Q: What are the pros and cons of Sylfirm X?

Pros The device has eight different modes, so your provider can customize your treatment to target specific skin conditions. The treatment is relatively painless (thanks to numbing cream) and comes with minimal downtime. It’s safe for all skin types and tones. Robotic microneedling technology helps ensure that the device’s electrodes penetrate skin at optimal depths. The quality of the needles and smooth delivery makes the treatment much more tolerable than similar devices, notes Dr. Song. It can treat nearly any body area to treat skin laxity, wrinkling, the appearance of scars, and more. The combination of dual wave RF microneedling and exosome therapy offers a more comfortable, quick recovery than previous RF microneedling treatments. Sylfirm X before and after photos show smoother, tighter, and clearer skin. Cons While some patients see an improvement after a single treatment, the manufacturer recommends an initial series of three to six treatments, spaced four to six weeks apart, for optimal results. You’ll need to wait to see your final outcome—new collagen growth takes about three months. Though this is one of the most comfortable microneedling devices providers have ever seen, patients with very sensitive skin may experience some discomfort, even with numbing cream. RealSelf Tip: Like other RF microneedling devices, Sylfirm X is technically FDA cleared for “electrocoagulation and hemostasis”—in other words, destroying abnormal tissue or stopping blood flow. In practice, these devices are widely used for skin rejuvenation.

Question 1

What is Sylfirm X?

Accepted Answer

Sylfirm X by Benev is one of the most advanced radiofrequency energy (RF) microneedling treatments. As the first FDA-cleared radiofrequency microneedling device to offer both ultra-short pulsed wave mode and a continuous wave (CW) mode, Sylfirm X can treat a broad range of skin concerns.

The short pulse wave mode is used to treat:

vascular pigmentation issues, including rosacea, melasma, and solar lentigo
vascular lesions and small broken blood vessels
post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)
acne scars
stretch marks

While the continuous wave mode treats:

mild skin laxity
fine lines and wrinkles
uneven skin texture and tone
large pores

"Sylfirm X is the only device to provide precise thermal coagulation along with dual wave technology, which allows for less downtime, less pain, and all the benefits of collagen stimulation along with treating melasma, hyperpigmentation, and redness,” says Dr. Jessie Cheung, board-certified dermatologist in Chicago.

Here’s how this cutting-edge skin rejuvenation treatment works.

Ultra-fine gold needles penetrate the skin at controlled depths of between 0.3mm and 4mm. This creates controlled micro-injuries, triggering a healing response that stimulates new collagen and elastin production and speeds skin cell turnover. “Because the energy delivered is very precise, there is very little risk of scarring when the treatment is performed by a properly trained provider,” explains Dr. Hung William Song, a physician in Oakland, New Jersey who specializes in energy-based cosmetic procedures.
These non-insulated needles also deliver dual wave RF energy into the tissue, from the superficial layers to the deeper dermis. This tightens existing collagen fibers, to provide mild skin tightening benefits right away, while stimulating new collagen and elastin formation over the next three months.
The benefits of Sylfirm X can be further enhanced by exosome therapy, a recent innovation that uses growth factors, mRNA, and other active ingredients to enhance skin revitalization and deliver optimal results with minimal downtime.

“I have over a decade of experience working with many different RF and RF microneedling devices. The Sylfirm X stands out above similar devices because it is engineered to be very precise. It does not overdeliver the energy, so there is significantly less risk of adverse reactions such as hyperpigmentation, burns, and scarring,” Dr. Song explains. He also says that the results are more consistent and “superior to devices using insulated needles. The uninsulated needles deliver the energy throughout the whole length of the needles, instead of just at the tip, which allows for vectoring.”

“What my patients love the most about the Sylfirm X is that it is not anywhere nearly as painful as the competing devices, there is almost no downtime, and they can often see some results instantly,” notes Dr. Song.

All RF microneedling treatments are very technique-dependent, and this one is no exception, according to Dr. Song. “Proper technique is essential for getting great results with any device, but because the practitioner can vector and lift with the Sylfirm X, I like to think of our providers as artists rather than technicians. When choosing a practice to get your treatment, don’t shop for the lowest price.” He recommends paying close attention to patient reviews and before and after photos to find a provider who’s a true expert.

Question 2

What are the pros and cons of Sylfirm X?

Accepted Answer

Pros

The device has eight different modes, so your provider can customize your treatment to target specific skin conditions.
The treatment is relatively painless (thanks to numbing cream) and comes with minimal downtime.
It’s safe for all skin types and tones.
Robotic microneedling technology helps ensure that the device’s electrodes penetrate skin at optimal depths. The quality of the needles and smooth delivery makes the treatment much more tolerable than similar devices, notes Dr. Song.
It can treat nearly any body area to treat skin laxity, wrinkling, the appearance of scars, and more.
The combination of dual wave RF microneedling and exosome therapy offers a more comfortable, quick recovery than previous RF microneedling treatments.
Sylfirm X before and after photos show smoother, tighter, and clearer skin.

Cons

While some patients see an improvement after a single treatment, the manufacturer recommends an initial series of three to six treatments, spaced four to six weeks apart, for optimal results.
You’ll need to wait to see your final outcome—new collagen growth takes about three months.
Though this is one of the most comfortable microneedling devices providers have ever seen, patients with very sensitive skin may experience some discomfort, even with numbing cream.

RealSelf Tip: Like other RF microneedling devices, Sylfirm X is technically FDA cleared for “electrocoagulation and hemostasis”—in other words, destroying abnormal tissue or stopping blood flow. In practice, these devices are widely used for skin rejuvenation.

Question 3

How much does Sylfirm X cost?

Accepted Answer

The price you pay will depend on where you have your treatment done, your provider’s credentials and level of experience, and how many treatment sessions you have.

Question 4

Who makes a good candidate?

Accepted Answer

The best candidates for Sylfirm X are healthy nonsmokers with mild to moderate skin laxity, fine lines, stretch marks, acne scars, and/or pigmentation concerns.

Avoid Sylfirm X if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have active acne, eczema, psoriasis, an unhealed wound in the treatment area, or very sensitive skin.

Providers also don’t recommend any type of microneedling treatment for people who are prone to keloids, or those who are taking Accutane.

If you take blood thinners or supplements like fish oil, talk with your provider about how to safely pause those doses before and after your treatment.

Question 5

What happens during a Sylfirm X treatment?

Accepted Answer

You’ll have 20 to 45 minutes of Sylfirm X treatment time, depending on the size and number of areas you’re having treated. Here’s what you can expect.

First, your provider will apply a numbing cream. You’ll want to wait at least 30 minutes to an hour for it to take effect.
Once your skin is numb, your provider will move the tip of the Sylfirm X handpiece across your skin.
You may feel a mild sting and a warm, tingling sensation from the RF energy pulses, along with some pressure, as the microneedles are rapidly inserted and removed. It’s not truly painless, but it should be bearable.
You can then opt for your provider to finish your treatment with a topical application of Benev’s Exosome Regenerative Complex, to soothe the skin, speed up your recovery time, and enhance your results.
Afterward, your skin may feel tight and inflamed or look pink, like a mild sunburn, but you should be able to go on with your daily routine.

If you want to see significant results, this isn’t a one-and-done skin treatment. “I recommend a series of three treatments spaced four to six weeks apart for the average patient,” adds Dr. Cheung. The device manufacturer says that some patients may need up to six treatment sessions.

According to Dr. Song, Sylfirm X works especially well in combination with other skin rejuvenation treatments. He recommends:

Having your neurotoxin or filler treatment at least 1 week before or 1 week after a Sylfirm X treatment.
Hydrafacials or microdermabrasions can be done just prior.
PRP or exosome treatments can be done the same day, immediately following a Sylfirm X treatment.
A light fractional laser treatment can be done immediately afterward. “The laser treats the surface and the Sylfirm X treats the deeper layers of the skin, so that you don’t have to do an aggressive laser treatment,” explains Dr. Song.
Hold off on chemical peels for at least 3 weeks after your treatment.

Question 6

How soon will you see results?

Accepted Answer

Some results from Sylfirm X are visible fairly quickly, says Dr. Cheung. “Many patients report an improvement in skin quality within the first few weeks after treatment,” she says.

Improvements in fine lines and enlarged pores may be visible within two weeks. About a month after treatment, you’ll see a reduction in acne scars and pigmentation concerns.

Skin tightening and other issues improved by collagen production will take longer to see: about three months.

Question 7

What are the side effects of Sylfirm X?

Accepted Answer

The Sylfirm X device has undergone more than 25 clinical studies to show its efficacy and safety.

According to its manufacturer, most Sylfirm X patients experience minimal or no side effects. You may have some skin sensitivity, a tight sensation, or swelling for the first day or two post-treatment. During this time, use a gentle cleanser, skip the makeup, and avoid skin care products with active ingredients like retinoids, AHAs, and BHAs.

Your skin will also be especially sensitive to sun, so it’s important to protect it with a broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. This will also help maximize and prolong your results.

While more serious side effects have not yet been widely reported, known complications of improperly performed RF microneedling treatments include uneven texture and visible grid marks or pinpricks. Some patients even report fat atrophy from overly aggressive treatments.

It’s important to choose a provider who has years of experience performing RF microneedling procedures without adverse effects. Make sure they have a track record of patient reviews and an extensive before-and-after photo gallery to prove their expertise.

Question 8

How long do results last?

Accepted Answer

Most people can expect to see the benefits of Sylfirm X for about one year, though some people can see an improvement for up to two years. After that, annual maintenance sessions are recommended.

Exactly how long your Sylfirm X results last will depend on a variety of factors, including your age, the severity of the skin concerns you are trying to address, your lifestyle, and whether you regularly use medical-grade skin care products.

“[With Sylfirm X treatment], the biological clock of your skin is turned back, but your behavior will determine how long your results will last,” says Dr. Cheung. “Diet, sun exposure, free radical environmental exposure, skincare regimen, sleep, and stress—these all play a role in skin aging.”