RF Microneedling

Beautifying and improving the look of the skin goes back thousands of years. People have used various methods to keep skin healthy and glowing. The first chemical peels go back to ancient times as do the first makeup and face creams. Many medical grade skincare procedures also developed over hundreds of years. However, their modern forms only became popular in more recent history. One of these is microneedling with even more advancements in the last decade by adding radiofrequency. Northwest Face & Body performs the best RF microneedling Bellevue and Kirkland offers.

Understanding Radiofrequency Microneedling

Microneedling is a professional skincare treatment that creates thousands of tiny holes in the skin. Not visible to the naked eye, these punctures cause a healing response in your body. When your body heals a wound, it increases blood flow to the area, produces more collagen, and builds new tissue. This response can be heightened with certain add-ons such as plasma or radiofrequency.

This can treat a variety of skin conditions and concerns. Most commonly, microneedling treats acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, rough skin texture, and sun damage. It is also the preferred medical grade skin treatment for skin of color. For those at a higher risk of discoloration from lasers or chemical peels, microneedling can treat the same concerns. However, microneedling does not come with the same risks to darker skin tones that chemical peels and lasers do.

How It Works

Adding radiofrequency to microneedling impacts the depth of the treatment. In general, microneedling penetrates no more than three millimeters into the skin. While this reaches below the surface skin, it does not treat damage in the deeper layers of skin. This is where radiofrequency comes in.

When the needles go into the skin, radiofrequency energy–in the form of heat–goes further. It addresses damage past where the microneedles reach. Both the needles and radiowaves generate what is called “controlled damage”. This essentially means that your master esthetician will create precise damage to the skin to promote healing and rejuvenation. This is similar to exfoliation treatments.

Advantages & Benefits

RF microneedling offers many advantages and benefits to patients wanting to obtain better quality skin. It can aid nearly any skincare routine and is a great supplement to other medical grade procedures. Among the benefits and advantages, patients may experience include:

• Improved complexion
• Lessened visibility of acne scars
• Reduce the appearance of other facial scars
• Safe for all skin types and tones
• Treat the appearance of stretch marks
• Address acne treatment
• Particularly advantageous for darker skin tones
• Treatment of fine lines and wrinkles
• Reduce enlarged pores
• Tighten up mildly saggy or loose skin
• More even texture
• Improvement in pigmentation
• Increased collagen production and cell turnover
• FDA approved
• Viable for adults of all ages
• Virtually painless procedure
• Safe and effective
• Little to no downtime
• Sometimes part of a non-surgical facelift

Adding plasma to a radiofrequency microneedling treatment can supercharge results. Drawing blood and spinning it within a centrifuge isolates the plasma. It is then applied during and/or after RF microneedling treatment. Some of the benefits of adding plasma to your microneedling treatment include:

• Increase and speed up collagen production
• Induce cell turnover
• Improve overall skin quality
• Ideal for treating acne scars
• May reduce severity and longevity of side effects
• Promotes skin tightening
• Tends to provide better results than traditional microneedling
• PRP is non-irritating
• Unlikely to cause an allergic reaction

Comparing RF Microneedling

Some patients are good candidates for multiple procedures. In many cases, they can undergo multiple procedures as long as there is enough time between them. However, depending on what you want to treat, it is important to understand the differences between RF microneedling and other medical grade skincare treatments. Let’s take a look at how RF microneedling compares to other popular procedures.

RF Microneedling vs. Microneedling

Microneedling performed alone is still an extremely effective treatment. It can treat many of the same concerns. So, what does the radiofrequency add? Microneedling–while it can rejuvenate the skin–does not tighten the skin significantly. RF microneedling does have skin tightening properties.

Your master esthetician may recommend RF microneedling over traditional microneedling if you have extensive sun damage or deeper acne scars. Microneedling is a good first step and a great way to begin your skin improvement journey.

RF Microneedling vs. Chemical Peels

Bellevue RF microneedling and chemical peels can address many of the issues: hyperpigmentation, rough texture, and acne. Since chemical peels come in different strengths, some will offer dramatic results. However, chemical peels do usually cause the skin to peel for at least a few days. While possible after microneedling, skin peeling is rare.

Additionally, some chemical peels are not suitable for all skin types or tones. On the wrong candidate, they can cause hyperpigmentation, instead of treating it. Chemical peels are an effective treatment and can be added to your RF microneedling routine. But, if unable to undergo chemical peels, RF microneedling offers an alternative without the same risks.

RF Microneedling vs. Laser Resurfacing

Laser resurfacing–whether surgical or non-surgical–is one of the most effective and intense medical grade skin treatments. Laser resurfacing treatments require downtime and healing, interrupting daily activities and sometimes work. RF microneedling typically does not cause these disruptions.

Usually, laser resurfacing is recommended for those with more advanced signs of aging or extensive sun damage. Following laser resurfacing and the healing process, RF microneedling can improve skin further and contribute to maintenance. If your skin is not yet ready for laser resurfacing, then you may be a candidate for RF microneedling.

Before And After RF Microneedling

Skin Consultation

Before having an RF microneedling treatment in Bellevue, you will meet with one of Northwest Face & Body’s master estheticians. At your consultation, they will discuss your skin concerns and what you want to achieve. Then, they will review your relevant medical history and the products you use. Finally, they will examine your skin and create your customized skin treatment plan.

Your master esthetician will then describe the procedures they suggest based on your skin and goals. If they believe RF microneedling will benefit you, they will discuss the pros and cons of the treatment and what you could expect from the procedure. After going over their recommendations, sometimes your master esthetician can perform treatments the same day. Otherwise, you are free to schedule the procedures when you want.

Treatment

When you come in for your appointment, your master esthetician will first cleanse and disinfect your face with alcohol. This removes any surface dirt and oils and increases the overall effectiveness of your Bellevue RF microneedling. Then, they will apply a topical anesthetic. This takes around twenty minutes to numb the treatment area.

Once sufficiently numb, your master esthetician will begin the treatment. They will adjust the settings to the treatment area for both the micro needles and the radiofrequency. If treating the face or a large area, they may adjust the depth of the needles and radiofrequency throughout the treatment.

You should feel little to no discomfort or pain as your master esthetician presses the RF microneedling device to your skin. When activated, the needles will press into the skin with a flash of radiofrequency. They will glide the device across your skin. The procedure usually takes between thirty minutes and one hour. Some areas may require ninety minutes.

After RF Microneedling

Immediately after the procedure, the treatment area might look red or irritated. There may also be some spots of pinpoint bleeding. Your master esthetician will apply some products to soothe the skin. They will provide aftercare instructions for the next day or two. Generally, their instructions include:

• Do not exercise for twenty four hours
• Cease using alcohol and other unprescribed substances
• Avoid hot tubs, saunas, or other environments/activities that may cause sweating or the skin to become hot
• Stay out of the sun
• Wear SPF
• Apply moisturizer or other products as advised by your master esthetician
• Wait until at least the next day before applying makeup

Patients can resume their normal activities, including returning to work right after the treatment. Based on your medical history and procedure, your master esthetician may give you personalized aftercare instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Microneedling With RF Worth It?

If you are a good candidate for microneedling with radiofrequency, the procedure is often worth it. Many patients with deeper damage or lax skin find that other treatments do not provide the results they want. RF microneedling may provide the improvement they are looking for by combining two procedures into one.

With this combination of two powerful treatments, RF microneedling is a new generation of medical grade microneedling. Not only does it offer the benefits of microneedling, but the radiofrequency also tightens the skin. It also allows the treatment to treat the deeper layers of skin without damaging the top layers. Essentially, the mico needles address the upper layers of skin and the radiofrequency treats the deeper layers.

How Often Should I Get RF Microneedling?

The intervals at which you get RF microneedling depend on your master esthetician’s recommendation. First off, if you are undergoing other treatments like chemical peels, you will likely need to wait four to six weeks before a Kirkland RF microneedling procedure.

Similarly, the average patient can undergo RF microneedling every four to six weeks, if they wish. Patients generally see the results they want after about three or four sessions. At this point, one or two yearly maintenance sessions can help maintain skin quality.

Is RF Dangerous?

Patients sometimes become alarmed when they find out that radiofrequency is a type of radiation. This can lead to questions about the safety of RF microneedling. Thankfully, radiofrequency does not give out dangerous levels of radiation. In fact, the radiation is comparable to the radiation your cellphone emits.

Additionally, the FDA approved both radiofrequency and RF microneedling treatments. Our master estheticians use the safest techniques and do not treat anyone who may be at a higher risk of complications.

Who should not get RF microneedling in Kirkland? Here are some examples of what may not make you a good candidate.

• Pregnant or nursing
• Major or uncontrolled medical conditions
• Blood disorders
• Prone to keloid scars
• Use of prescription acne medications in the past year
• An active wound or skin infection in the treatment area
• Under eighteen

It should be noted that there are some exceptions if your medical condition is well controlled or a clearance is obtained. However, this should be thoroughly discussed with your master esthetician during your consultation.

At What Age Should You Do Microneedling?

Any adult can undergo microneedling if they are a good candidate. It is common for patients to begin RF microneedling in their late twenties or thirties. Though, patients can begin whenever they feel is right.

Is Microneedling Better Than Injections?

It can be, depending on what you want to achieve. The two procedures approach anti-aging in different ways. Microneedling treats the skin while  address the muscles that form wrinkles. Therefore, patients will frequently use both treatments. If your concerns mainly have to do with your skin, microneedling may be the better option. However, if your concerns deal more with dynamic wrinkles,  will likely address this better.

The Top RF Microneedling In Bellevue And Kirkland

The master estheticians at Northwest Face & Body have decades of combined experience. Highly trained in all medical grade skin procedures such as RF microneedling, laser hair removal, and chemical peels, they provide the best Bellevue and Kirkland RF microneedling. Each procedure is customized to you and your skin.

Northwest Face & Body is centrally located between Kirkland and Bellevue at Carillion Point on Lake Washington. The luxurious office features comfortable and state-of-the-art treatment rooms where your master esthetician will perform the procedure. You can simply lay back and relax during your treatment.

To schedule a free skin consultation with a master esthetician at Northwest Face & Body, call us at 425-576-1700. You can also reach us online using our Price Simulator®, chat, and contact form.