We all know that the skin goes through a number of changes as we age. Wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, dryness, sagging, thinning, discoloration – these are things that will happen to each and every one of us.
But how many of us actually know why (and how) this happens?
While several factors come into play, most of these skin concerns are a direct result of our body slowing down its natural production of two essential proteins: collagen and elastin.
- Collagen is a protein that gives our skin its structure, strength, and support.
- Elastin is a protein that gives our skin its flexibility, elasticity, and resilience.
As collagen and elastin decrease, so does the health (and appearance) of our skin. While we can’t stop that process entirely, we can sleep a little better each night knowing there are ways to slow it down.
One of those ways is with RF microneedling.
RF microneedling is a minimally invasive skincare treatment that harnesses the power of radiofrequency energy and microneedling. We will teach you everything you need to know about it below!
Microneedling: Tiny Needles, Big-Time Results
Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, involves creating tiny punctures (called micro-injuries) in the outer and middle layers of the skin with needles that are no more than 3.5mm long.
Some microneedling devices are equipped with six such needles, while others contain several dozen.
The micro-injuries it creates help stimulate the body’s natural healing response, sending a host of proteins, white blood cells, and other natural substances to the site of the injury to aid in its repair.
And, what do you know, two of those proteins happen to be our good friends collagen and elastin.
Not only that, but we can use those micro-injuries as micro-channels to deliver essential nutrients – such as hyaluronic acid (HA) – deep within the skin’s surface via topicals, serums, creams, gels, and more.
Radiofrequency: Using Heat to Promote Healing
Radiofrequency (RF) skin tightening is a minimally invasive, nonsurgical skincare treatment that uses low-frequency electromagnetic waves to heat the outer (epidermis) and middle (dermis) layers of skin.
While that might sound like it would burn, don’t worry – the heat is minimal, and you’ll barely notice it.
Much like the needles we discussed above, the heat helps trigger the skin’s natural healing process, sending a much-needed supply of collagen and elastin to the areas of the skin that need it the most.
Not only that, but it also stimulates new skin cell production (regeneration) and promotes cell turnover.
The procedure is rather quick (usually done within an hour), and noticeable results will appear within two weeks of treatment. However, you can expect those results to last anywhere between one and three years.
Sylfirm X: Giving Your Skin the Best of Both Worlds
Microneedling and radiofrequency treatments are two of the most popular, safe, and effective procedures for treating signs of aging in the skin, but what if we could combine them into one all-star-level treatment?
Well, that’s precisely what we do here at Cynthia Salter-Lewis MD. And it’s all thanks to the incredibly high-tech Sylfirm X workstation.
The Sylfirm X device inserts 300-micron (0.3mm) gold microneedles into the skin to trigger the skin’s natural healing response while also delivering controlled amounts of RF energy into the dermal tissue.
The added heat from the RF energy gives the skin an even larger boost of collagen and elastin, but it also helps us deliver that collagen and elastin into layers of the skin beyond what the microneedles allow.
What to Expect From the Procedure & Its Results
Sylfirm X is a one-of-a-kind device and is actually the world’s first FDA-approved pulse and continuous wave radiofrequency microneedling device – meaning it achieves things other devices are incapable of.
Not only can it make the skin look younger, but it can treat everything from melasma to redness in the skin, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), rosacea, stretch marks, acne, acne scars, and more.
Here’s a step-by-step look at how quick, easy, and painless the procedure is:
- Step 1: To minimize discomfort, your provider will apply a numbing cream to the treatment area.
- Step 2: Once numb, they’ll stamp the microneedling device onto the treatment area.
- Step 3: As the device makes contact with the face, the microneedles puncture the skin.
- Step 4: As the microneedles puncture the skin, RF energy travels deeper underneath the skin.
- Step 5: Exosomes are applied to the skin once the entire treatment area is accounted for.
- Step 6: Your provider will go over aftercare instructions before sending you on your way!
It’s normal to feel some pressure, a warm, tingling sensation, and a mild prickling sensation during the procedure. Your skin may feel tight and inflamed (kind of like a sunburn) following the treatment.
While it might take several weeks for the skin to fully heal and the collagen and elastin to take effect, most patients will enjoy those results anywhere from six months to several years following the procedure.
Cynthia Salter-Lewis: Your Key to Younger-Looking Skin
The Sylfirm X workstation gives us the opportunity to treat a wide range of skincare concerns in less than an hour (in most cases) – allowing you to feel confident and secure about the skin you wear daily. Contact us at (732) 724-1294 to see how RF microneedling can give you the makeover of your dreams!
