Sylfirm X: What You Need to Know

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.

• Average Cost:
• $1,875

• Range:
• $700 - $3,000

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.”