What is the Difference Between Microneedling and Radio Frequency Microneedling?

Traditional Microneedling vs RF Microneedling

You may have heard of Microneedling and Radio Frequency Microneedling, but what is the difference?

Traditional Microneedling has been around for decades and has well-documented clinical results. The treatment involves tiny needles inserted into the skin, which stimulate the production of new collagen and elastin. It’s a fantastic treatment for reducing pore size, treating scars and stretch marks, skin tightening whilst minimising fine lines. This blog is going to discuss the differences between Microneedling vs RF Microneedling. All types of microneedling performed in clinics cannot be comparable to home rolling or dermal rolling. This is because the needles on dermal rollers for home use are too short to stimulate collagen & elastin. They are just long enough to create tiny channels in the skin, allowing products to penetrate much deeper.

More recently, Radio Frequency Micro needling has been developed. It combines two technologies at the same time, which are Microneedling & Radio Frequency, and so provides skin tightening as well as facial contouring. Radio Frequency has also been around for decades and has thousands of clinical white papers to confirm significant benefits in tightening skin, reducing pores, reducing eye bags, eye lift, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, reducing acne scars & surgical scars, stretch marks, volumising skin, stimulating more collagen & elastin, etc. So with RF microneedling, you have two technologies working on the skin at the same time, which doubles the treatment and results! This means it’s really effective at improving texture, reducing pores, improving scars/stretch marks, tightening skin, and reducing fine lines & wrinkles. In addition to treating these concerns, RF microneedling also lifts, firms, tightens skin, and defines and contours the face, and it’s suitable for all skin types and skin tones.

The Morpheus8 is a radio frequency microneedling device that coagulates excess fat under the chin and jawline to contour and define the face. You may have seen the astonishing results Judy Murray,  Danielle LLoyd and Kim Kardashian achieved from Morpheus8 Radio Frequency Micro Needling.

We are so obsessed with Radio Frequency Microneedling that we have two devices to suit all clients’ needs and budgets. We have the Morpheus8, which is a device that coagulates excess fat under the chin and jawline to contour and define the face. It’s the best Radio Frequency Microneedling device on the market to date because the needles go the deepest. The needles go up to 4mm to contour the jawline and get rid of double chins.  As well as reducing double chins and facial contouring, it also tightens skin, minimising pores and wrinkles, etc. We’re trained and insured to lift, tighten & tone crepey, loose skin up to 5 mm. We also offer the Focus Dual, a medical device that works more superficially to reduce fine lines and open pores. This is recommended for younger clients with minimal signs of ageing and who are also seeking preventative treatment options. If their concerns are facial contouring to tighten saggy skin in the jowls or to get rid of double chins, we recommend Morpheus8.

What is the Difference Between Radio-Frequency Micro Needling and Micro Needling?

Traditional microneedling uses ultra-fine needles to puncture the skin and initiate a healing response.

Traditional Radio-frequency (RF) is used to generate heat at the skin’s surface, stimulating the production of new collagen and elastin to lift and firm the skin on the face or body. Our Radio Frequency treatment is the Fiji Face Lift. It’s superb for maintaining results from Radio Frequency Microneedling and prevents the signs of ageing. 

Radio Frequency Microneedling combines these two treatments simultaneously. The needles are charged with Radio Frequency as they penetrate the skin. This means that the radio frequency reaches the skin tissue much deeper.  Trauma is caused by the needles as well as more thermal damage from the radio-frequency. This two-pronged treatment provides double the results!

Which is better – Microneedling or RF Microneedling?

It really does depend on a number of factors, such as the skin concerns. Is facial contouring required? Is there hyperpigmentation that needs addressing? 

Radio-frequency Microneedling is superior to microneedling for facial contouring, especially around the jawline and double chin. This is due to the heat and the deeper needles used in Radio-frequency Microneedling, which coagulate fat and tighten the collagen sheet. This collagen sheet is called the SMAS layer, which is what is tightened during a surgical facelift.  Radio-frequency Microneedling will also address textural issues, as with Microneedling, but it won’t lift pigment.

To enhance results even further, Exosomes can be penetrated into the skin using the Target Cool CO2 gun. The benefit of Exosomes is that they can specifically target additional concerns, especially pigmentation, dry skin, uneven skin tone, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation PIH, post-inflammatory erythema PIE, hair loss, etc. It is not possible to treat these concerns with Microneedling or Radio Frequency Microneedling.

Benefits of Radio Frequency Microneedling on the body

After weight loss or postpartum, clients may be left with saggy skin on the body that can look crepey and worsen over time. Radio Frequency Microneedling is preferred over microneedling because the needles penetrate more deeply.  There is the addition of heat from the Radio Frequency to further tighten the skin.  Radio Frequency Microneedling & Microneedling are both really effective at improving surgical scars and stretch marks, too! It’s important to note that it’s best to treat stretch marks and surgical scars as soon as possible for maximum results. If they are still new and pink, please book as soon as possible. 

Microneedling vs Radio Frequency Microneedling

	Microneedling	Radio Frequency Microneedling
Skin Booster Serums
Pigmentation Reduction with Skin Boosters
Skin Tightening
Fat Reduction
Pore Reduction
Lines & Wrinkles
Boost New Collagen & Elastin
Eye Lift
Signs of Ageing
Volumise Skin
Acne Scars
Surgical Scars
Stretch Marks
Crepey Skin
Course of Treatments	6	3 – 6
Time Between Treatments	2 – 4 weeks	4 – 6 weeks
Down Time – Dependent on Settings	1 – 3 days approx	2 – 6 days approx

Is Radio-Frequency Micro Needling Worth It?

The radio-frequency has the added benefit of cauterising the skin, reducing bleeding and the risk of infection. It’s literally like having two treatments in one, so you get double the results. In today’s fast-paced world, clients want to save time during treatments, so combining radio frequency with microneedling is the ultimate experience. 

Does RF Microneedling Hurt?

With Morpheus8, numbing cream is required, but there is little or no bleeding.  During Microneedling, numbing cream is generally not required unless deep settings are used. 

What is Radio Frequency Microneedling Good For?

Performing Morpheus8 Radio-frequency Microneedling in the clinic allows practitioners to go much deeper than any other device on the market. RF Microneedling is really good at generating new collagen and elastin, creating smoother, firmer, more toned skin. RF Microneedling is exceptional at contouring the face and treating scarring, acne scars, tightening skin, and reducing stretch marks, open pores, fine lines, and wrinkles. RF Microneedling can be used on the face or the body.

What Age is Good for Microneedling

From the age of 25, our collagen and elastin production begins to decline by 1 to 3% per year. Microneedling from your mid-20s onward is very effective at stimulating collagen and elastin production, helping slow the ageing process and prevent fine lines and wrinkles.  Microneedling is also very good for treating acne scarring; the sooner scars are treated, the better the results. Microneedling can be performed starting at age 18 to treat open pores, acne scars, and surgical scars. We can treat the full face or just single areas with acne scars, such as ice pick or box scars. 

Once ladies reach menopause, collagen and elastin literally drop off by 30% overnight! Once signs of ageing become more noticeable, such as jowls starting to sag, a double chin appearing, hooded eyes beginning to form, overall saggy skin and loss of volume, we would recommend  Morpheus8 or HIFU. It’s important to note that many ladies unknowingly start the perimenopause in their late thirties. It’s more cost-effective, and the results are best when starting preventative ageing to slow down the signs. Unfortunately, many women come into the clinic without education on skin health or basic steps to reduce the ageing process. This is where we really help.

Radio frequency microneedling is the ultimate treatment for all anti-ageing concerns. Having a course of radio-frequency microneedling to boost collagen is always recommended. Maintenance treatments of just Radio Frequency (Fiji Facelift) or Microneedling throughout the year will also significantly prolong results.

After a course of radio-frequency microneedling, makeup sits more evenly on the skin, creating that no-filter look. It’s the ultimate non-surgical skin-tightening solution, whilst creating smoother, lifted skin and contouring the face.

How long does it take to see results?

RF microneedling instantly triggers the body’s wound healing response for complete skin rejuvenation. The radio-frequency heat instantly tightens some collagen fibres, with results noticed from 6-8 weeks and continuing to improve for up to a year.

Please see our treatments pages for more information about Morpheus8 & Microneedling treatments. 

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