Did RF Microneedling cause further scarring? (Photos)

Question

I had my 2nd RF Microneedling session 5 weeks ago to treat my acne scars. This time I was swollen like a ballon for 3 days, slightly swollen for another 3 days. My skin looks like a mess. The grid marks and redness will certainly disappear, but I'm irritated by the streaks, the horizontal wrinkles at my chin, the little squares at my cheek and temple - all not there before, it is a new landscape of scars - is it possible that I was given some new scars? I would be grateful for your assessment.

Robert M. Wald, Jr., MD · Answer

With infini, there will be skin reaction from the energy delivered with this device. Swelling and redness occurs in everyone and takes several weeks for this to dissipate. It would be unlikely that this device would cause further scarring. One must be patient and trust their health care professional to get them thru this process.

Jeff Rapaport, MD · Answer

There  are many possible side effects to treatment with RF micro-needling. However, I do believe it's too early to make any assessment in your case. Please give it at least 8 to 12 weeks before any conclusion is reached.  Work with your scar expert. Compare before and after pictures. Reputable Physicians stand behind their work.

Davin Lim, MBBS, FACD - Account Suspended · Answer

Very hard to say 'yes' or 'no' without the initial photos. Undeniably there is evidence of grids, and demarkation. I can not tell for sure if there are depressions (lighting can help). Remember all devices are dependent on the experience of the Specialist - either Dermatologist or Plastic surgeon. Please revisit your specialist as we all have a commitment to follow up our patients, and address any side effects. If this was INFINI- publication of your parameters will help. Wrong timing of delivering the energy pulse can give this result. In some areas I suspect, but can not confirm if the area has been pulse stacked a few times. I do need to be politically correct in my assessment, as I only have pictures and no notes to go by.Acne scar revision comprises of specialised procedures. For the best results, one should target the acne scar type with ideal treatments METHODS. Using one device is not optimal. As everyone has a unique pattern of acne scarring, the best solution is a tailored one.  The web reference below will take you to a resource to help you understand acne scar revision at a specialist level. I embedded all the videos in one page to help.

As an example deep ice pick scars, and narrow box car scars are best treated with TCA CROSS. Deep narrow scars respond better to this treatment than even the most expensive lasers. On the flip side, rolling, and atrophic acne scars can improve with fractional devices such as Fraxel, fractional lasers, ProFractional erbium lasers, Infiini –Intensif –Intracel radiofrequency microneedling. Atrophic scars (depressions) can be treated with either fat grafts, PRP or dermal fillers. Tethered and anchored scars are best treated with surgical techniques such as subcision. Other surgical techniques that I use include punch elevation, surgical elevation, punch excision and traditional excision for focal scars. Early and very mild acne scars respond well to eMatrix and non-energy microneedling, as well as vascular lasers. Skin colour changes such as PIH or dark marks respond best to sun protection, creams, and Q switch lasers in the nano and pico pulse durations.

The majority of patients will have a collection of different scar types, and hence a tailored treatment METHOD will be best. Careful examination, especially under angled lighting with scar mapping will give you an understanding of what are the best options for your scars. Additionally tactile examination namely touch will give me an understanding of the amount of subdermal fibrosis, as special equipment is needed for this sub-set of acne scars.  In the majority of patients its finding the correct combination that give you best results, and everyone is unique! It is never about the device, its about the specialist behind the equipment that will deliver the best outcomes. All the best, Dr Davin Lim. Acne scar dermatologist specialist. Brisbane, Australia.

Did RF Microneedling cause further scarring? (Photos)

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Did RF Microneedling cause further scarring? (Photos)

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Infini RF

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.