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POSTED UNDER Vivace Reviews

Vivace (Radiofrequency Microneedling) Disaster

UPDATED FROM Lmiller29

3 year update

Lmiller29
Bad news- I have tried everything to improve my skin- collagen supplements, vitamin c and hyaluronic acid, expensive skin creams and lotions, gentle chemical peels, retinol, microcurrent facials, you name it with no improvement. Still pretty miserable and I continue to have crepey skin, holes everywhere from the vivace device, fat atrophy, and with time, increased skin sagging due to the laxity. Still have visible track mark scars everywhere when you look at my skin up close (see photo). O get incredibly depressed looking at old photos from pre-treatment as I easily look almost 10 years younger. At this point, I am going to pursue laser resurfacing and fat grafting to try and improve the damage.

Lmiller29's provider

Laurel Matthews, MD

Laurel Matthews, MD

Physician

5.0 | 181 Reviews
PROFILE

Lmiller29 rating for Dr. Matthews:

Overall rating

Replies (5)

March 20, 2023
How long did it take for this to show? When does it stop? How long does it progress?
March 21, 2023
I had track marks right away after the procedure, and the fat atrophy progressed over the next few months at least. Over time, unfortunately since I now have loose crepey skin and fat atrophy, I am aging much faster. So even though the fat atrophy is no longer progressing, I am aging much faster then ever before and my skin is more saggy. Prior to the procedure I was commonly mistaken for being in my early 20's. Now it is 3 years post-procedure and people assume I am in my mid 30's. So I am 3 years older, but my skin looks 10+ years older then before the procedure.
July 26, 2023
hi, have you received any of the above treatments? My face is also melted from RF (called Forma). I've also started supplements, collagen, 2x Profhilo, 1x Belotero since 3 months ago (since the onset of damage). so far nothing has helped. My fat keeps melting. Every day I try to find out what might be the best treatment for me. I've gotten to the point where I've decided to do a facelift. I don't believe in any other "non-surgical facial rejuvenation" method that will tighten my sagging cheeks. and I would never dare expose my skin to the heat again including laser etc. I've also considered fat grafting, but the risky cause may be losing 40-60% fat in the next few months after surgery. Just thought I'd send you this, maybe it will help you in your decision. Good luck whatever you decide to do.
February 2, 2025
Please let me know how you got on with your skin. I feel for you as I have exactly the same problem as you. I have tried everything and my only option now is to see a top surgeon who will do a face lift and correct all the laser treatment I have had.
February 8, 2025
It keeps getting worse unfortunately. I talked to a plastic surgeon who says gave lift is the only option but I’m in my early 30’s! Still trying to cope and prevent it from ruining my life by trying to stay positive. I May start with a chemical peel
April 21, 2025
Hi, I bought myself an LED light therapy face mask and it has improved my skin considerably after the microneedling treatment, which left me with increased sensitvity skin and track marks which have not gone but improved.
UPDATED FROM Lmiller29

2 year update

Lmiller29
So its been 2 years since my procedure- Unfortunately I do not have good news. I have had absolutely no improvement in my skin- still have laxity, sagging, "holes" in my skin, and crepey skin texture. It has actually gotten worse over time. When I go out into the cold, you can still visibly see the fat atrophy and "holes" the microneedling device left. I look 5-10 years older then I did prior to the procedure, I used to get mistaken for being much younger then I am, now people guess I am older the I actually am. I am considering fat grafting and laser treatment at this time, as I have been so unhappy with my appearance since the procedure. I know looks aren't everything but I have not felt good about my appearance since I had this done. Do not do this to yourself!!!

Replies (3)

November 7, 2022
I'm so sorry to hear this. Has the physician been helpful at all?
February 12, 2023
Not really- she was sympathetic but did not give me a refund and didn’t have any good solutions.
March 4, 2023
Thats Terrible! & I agree with you about the micro needling....It scars you in such a way that it leaves you with an appearance of having large pores - I had it done more than once and I never had large pores before it! This procedure is deceptive....DON'T DO IT!
September 19, 2024
Well at least you can feel good about knowing you have protected others from this awful fate- you talked me out of it.
UPDATED FROM Lmiller29

1 Year Post

Lmiller29
1 Year Update
I want to make it clear that the purpose of this review is to inform other people about potential dangerous side effects of microneedling, specifically Radiofrequency. I emailed Vivace and they completely blew me off. However, my provider Dr. Laurel has been wonderful and incredibly supportive and helpful throughout this experience and the worst year of my life. I blame the company for this, not her.
The skin texture has finally improved slightly with PRP injections (NOT microneedling) but the fat loss has not changed, nor do I think it ever will without filler or fat grafting. Low-dose retinol, and a series of home (very mild AHA) peels has resolved the post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. My main concern, which is the "crepey" skin texture and "holes" from the device has seemed to hit a plateau. Though a plastic surgeon has recommended Profractional laser, I am terrified of making things worse, and have not tried this. I'm considering filler at this point to replace the volume loss now that it's clear it will not resolve on its own. Any suggestions for this would be much appreciated!

Replies (4)

July 20, 2021
did your skin improve? i had a similar result
March 26, 2025
Unfortunately never improved. Also, because I’ve lost the integrity of so much of my skin. I’m aging significantly faster. I got two consultations from a plastic surgeon and both told me I basically would need a facelift and I’m 35 :(
December 5, 2021
With so many positive reviews for Vivace, white do you think this happened? I have scheduled to do it this month and now I'm worried. Doing it on the forehead for acne scarring.
February 9, 2025
Did you go ahead with Vivace. I have heard so many good results but bad too. I am scheduled in to have 3 treatments and I am getting worried about hearing so many bad results.
May 2, 2022
I had the same result from fractional Co2 Laser set at too high energy. It took over 2 years for my skin to recover. I was very stressed out and lost weight which made it look worse.
It got me into home microneedling. Hang in there.
March 22, 2025
I have had one treatment and so far my skin has improved a little bit. I do have one grid mark from the needles which I will point out next time I go for my second treatment, at all times I have made a point not to go too deep with the needles but what I did find it was painful around my cheeks so don’t let anybody say it’s not painful because it is.