Father Time hasn’t been kind to your skin. Over the years, your skin has started to sag, wrinkle, and sport pockmarks and hyperpigmented spots.
Fortunately, revolutionary skin tightening treatments like radiofrequency (RF) microneedling can help you reverse the effects of aging and years of damage.
In this blog, Dr. Chinyere Orafu and our Ohio Laser & Wellness Center team highlight how RF microneedling puts a new twist on a classic cosmetic treatment and rejuvenates your skin from the inside out.
If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it, right? Not necessarily. Microneedling can accomplish a lot on its own, and there’s a reason it’s one of the most popular and asked-for cosmetic treatments available. However, researchers saw an opportunity to improve it by introducing RF energy.
If you know microneedling, then you know the basics of how it works. We use fine needles to create micro-wounds or channels on the surface of your skin. Many refer to this process as collagen induction therapy because the tiny injuries stimulate your body’s ability to produce collagen (and elastin, too).
Collagen is a protein that gives skin shape and structure, while elastin makes it flexible. With more of these proteins, you can say goodbye to:
We can cause even more damage to your skin when we release RF energy through the needles. That might sound counterintuitive — why do more damage to skin that’s already stretched out and wrinkled?
The truth is the more disruption we cause, the more robust your body’s response is as it heals itself. Rest assured that all the damage occurs below the surface. The only difference you notice is tighter, smoother, younger-looking skin.
Adding RF to microneedling doesn’t add anything to your recovery time. The side effects are still minimal and temporary.
You may experience redness and minor swelling for several days. Some notice bruising or skin color changes, but this is rare. If the effects of treatment are uncomfortable, cold compresses and over-the-counter pain medication can help temper your symptoms until they fade away.
If you haven’t already, you should establish a solid skin care routine, especially when your skin is healing. We recommend wearing sunscreen daily and using gentle cleansers and skin-friendly cosmetic products.
Results develop gradually over a few months; you may need a few sessions to get your best look. For instance, large acne scars usually respond best after three or four treatments. We help you determine a treatment plan that addresses your concerns quickly, safely, and efficiently.
If you’re ready to sign up for RF microneedling treatments, we initially want to discuss your skin’s health and treatment goals. First, we ensure your skin is healthy and can withstand treatment. That means you shouldn’t have an active skin infection, a cold sore, or psoriasis.
We also don’t recommend RF microneedling for patients who are currently or have recently used Accutane, are receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy, are pregnant, are taking anticoagulants, or have a history of keloids, hypertrophic scarring, or poor wound healing.
The good news is that your skin type and color won’t exclude you from RF microneedling treatments. Unlike other laser treatments that can damage certain skin types, RF microneedling is generally safe for everyone.
If any of the recommendations listed above count you out for RF microneedling, don’t panic. We can either wait until your skin is ready for treatment or offer a different treatment plan to help you meet your aesthetic goals safely.
You can make your skin problems a thing of the past — it all starts when you step inside our office. If you’d like to learn more about RF microneedling and find out if you’re a candidate, call or click online today to request a consultation and learn more about our acne scar treatments. We proudly serve patients in the Dover and Canton, Ohio, area.
