Matrix Pro by Candela is an FDA-cleared radiofrequency (RF) microneedling skin rejuvenation treatment. Part of the new Matrix system, this gentle but effective treatment is most commonly used on the face and neck, though it can treat any body area.Â
Boasting an array of 49 of the thinnest needles on the market (0.16 mm), the Matrix Pro applicator delivers short-pulse RF energy into the dermis to stimulate new collagen creation, so skin looks firmer, smoother, and younger over time.Â
Matrix Pro is unique for several reasons, starting with the fact that it treats up to three customizable depths (.08 - 3.5 mm) in just one pass. All RF microneedling creates micro-injuries, inducing a healing response that produces new collagen. Technologies that repeatedly penetrate the skin barrier to heat different depths create unnecessary tissue damage, which leads to more downtime and a heightened chance of side effects. Each pass also inflames the tissue, making subsequent passes more painful and less effective.Â
By heating three specific depths in one pass, Matrix Pro reduces discomfort, inflammation, and downtime, without sacrificing results.
Candela also touts the precision of the Matrix Pro’s smart “depth intelligence” technology, which automatically adjusts its output levels to deliver the most effective energy levels at each tissue depth.
The Matrix Pro device has real-time impedance monitoring, which adjusts the duration of its energy pulses in response to the resistance it encounters from different types of tissue. Some other RF microneedling devices have impedance monitoring, but they don’t give providers an exact measurement of how much heating occurs, with every pulse. Matrix Pro gives providers immediate feedback, helping them ensure that the right amount of energy has been delivered to each area.Â
This precision helps ensure that an effective dose of energy is delivered with every pulse, whatever the level of resistance in different areas of your face or body. It also allows providers to know when the Matrix Pro’s needles have hit fat, so they can either target it (if the patient’s goals include some fat reduction) or back out, to avoid fat atrophy—a common complaint with some other RF microneedling treatments.Â
Finally, the Matrix Pro’s superfine, insulated needles have a tapered design and patented delivery system that helps reduce discomfort and damage to the epidermis. The larger needles of some other RF microneedling devices require a fast “launch speed” to penetrate the skin’s surface, which can feel almost like a staple gun and create more trauma—including bruising, especially around the eyes. Matrix Pro’s thinner needles penetrate more gently, which makes the treatment more tolerable (with a topical numbing cream), helps protect the epidermis, curtails downtime, and helps reduce side effects.
As with all RF microneedling treatments, you’ll see the best results if you find a provider with the experience and skill to know the correct depths, energy settings, and technique for your skin type and concerns. But the advanced technology of Matrix Pro can help even the most experienced provider deliver a more comfortable and effective treatment than was possible with some previous-generation devices. Â
