If you’ve dabbled in the world of dermatology, you might’ve heard of ‘radiofrequency’ (or RF) and ‘microneedling’ floating around conversations on skin rejuvenation. Both methods restore your skin’s complexion to its smooth, radiant, bouncy glory—albeit by different methods: radiofrequency is a type of energy produced by a device that sends heat waves under your skin, while microneedling creates tiny channels in your skin to kickstart the body’s natural healing process.

Unsurprisingly, these two methods are also effective acne scar treatments in their own right. But because skin care is an ever-evolving science, it’s now possible to meld the two into one, resulting in a new treatment that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the established gold standard.

Radiofrequency microneedling combines the best of both worlds and offers a new, highly effective way to restore your complexion. With each tried-and-true technique bringing its strengths to the table, this advanced procedure might be the one-two punch you’ve been looking for to clear your skin of acne scars for good.

What it is

Radiofrequency (RF) microneedling is a minimally invasive treatment that uses a device with fine, tapered microneedles to create tiny channels in the skin. As the microneedles penetrate the skin, these channels help deliver controlled RF energy into the deeper layers more effectively. Combining these two applications, microneedling and delivering RF energy in the skin trigger the body’s natural healing process, stimulating collagen production and treating atrophic acne scars.

The benefits

Before we dive into the complete process, here are the pros right off the bat:

• Treats atrophic acne scars
• Evens skin tone
• Smoothes skin
• Minimizes enlarged pores
• Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
• Firms and tightens the skin
• Reduces oil production and active acne
• Improves overall skin texture

RF microneedling is also a fast-acting, relatively painless treatment that produces long-lasting results with minimal downtime. It won’t interrupt your daily routine too much, making it an excellent option for those who want to quickly and effectively rejuvenate their skin without committing to lengthy procedures. Plus, the treatment is customized to your needs, so you can expect the best results within a few sessions.

How it’s done

The parts

Let’s lay out the components of this treatment:

• The device. RF microneedling uses a specialized probe with an RF energy generator.
• The microneedles. The needles used in RF microneedling are small, thin, and coated. They create tiny channels on the skin that heal after treatment.
• The RF energy. The RF energy used during the procedure heats the deeper layers of skin, stimulating collagen production.
• The energy settings. The energy settings on the device can be adjusted to suit different skin conditions and concerns.

Some devices have additional components like vacuum suction or LED light therapy to improve the results.

The process

The ‘proper’ procedure for RF microneedling depends on the device, practitioner, and patient, but here’s how it’s done at Remedy:

1. Consultation. Before undergoing RF microneedling treatment, consulting with a Remedy dermatologist is essential to assess the skin and create a personalized treatment plan.
2. Pre-treatment. The skin is cleansed, and a topical anesthetic is applied to reduce discomfort during the treatment.
3. Treatment. The device creates tiny channels in the skin and then delivers RF energy, which heats the deeper layers. The settings can be adjusted depending on the indications and treatment areas.
4. Post-treatment. The skin is cleansed, and soothing cream is applied; aftercare instructions are given after the treatment.
5. Follow-up. Another appointment is scheduled to observe the progress and monitor how the skin responds to the treatment.

What to expect

Pre-treatment

Before your RF microneedling treatment, discuss with your dermatologist any cosmetic procedures you’ve undergone and any health issues that could affect how your skin reacts to the treatment.

Additionally, certain people with particular conditions are unsuitable for RF microneedling:

• Pregnant women
• People with artificial pacemakers
• People with metal implants in the head and neck area

Treatment

A topical anesthetic is applied to your skin to make sure the treatment is as comfortable and painless as possible. It usually takes 45 minutes for the anesthetic to work (and you can relax while enjoying music or reading through today’s news until it does). The RF microneedling procedure takes around 20 minutes—rounding out the treatment time to an hour or so from start to finish.

Post-treatment

After your treatment, you may feel some warmth on the skin, but that’ll subside after several minutes. You might also experience mild redness and minimal swelling, scabbing, and peeling over the following few days—all of which will subside in around a week.

For aftercare, your dermatologist will advise you to:

• Wash your face the day after your treatment.
• Avoid picking at your face.
• Stay away from heavy sun exposure for at least seven days.
• Follow your post-RF microneedling home regimen to maximize your results.

After your treatment, you should see results in 4 to 6 weeks, with steady progress over time continuing your sessions. It takes about 3 to 5 sessions spaced out 4 to 6 weeks apart to achieve optimal results, but it largely depends on your individual needs.

RF microneedling vs. laser therapy

Laser therapy and chemical peels are often thought of as the go-to treatments for acne scars, but for people with darker skin, they can be a gamble. For ablative lasers, their high-energy light beams and heat can act like a bullseye and trigger melanin production, leading to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). On the other hand, RF microneedling delivers energy directly to target tissue and reduces acne scars with less damage to the skin, which limits melanin production. This makes it suitable for all skin types—specifically darker skin—with less downtime, faster skin healing, and minimal risk for PIH or skin burns (if at all).

The cost

Though it depends on your treatment plan, Remedy’s RF microneedling treatment costs PHP 17,500.00 per session—and is a procedure your dermatologist will only prescribe after a thorough assessment.

TLDR

RF microneedling is one of the new ways to effectively treat acne scars and give your skin a reset. It’s a treatment that delivers stellar results (just remember that it might take a few sessions to get there), is relatively painless, requires minimal downtime, and is safe on all skin types. If you’re in the market for supercharged acne scar treatments, this one’s worth looking into.

Curated treatments from the experts

When you’re ready to start your Remedy journey, reach us at +63 917 873 6339 or +63 2 7975 7984. You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. If you want more skin care knowledge from the experts, join Beyond the Cure Society to start conversations—and maybe win in our giveaways.

‍

We did our research! 👇🏼