Standard microneedling works by injury and repair near the surface. Adding radiofrequency changes the job. Heat delivered at a set depth tightens existing collagen right away and starts a slower rebuilding process that plays out over months. That is why RF microneedling is used for firmness and texture together, rather than texture alone. It is also why the settings matter so much. Depth, energy and the number of passes are chosen for the area being treated and for your skin, not set once and reused.
Your before and after photos appear here
Your before and after photos appear here
Your before and after photos appear here
Your before and after photos appear here
Your before and after photos appear here
In October 2025 the FDA issued a safety communication about radiofrequency microneedling, after reports of burns, scarring, fat loss and nerve injury. The reports were linked to devices used outside their cleared purpose, to aggressive settings, and to operators without the training to judge either. We think you should know that before you book, not after. It is a real treatment with a real risk profile, and the answer to that is a careful provider, conservative settings, and a consultation that includes the risks.
Most plans run to three sessions, spaced four to six weeks apart, though that is a starting point rather than a rule. Some skin needs fewer. Some concerns, deeper acne scarring in particular, take more. Your provider will set the number at consultation, once they have seen the skin in person.
Numbing cream goes on first, so most people describe pressure and heat rather than sharp pain. Afterwards the skin is red, warm and a little swollen, commonly for a day or two, sometimes longer on stronger settings.
Radiofrequency heats tissue rather than targeting pigment, which is why it is generally considered suitable across skin tones. That is not the same as saying every setting is suitable. Energy, depth and passes all need adjusting, and a provider who treats darker skin regularly is the person to ask about it.
Standard microneedling works close to the surface and suits texture, tone and early lines. Radiofrequency adds heat at depth, so it reaches firmness as well. It also asks more of the skin and of the person operating it. Which one suits you depends on what you want changed, and that is a consultation question.
A consultation is where this gets decided. Someone looks at your skin in good light, asks what has been done to it before, and tells you whether radiofrequency microneedling is the right tool or whether something gentler would serve you better. You will hear the risks as well as the benefits, and you will get a straight answer about how many sessions to plan for.
Lumen Skin & Aesthetics aesthetic center brings together injectables, lasers and dermal fillers, laser skin resurfacing, and skin treatments in a calm, unhurried setting built around consultation.
