Genius RF Microneedling: What You Need to Know
Pros & cons
How much it costs
What to expect
Side effects to consider
How long healing takes
How soon you see results
How long results last
Fast facts
Genius RF microneedling combines the benefits of collagen induction therapy with radiofrequency (RF) energy to reduce the appearance of scars and wrinkles, improve skin texture, and tighten skin, with minimal pain and downtime.Â
Manufactured by Lutronic, it's most commonly used on the face, neck, and chest but can treat almost any area of your body, even to help smooth cellulite.
In a Genius treatment, ultrafine needles penetrate the skin and cause micro injuries that stimulate wound healing from the inside out. The needles deliver RF energy waves, boosting your body’s natural production of collagen and elastin over time.
Cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in early 2019, Lutronic Genius is an upgraded version of the Infini RF device.
The key advancement of the Genius, often referred to as “microneedling with a brain,” is that it’s able to measure “impedance,” or resistance in the skin tissue. This allows it to deliver energy that’s customized to each individual patient, explains Dr. Steven Weiner, an otolaryngologist based in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, who conducted clinical trials on the Genius.Â
Impedance is different throughout the face. “If the energy desired is not delivered, there’s an audible and visual cue to tell the operator that adjustments need to be made,” says Dr. Weiner in a RealSelf video. “This is unique to the Genius.”Â
Indeed, according to Wellesley, Massachusetts, plastic surgeon Dr. William LoVerme, “Genius is much more than just a fancy microneedling device.” As he explains, “Genius is a specialized instrument that delivers radiofrequency energy to multiple layers of the skin. It’s the only device to measure the delivered energy, so it knows exactly how much energy is delivered. This makes it more effective and safer.”
Pros
- This nonsurgical treatment can reduce fine lines and wrinkles (including neck bands) and improve skin laxity.Â
- It’s also highly effective at treating scars. “Although I offer dermabrasion, CO2 laser, and other modalities, I feel that RF microneedling with Genius has become the best treatment for acne scarring,” says Dr. LoVerme.
- The thin needles are coated, to provide minimal resistance. This means pain is mild and that the only injury to the top layer of the skin is the needle punctures, which heal within three to four days. All the heat from the RF energy is delivered into the skin’s deeper layers.
- It’s safe for all skin types and tones, with little risk of pigmentation issues.Â
Cons
- It takes multiple treatments to see full results.
- You’ll have at least one day of downtime while the redness fades.
- Average Cost:
- $2,138
- Range:
- $1,000 - $4,200
Your cost will depend on your provider’s level of experience, their office location, the size of the treated area, and how many treatments you get.Â
Most practices offer special package pricing if you buy a series of treatments up front.
Your provider will cleanse your skin and apply an anesthetic to make you more comfortable. Once it takes effect, they’ll enter information about your gender, age, and skin color into the Genius device.Â
During the procedure, they’ll repeatedly stamp the handheld device—which contains a cluster of 49 needles—into your skin, pausing long enough to allow them to transmit heat into the lower dermal layer. The needles can be adjusted from 0.3 mm to 3.5 mm in depth. Depending on your goals, your provider will make two or three passes.
Full face and neck treatments are typically done during the same appointment, which should take less than an hour.
Side effects like mild redness and swelling can last up to three days. Pinpoint bleeding, bruising, and stamping marks from the needles have also been reported.
“You’ll be a bit red for a day but back to normal by the second day after treatment. Almost all patients are able to return to work by the day after treatment without anyone noticing,” says Dr. LoVerme in a RealSelf Q&A.Â
RealSelf members reported needing varying degrees of recovery time. “Although I’d been told that I might be red and swollen for a few days, I looked only like a slightly wind-burned version of myself,” said Juliet 7. For kstone, who combined a Genius treatment with subcision to treat acne scars, “It took about three days for the majority of the swelling to go almost completely away.”
Your skin will be especially sensitive post-treatment, so avoid sun exposure for the first two weeks. You can resume your normal skincare regimen after 24 hours, including using a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more. But avoid harsh ingredients, like retinoids, for at least a week.
You’ll need two to three treatments spaced a month apart for optimal results.
You may see improvements in skin texture and tone within the first month, but full results appear three to six months (the time it takes for collagen remodeling) after your final treatment.
Results can last two to three years, depending on your age and skin condition. After that, you’ll need annual maintenance treatments to keep up your results.
Updated June 13, 2023