RF Microneedling

Yes. Your appointment begins with a full assessment, so your nurse can confirm microneedling is safe and suitable for you, and we check in on any changes at each visit. Tell us about active acne, infections or cold sores, pregnancy or breastfeeding, a history of keloid or raised scarring, medications (including some acne treatments and blood thinners), recent treatments and sun exposure, as these can affect suitability and timing. If microneedling isn’t right for you now, we’ll explain why and recommend preparation or an alternative first. For full details, please contact the clinic.

Sensation varies with the area and depth, from a scratching or vibrating feeling to something more noticeable on bonier areas. If discomfort is on your mind, your nurse will talk through your options at your appointment. Afterwards, redness, warmth, tightness and sensitivity are common for 24 to 72 hours, with light flaking or a sandpaper-like texture for a few days. Gentler treatments often settle sooner, while deeper treatments can take a little longer. Tiny pinpoint dots or fine crusting can appear where the needles entered.

Risks include pigmentation changes, infection, burns, scarring or altered sensation. These are uncommon, and your nurse explains them before you decide.

Most people have a course of 3 to 5 treatments, depending on the concern, and many begin with 3. Changes in appearance build gradually over the weeks and months that follow, so we begin gently and build from there. Many people then choose maintenance sessions every 6 to 12 months, depending on their skin and schedule. Your nurse recommends the number and spacing at your assessment.

It can improve the appearance of both, depending on your skin. For acne scarring, rolling and boxcar scars tend to respond best, while ice-pick scars often need a different approach. Pores are a natural part of skin and can’t be removed, but improving skin texture can make them look less noticeable, and results vary with skin type and oiliness. Your nurse assesses your skin, explains what improvement is realistic and tells you when another treatment would suit you better.

It can be considered, with care. Pigmentation changes are a recognised risk, particularly in skin prone to post-inflammatory pigmentation, including some deeper skin tones. Your nurse considers your skin type, pigmentation history and sun exposure, may recommend preparing your skin first, and chooses the depth carefully.

Active inflammatory acne, infection or disrupted skin usually means treatment should wait, because needling can irritate inflamed skin. Your nurse will recommend settling your skin first, then reassess whether microneedling suits you.

We have two microneedling devices and choose between them by what your skin and concern need. CODE-X is our standard device and usual starting point, with fine, precise depth settings up to 2.0 mm, which suits delicate areas and a gradual approach. SkinPen reaches up to 2.5 mm, so your nurse may recommend it as a $50 upgrade when your concern calls for deeper treatment, which can mean a little more recovery time. Deeper isn’t automatically better: your nurse sets the depth for each area, based on your skin thickness, your concern and your pigmentation tendency, and often builds up gradually. Both devices are included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, with a new sterile needle cartridge for every treatment. The SkinPen upgrade includes a single-use kit with a cartridge, hydrating gel and take-home serum for your aftercare.

Microneedling suits texture, pores and shallow scarring. RF microneedling combines needling with radiofrequency energy and takes longer, suiting more established scarring and concerns involving skin firmness. Your nurse recommends the best starting point, and sometimes that’s microneedling first.