RF Microneedling

RF microneedling is generally a good option for healthy adults who want firmer skin, smoother texture, or improvement in fine lines, pores, and certain scars and are willing to tolerate a minimally invasive treatment with brief downtime. Most candidates need to be free of active infections or rashes in the treatment area and able to heal normally from small skin injuries.

It is usually not appropriate for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, who have active skin infections (like cold sores, bacterial or fungal infections), uncontrolled inflammatory skin disease (severe eczema, psoriasis, or active rosacea in the treatment area), a history of keloids or very poor wound healing, or metal implants/pacemakers near the treatment zone because of the RF energy. Caution or medical clearance is also needed for those on blood thinners, with significant clotting disorders, severe autoimmune or collagen‑vascular disease, active cancer, or recent isotretinoin use.

A typical RF microneedling visit is straightforward and fairly quick from start to finish. After you arrive and are greeted, you’ll review the treatment area and then a topical numbing cream is applied; this sits on the skin for about 20–30 minutes to keep you comfortable during the procedure. Once you’re numb, the skin is thoroughly cleansed and the RF microneedling itself is performed, which usually takes only about 5–15 minutes depending on the size of the area.

At the end, a soothing, healing topical is applied and you’re ready to go. The skin will look red and may feel warm, tingly, or sunburn‑like for roughly 12–24 hours, sometimes a bit more or less depending on your sensitivity. While the surface usually settles quickly, the deeper healing and collagen remodeling happen beneath the skin over the next 3–4 weeks.

Typical RF microneedling results build gradually over several weeks as new collagen forms beneath the skin.

• In the first 3–7 days, skin usually looks a bit pink, then begins to feel smoother and slightly tighter as initial healing occurs.
• Over 4–6 weeks, most people notice clearer improvements in texture, fine lines, pore size, and overall firmness, with results continuing to refine for up to 3 months.
• A series of 3–4 sessions spaced about 4–6 weeks apart is commonly recommended for best results, with yearly maintenance to keep collagen levels supported.

During Launch Week: 100

After Launch Week: 425

RF microneedling is a minimally invasive skin treatment that combines very fine needles with gentle radiofrequency heat to stimulate your skin’s natural repair process. The needles create tiny microchannels while the RF energy warms the deeper layers, prompting new collagen and elastin production, which can help firm and tighten skin, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, soften acne scars, and improve overall texture and tone on the face, neck, and body. Most people experience only mild redness for a day or two, making it a powerful option for rejuvenation with relatively little downtime.

RF microneedling is highly effective for skin rejuvenation, with clinical studies showing significant improvements in collagen production (up to 400% increase after 4 sessions), skin firmness, texture, and wrinkle reduction—often 40–60% better after 3 months. Histology confirms new collagen and elastin formation that continues improving for 3–6 months post-treatment, leading to tighter skin, faded acne scars (up to 75% better), and smoother tone with high patient satisfaction (90–94%). Results are progressive over multiple sessions (typically 3–4), safe for all skin types, and longer-lasting than microneedling alone.

After RF microneedling, the skin is more vulnerable to UV damage, so it is important not to plan treatments right before a beach trip or any period of heavy sun exposure. Staying out of strong sunlight, wearing a hat, and using high‑SPF sunscreen helps protect healing skin and reduces the risk of hyperpigmentation or irritation.

Topical retinoids (like retinol or tretinoin) should be stopped several days before treatment and held for a short time afterward, because they thin and sensitize the surface of the skin and can make you more prone to redness, peeling, and irritation when combined with microneedling. People with heart conditions, pacemakers or other implanted electronic devices, or those taking blood thinners need medical clearance before RF microneedling so a clinician can weigh risks, adjust settings or timing, and ensure the procedure is safe for their specific health situation.

Microneedling without RF still creates controlled micro‑injuries in the skin to stimulate collagen and elastin, but it does not use heat or radiofrequency energy. This makes it a good option for people who cannot have RF due to pacemakers, metal implants, or certain heart conditions, or for those on blood thinners who need to minimize added risk. It is generally less intense than RF microneedling, with less tightening but meaningful improvements in texture, fine lines, and mild scarring, and it still requires sun protection and pausing retinoids around treatment to protect healing skin.

RF microneedling uses non‑ionizing radiofrequency energy, which does not damage DNA the way ionizing radiation (like X‑rays or UV) does, and current human data have not shown a link between cosmetic RF treatments and an increased risk of skin cancer. The main cancer‑related concern remains UV exposure itself, so strict sun protection after treatment is still essential, but RF microneedling done with an FDA‑cleared device and a trained medical provider does not appear to promote skin cancer development.

Experimental work suggests that RF microneedling can help normalize UV‑damaged cells and reduce the load of precancerous changes in chronically sun‑exposed skin, which may contribute to a lower future risk of certain non‑melanoma skin cancers when combined with strict sun protection.