Question 1

What is Vivace?

Accepted Answer

Vivace is a skin rejuvenation treatment that uses a combination of microneedling and radiofrequency (RF) energy to stimulate a healing process that boosts your natural collagen and elastin production.

Developed by Aesthetics Biomedical, this minimally invasive radiofrequency microneedling treatment can help make your skin firmer, tighter, and smoother over time. It also addresses a variety of skin concerns and signs of aging on the face and body, including:

wrinkles and fine lines
acne scars
large pore size
uneven skin tone and texture
crepey skin
stretch marks
mild skin laxity

Most doctors recommend a course of three to four treatments, spaced four to six weeks apart, for optimal results. This cadence aligns with the natural pace of skin cell turnover.

RealSelf Tip: Many providers combine Vivace with complementary treatments, like CoolPeel laser resurfacing or topical PRP (a combo that's sometimes called a Vampire Facial), to enhance and accelerate results.

Question 2

What are the pros and cons of Vivace microneedling?

Accepted Answer

Pros

The combination of microneedling and radiofrequency energy delivers skin rejuvenation benefits beyond what either treatment offers alone.
It's intended to create both epidermal skin resurfacing and deeper dermal tissue remodeling.
A Vivace treatment can also include LED light therapy, with anti-inflammatory red light or bacteria-zapping blue light.
Reviewers on RealSelf give Vivace one of the highest Worth It Ratings of any RF microneedling treatment: type: embedded-entry-inline id: Ks6V6ARYAktTMUTOEu3el.
Many say the treatment was virtually pain-free with numbing cream.
There’s no downtime afterward (compared to more intense microneedling RF treatments like Profound RF, which can come with up to a week of social downtime).
Because Vivacemicroneedling RF delivers its radiofrequency energy to the skin’s deeper layers versus its surface, it’s safe and effective for all skin tones, with little risk of hyperpigmentation.

Cons

It's a commitment: as we mentioned above, providers recommend a series of three to four treatments, four to six weeks apart, for optimal results.
Results rely on cell regeneration and the development of new collagen and elastin, so you’ll have to wait several weeks after your treatment to start seeing an improvement, with final results appearing up to six months after your last session.
As with other noninvasive treatments, results aren't permanent; you'll need a follow-up treatment about every six months to maintain them. Over time, this can get expensive.
In inexperienced hands, microneedling RF treatments like Vivace can do long-term damage to the skin, making the texture rough, triggering skin darkening or lightening, and spurring breakouts that can lead to acne scars.
Some RealSelf members report seeing little to no difference in their skin after completing a full series of treatments.

Related: Does RF Microneedling Live Up to the Social Media Hype? Doctors and Derms Weigh In

Question 3

How much does Vivace microneedling cost?

Accepted Answer

Your Vivace treatment cost will depend on your provider’s level of experience, their office location, how many treatment sessions you have, and whether you have any complementary treatments, like topical PRP (platelet-rich plasma).

You may also be able to get a discounted rate if you pay for your full treatment series upfront.

Vivacemicroneedling RF is an elective cosmetic treatment, so health insurance will not cover it.

You can finance your treatment with CareCredit.

Question 4

Vivace before and after pictures

Accepted Answer

The Vivace photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

Question 5

How does Vivace work?

Accepted Answer

The handheld Vivace device works by delivering radiofrequency energy as heat to the lower dermis layer of skin via tiny needles. The needles and heat create precise microdamage that jumpstarts your body’s cell-regeneration process.

In addition to speeding epidermal cell turnover, this natural healing process remodels your skin’s existing structural proteins—collagen and elastin—and stimulates the production of more.

Over time, skin becomes firmer, plumper, and smoother, with less obvious lines and an improvement in the appearance of scars and pore size.

Question 6

Vivace vs. regular microneedling: which is better?

Accepted Answer

By adding the heat of radiofrequency energy to traditional microneedling, Vivace delivers more intense skin rejuvenation benefits than microneedling alone. Vivace’s inclusion of red or blue LED light therapy also provides extra revitalization benefits.

“Microneedling with radiofrequency is far more effective than microneedling alone,” says Dr. Sheila Nazarian, a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California. “When patients come in, I liken it to yoga versus pilates. If you are doing something to make you feel better on the inside and have a bit of improvement each time, do microneedling. But if you want to do something that will really make a quick and real difference, do microneedling with radiofrequency.”

Downtime (mainly redness) with both regular microneedling and Vivace will be about the same, though the latter could result in a bit more swelling during the healing process due to the RF heat.

The additional thermal energy also raises the Vivace’s risk profile. While radiofrequency microneedling is considered safe for all skin tones, it can still cause scarring and uneven pigmentation problems when used inappropriately.

Regardless of which treatment you go for, always see a licensed, experienced medical professional.

Question 7

Who's a good candidate for Vivace?

Accepted Answer

Vivacemicroneedling can benefit people with all skin types and tones. Your provider can control the depth and energy level of the treatment to customize it for your skin.

They can also set red or blue LED lights to pulse throughout the treatment. In LED light therapy, red light has anti-inflammatory properties and stimulates collagen production, while blue light kills bacteria.

When correctly positioned, Vivace’s needles deliver heat deep within the tissue, without triggering the layer of melanin-producing cells that can lead to hyperpigmentation in people with deep skin tones. This makes Vivace a safer skin-rejuvenating option than most laser treatments for those with olive, brown, or dark-brown skin tones.

People with signs of aging should see an improvement in wrinkles and firmer skin, while those with dull skin will see it brighten.

Studies show both microneedling and radiofrequency are effective treatments for stubborn acne scars, so this is a good option for people who’ve cleared up their acne but still have scars.

RealSelf Tip: It’s best to avoid any microneedling treatments while you have active acne blemishes. Moving the needles in and out of the skin can spread bacteria around the face and lead to more breakouts.

Question 8

What happens during a Vivace treatment?

Accepted Answer

Before your appointment, your provider will give you recommendations on how to prepare, like avoiding exfoliating agents and other astringents for at least 24 hours beforehand.

If you have a history of cold sores, your doctor may also prescribe a preventive course of antiviral medications to reduce the chance of an outbreak.

On the day of the treatment, your provider will start by applying a topical anesthetic numbing cream. You’ll wait about 30–45 minutes for it to take full effect.

Once your skin is numb, your provider will methodically move the Vivace handpiece over your face. According to Dr. Farhan Taghizadeh , a plastic surgeon in Phoenix, “Vivace uses a robotic micromotor to gently push the needles into the skin.” Once they’re in your skin at a prescribed depth, the insulated needles emit heat from their tips into the dermis.

The full treatment takes about 45 minutes, depending on the number of treatment areas and whether you have any complementary procedures.

As part of the Vivace Experience, your provider will finish by applying a soothing sheet mask immediately afterward, to calm the skin and minimize redness. You’ll wear the mask home and leave it on until it begins to dry out.

Question 9

How painful is Vivace?

Accepted Answer

Thanks to the numbing cream that's applied first, you shouldn't feel much discomfort during the procedure. If you do, alert your provider so they can allow more time for your skin to become fully numb.

You’ll probably feel light pressure and an occasional sparking feeling, but most RealSelf members say they felt very little or no pain during the treatment.

Question 10

What can you expect after a Vivace treatment?

Accepted Answer

After you remove the sheet mask, the Vivace after care is minimal. You won’t need any true downtime, but you’ll need to keep your skin clear and free of any makeup for at least 4–6 hours, if not overnight. Microchannels were created in your skin, so it will be more receptive and sensitive to anything you apply.

Avoid direct sun exposure, excessive sweating, and steam for the first couple of days of the healing process, too.

“Each Vivace treatment should be followed by their Vivace Experience kit that comes with a serum and a mask to use at home,” says Dr. Nazarian. The Optimal Treatment Serum and Soothe Weekly Mask both contain peptides, along with other skin-boosting ingredients, that can be used in the weeks following your treatment to take care of your skin and accelerate your results.

Question 11

How soon will you see Vivace results?

Accepted Answer

If you follow your provider’s Vivace after care instructions, your skin may start looking smoother and brighter within hours of your treatment—but significant and lasting results rely on your body’s natural production of collagen, which takes up to six weeks to develop. You’ll see the best results about four to six months after your final Vivace treatment in the initial series.

Question 12

How long does Vivace last?

Accepted Answer

The results you see after a series of treatment sessions will last for about six months. Doctors on RealSelf recommend follow-up treatments every four to six months to maintain your results.

To prolong the benefits, use medical-grade skin care and wear sunscreen daily, with an SPF of 30 or higher.

Related: The Treatments and Ingredients Actually Proven to Reduce Wrinkles

Question 13

What are the risks and potential side effects of Vivace?

Accepted Answer

You may have pinpoint bleeding and scabbing, minor swelling, or redness immediately after your treatment. These side effects are temporary and should resolve within a few days.

In the hands of an inexperienced or inattentive provider, more troubling and potentially permanent side effects can occur. RealSelf members who said Vivace was “Not Worth It” report orange peel texture, lingering grid marks, breakouts, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and even suspected fat loss and wrinkles.

All microneedling treatments are very technique-dependent, and adding the heat of RF energy increases the level of potential damage from a poorly performed treatment. Seek out an experienced provider with glowing patient reviews and impressive photos, to ensure that your treatment will be performed safely.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Microneedling Side Effects

Question 14

What are the alternatives to Vivace?

Accepted Answer

There are many options for nonsurgical skin rejuvenation. Talk to a dermatologist about your specific concerns to see what would be best for you.

Some treatments similar to Vivace include:

Microneedling: Known as collagen-induction therapy, traditional microneedling with tiny needles (sans radiofrequency) can be a cost-effective option that can deliver comparable results (for some skin concerns), with more treatment sessions.
Morpheus8 or Potenza: Your provider may recommend another type of RF microneedling treatment, and these are two of the most popular. The treatment and its benefits are very similar, and many doctors on RealSelf say that your provider's technique matters more than the device they use. The Morpheus can, however, affect much deeper tissue layers than the Vivace.
Thermage: If laxity, wrinkles, and thinness are your primary skin concerns, subdermal radiofrequency on its own can boost collagen production enough to yield subtle results. Thermage is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for skin tightening.“Radiofrequency treatments that don't involve microneedling only give great results on thin-skinned areas like the eyelids, neck, and labia majora,” says Dr. Nazarian. “Everywhere else does better with microneedling with radiofrequency.”

Question 15

Sources & studies

Accepted Answer

Chandrashekar, Byalekereshivanna, et al. “Evaluation of Microneedling Fractional Radiofrequency Device for Treatment of Acne Scars.” Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, vol. 7, no. 2, 2014.

Connolly, Deirdre, et al. “Acne Scarring—Pathogenesis, Evaluation, and Treatment Options.” The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, vol. 10, no. 9, Sept. 2017, pp. 12–23.

Iriarte, Christopher, et al. “Review of Applications of Microneedling in Dermatology.” Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, Volume 10, Aug. 2017.

Tsoukas, Mariam, et al. “Light-Based Therapies in Acne Treatment.” Indian Dermatology Online Journal, vol. 6, no. 3, 2015.

Wunsch, Alexander, and Karsten Matuschka. “A Controlled Trial to Determine the Efficacy of Red and Near-Infrared Light Treatment in Patient Satisfaction, Reduction of Fine Lines, Wrinkles, Skin Roughness, and Intradermal Collagen Density Increase.” Photomedicine and Laser Surgery, vol. 32, no. 2, Feb. 2014.

VIVACE

Goretti Ho Taghva, MD, FACS

Kali Swenson

Goretti Ho Taghva, MD, FACS

Kali Swenson

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	Vivace nonsurgical	Microneedling nonsurgical	Morpheus8 nonsurgical	Potenza nonsurgical	Thermage nonsurgical
Worth It Rating	85%	85%	64%	95%	71%
Average Cost	$1172	$904	$1889	$2300	$3096
Downtime	Little to no downtime	1–3 days of downtime	Little to no downtime	Little to no downtime	Minimal downtime
Anesthesia	Topical anesthesia	Topical anesthesia	Numbing cream or local anesthesia	Topical numbing cream	No anesthesia

Goretti Ho Taghva, MD, FACS

Kali Swenson

Goretti Ho Taghva, MD, FACS

Kali Swenson

VIVACE QUESTIONS

Should I have seen results after 2nd Vivace Treatment? How long can I wait for 3rd Treatment? (photos)

Vivace or something else for newly deepened nasolabial folds? (Photo)

Is Vivace Microneedling with PRP a good option for stretch mark removal? (photos)

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