Question 1

What is Profound RF microneedling?

Accepted Answer

Profound RF is an FDA-cleared, minimally invasive skin rejuvenation procedure for the face and body. It uses a combination of microneedling with radiofrequency energy to firm skin, reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles, and fade scars.

Ultra-thin needles deliver heat from the RF energy into the reticular dermis, the skin’s lower layer, to create controlled damage. This stimulates a natural healing response that reinvigorates the body’s natural production of hyaluronic acid, elastin, and collagen, the building blocks that keep skin taut and elastic.

The treatment is most often performed around the mouth and cheeks, along the jawline to treat jowls, and on the neck.

It can also be used on the body to fade scars (including acne scars and stretch marks), firm mildly sagging skin, and diminish the appearance of cellulite.

The Profound RF microneedling device gives your provider real-time feedback on the energy level and precise temperature of treated tissue, making it easier for them to control the level of injury and stimulate a healing response, while avoiding the potential complications of over-treatment.

RealSelf Tip: Profound RF and other RF microneedling treatments can be used in concert with injectables (like Botox), laser treatments, topical PRP, and other minimally invasive treatments for a nonsurgical facelift. In fact, some practices market this treatment as a "Profound RFfacelift," which can create unrealistic expectations for what it can achieve. Results certainly won't rival a surgical facelift (or even a mini lift), but for people with mild sagging and loss of volume, a well-chosen combination of procedures can create a noticeable improvement and postpone the need for plastic surgery.

Question 2

What are the pros and cons of Profound RF?

Accepted Answer

Pros

The combination of microneedling and RF energy produces much more significant collagen remodeling than you'd get with either procedure alone.
The device is more powerful than other popular RF microneedling treatments, with 4-second radiofrequency energy pulses (vs. 1-second pulses for Morpheus8) and precise temperature control that heats the dermis to 67 degrees C (vs. 42 degrees C for Morpheus8). This means that Profound treatments can create a noticeable result in a single treatment session. (Other RF microneedling treatments typically require three to four treatment sessions every four to six weeks, for best results.)
Clinical studies funded by Candela (the makers of the Profound device) claim a 100% response rate for reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as a 95% response rate for tightening sagging skin.
They also claim that the procedure revs up your cell turnover to generate up to five times more elastin and double the rate of new collagen production, while boosting your skin's production of hyaluronic acid.
RealSelf members who felt this minimally invasive treatment was “Worth It” cited impressive results after a few months, with one reviewer even claiming a restored sense of confidence post-treatment.

Cons

Minimally invasive treatments like RF microneedling won't deliver the same skin tightening results as a surgical facelift, so it's important to ensure that you’re a good candidate, and to have realistic expectations.
Results can take months (or even more than a year) to appear, and they can be subtle.
Some RealSelf members say they felt more discomfort and needed more healing time for bruising than they’d expected.
Other potential side effects include prolonged redness, blistering, and changes in your skin’s pigmentation.
More serious, long-term risks include fat loss and permanent indentations or scars. Some RealSelf members who said Profound RF was “Not Worth It” were left with new scars and indentations, including some that developed months after their treatment.

RealSelf Tip: As with most radiofrequency treatments, people who are pregnant or have a pacemaker or defibrillator are not good candidates for a Profound procedure. You'll also need to avoid any kind of microneedling if you have active acne, eczema, or psoriasis. Alert your provider if you’re prone to cold sores, since the treatment could trigger an outbreak.

Question 3

How much does Profound RF cost?

Accepted Answer

The price you pay for Profound RF treatments will depend on the experience level of your provider, their practice location, the size of the treatment area, and a few other key factors.

You can finance your treatment with CareCredit.

See our complete guide to Profound RF costs

Question 4

Profound RF before and after pictures

Accepted Answer

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

Question 5

What happens during a Profound RF treatment?

Accepted Answer

While every appointment won’t be exactly the same, here’s what you can expect.

Each Profound treatment begins with an injection of local anesthesia to numb the treatment area.
Once you’re numb, your provider will press the handheld device into your skin.
12 microneedles will create tiny injuries in your dermis, while delivering the radiofrequency energy to the depth where the maximum regenerative response can take place. The device will heat the tissue to 67 degrees for 4 seconds, without damaging the outer layer of skin.
Your provider will then lift and move the device to treat each small patch of skin, until the entire area has been treated.

One session can take 45 to 90 minutes, depending on the size of the treatment area.

Question 6

What should you expect during recovery?

Accepted Answer

Immediately afterward, the treated area will be swollen, inflamed, and possibly bruised. The swelling often gets worse for a few days before it gets better.

Everyone heals differently, so while some people may be fine having the treatment on a Friday and covering bruising and inflammation with makeup on Monday, many need up to a week of social downtime. Some RealSelf members say the healing process took up to three weeks before swelling and bruising had fully subsided.

According to Dr. Danielle Shanley, a physician in Boston, “It’s perfectly normal to have soreness and numbness for one to two weeks and occasionally a month or longer after a Profound RF procedure. The radiofrequency that’s delivered by the needles may also cause temporary nerve damage, but this will resolve on its own.”

Question 7

How soon will you see results?

Accepted Answer

Some people start to see results from a single treatment in as little as two weeks, but it typically takes three to six months (and sometimes longer) before you'll see optimal results from the formation of new collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid.

Question 8

How long does Profound RF last?

Accepted Answer

The skin tightening benefits of Profound RF can last for up to two years, and improvements in your skin's texture may last longer.

You can prolong your results by wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more and using medical-grade skin care.

Question 9

Is Profound RF better than Ultherapy?

Accepted Answer

Both Profound RF and Ultherapy are effective, nonsurgical options for treating a variety of skin concerns in a single treatment session. RealSelf members give Ultherapy a 71% Worth It Rating—essentially the same as Profound RF.

However, there are a few key differences between the two:

There is generally no downtime after Ultherapy other than some slight swelling, bruising, or redness. Alternatively, Profound RF patients may experience these same symptoms for a week or more.
Ultherapy is typically only used on areas like the neck, brow, décolletage, and under the chin, while Profound RF is used on all those same areas as well as larger body parts, to diminish cellulite and stretch marks.
Ultherapy results last between one and two years, while Profound RF results last about two years, with improvements in texture potentially lasting even longer.
Profound treatment tends to be more expensive than Ultherapy.

A qualified provider who offers a range of skin rejuvenation treatment options can help determine if this is the best choice for your concerns and goals.

PROFOUND RF

Danielle Shanley, MD

Colleen Williams

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Danielle Shanley, MD

Colleen Williams

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EMAILS