RF Micro-needling Vs Traditional Micro-needling: What’s the Difference?

Micro-needling also is known as collagen induction therapy is a skin rejuvenation treatment that is gaining popularity by the day. This minimally invasive treatment can improve the skin’s appearance by stimulating the production of collagen resulting in smoother, firmer, and younger-looking skin.

Now, combining micro-needling with radiofrequency (RF) energy brings forth an innovative treatment that is designed to dramatically enhance the results of regular micro-needling and taking skin rejuvenation to the next level.

Traditional Micro-needling

Traditional microneedling involves using a special device to create controlled micro-punctures in the skin in the form of tiny microscopic pricks. These tiny injuries stimulate the body’s natural healing response resulting in the production of the skin’s firming proteins, collagen, and elastin. The skin’s self-repair mechanism works to thicken the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, large pores, acne scars, and uneven skin texture. The micro-needling makes the skin easier to penetrate thus improving the efficacy of topical skin products such as hyaluronic acid.

Radiofrequency (RF) Micro-needling

RF micro-needling is adding the element of radiofrequency (RF) energy to the traditional form of micro-needling technique to further amplify the production of skin-improving proteins and enzymes such as hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin. RF micro-needling uses specialized needles to puncture the skin and deliver radiofrequency energy through the punctured skin simultaneously. The RF energy bypasses the upper skin layers and is delivered deep into the dermal layers of the skin. This offers more dramatic results than traditional micro-needling. It helps in breaking down acne scars and treating skin laxity more effectively.  

How RF Micro-needling is better

RF micro-needling is superior to traditional micro-needling in the following ways:

• Addresses deeper skin layers. RF micro-needling addresses deeper skin layers compared to traditional micro-needling without causing damage to the top layer of the skin. This is made possible because the RF energy is delivered past the needles’ tip deep into the skin layers to stimulate the production of collagen and tighten the skin.
• Smooths fine lines and wrinkles better. Boosting the production of collagen is always beneficial when it comes to improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Traditional micro-needling boosts collagen production but when combined with RF energy, it amplifies the process. RF energy also produces heat which constricts underlying skin layers which helps to further smooth the skin.
• Treats acne scars better. RF energy breaks down acne scars better than just puncturing which is what is done by traditional micro-needling.
• It is customizable. RF micro-needling treatments are highly customizable as both the RF energy intensity and the needle depth can be manipulated to meet the unique needs of each individual. The results of RF micro-needling can be either minor skin enhancements or dramatic skin changes.

RF micro-needling can also be combined with Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) to further enhance the results. This is called PRP Micro-needling.