you are using Accutane or have used it in the past six months, you are not the best candidate for this procedure. RF microneedling is also not a good match for people who have an active infection, a skin disease like psoriasis, are receiving chemotherapy or radiation, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
If RF microneedling isn’t right for you, we will happily work with you to find an alternative.
Benefits of RF Microneedling
Because microneedling focuses on the underlying cause of your skin concerns, it does more than just offer temporary results. It can allow your body to create healthier skin using its own collagen and elastin production process.
This is a minimally-invasive procedure that does not have a long recovery process and does not require that you take time off of work. You don’t have to worry about going under general anesthesia either. After an RF microneedling session, you can return to your life almost immediately.
How Do You Prepare for Microneedling?
The first step is to schedule a consultation with one of our experts so that we can ensure microneedling is the right option.
We will assess the areas you want to treat and will also ask you about your medical history. Let us know of any allergies you may have, any cosmetic procedures you have undergone, and any medications or supplements you take.
If we think you are a good match for this procedure, you will need to remember a few things.
You should stop taking NSAIDs and blood thinners at least a week before the microneedling session, but make sure to consult with your primary physician to be certain it is safe to do so.
Avoid treatments that can make your skin more sensitive, including chemical peels, facials, fillers, and more. You also want to stay out of the sun and avoid using tanning beds. Don’t use skincare products that contain salicylic acid. If you need to, shave the day before the appointment.
The Procedure and Recovery Guidelines
Arrive at our clinic without makeup, and don’t apply any lotions, creams, or even sunscreen to the treatment areas. We will clean your skin and then apply a topical anesthetic. The anesthetic can take up to an hour to have full effect, so please get to your appointment when we schedule you so that you have the necessary time to prep.
Once you are comfortable, we will begin the procedure. The needles will make small puncture wounds and release RF energy to stimulate the production of more collagen and elastin. Once we begin, the process can take between 10 and 20 minutes.
After the procedure, we recommend that you apply ice packs and avoid vigorous exercise. Remember to continue wearing sunscreen to protect your skin and to use any antibiotic creams or emollients as we instruct.
It is important to avoid abrasive skin care options and to wait a few weeks before scheduling a chemical peel or facial. For 24 hours after the procedure, skip the use of makeup.
After three to six months, you can begin to see the results, and your skin can continue to improve as your body produces more collagen and elastin.
Get RF Microneedling in Westlake, OH
You can get all of the benefits of traditional microneedling along with the added power of RF energy when you turn to RF microneedling. At Timeless Laser & Skin Care in Westlake, OH, we offer various aesthetic services to help you look and feel great. Request an RF microneedling appointment today!