Over the last few years, we have witnessed significant advancements in non-surgical skin care treatments. Chemical peels, microneedling, radiofrequency, thread lifts, and dermal fillers are all options for treating cosmetic concerns ranging from acne to stretch marks, uneven skin tone, wrinkles, and sagging skin.
One such breakthrough that has gained immense popularity is VirtueRF: an innovative procedure that combines the effectiveness of traditional microneedling with the power of radiofrequency (RF) energy, providing individuals with remarkable skincare benefits.
With a seemingly new treatment option on the market each day, what makes VirtueRF different? In this article, we will explore VirtueRF, how it works, how it differs from traditional microneedling treatments, its key benefits, procedure details, and what to expect from recovery and results.
What is Traditional Microneedling?
Microneedling is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure designed to rejuvenate and enhance the skin. The procedure involves a device with several tiny needles that pierce the skin and create microscopic channels that stimulate collagen and elastin production.
Collagen is a structural protein naturally produced in the body that assists tissue repair, immune response, and cellular communication. By naturally stimulating increased collagen production, microneedling can help decrease the appearance of dark spots, acne, and wrinkles while promoting a smoother skin tone.
Elastin is a stretchy protein naturally found within parts of the body that require flexibility. Your lungs, ligaments, blood vessels, skin, and other body parts that expand and contract will contain elastin protein. By increasing elastin production within the middle layer of your skin, the dermis, your skin will naturally “bounce back” quicker, giving youthful plumpness and tautness to the face.
How the VirtueRF is Different
Similar to traditional microneedling treatments, VirtueRF creates microscopic punctures in the skin with sterile needles, activating the body’s natural healing response.
However, this innovative technology also combines these punctures with radiofrequency (RF) skin tightening, where controlled heat energy penetrates into deeper layers of the skin through low-frequency electromagnetic waves.
RF treatment has been used for years to activate collagen production in the skin, as well as elastin production. This dual action of microneedling and RF energy amplifies overall results, leading to a more comprehensive skin rejuvenation than traditional microneedling or RF treatments alone. By combining these techniques into one tool, the VirtueRF offers the most optimized skin treatment.
VirtueRF also sets itself apart from similar treatment options because it is virtually painless. By using an exclusive robotic precision delivery (RPD) system, the insertion of needles is so exact that they do not tear or scratch the skin and cause unnecessary trauma and pain. Traditional microneedling tools and other products like the Morpheus8 cannot provide the following:
- The same level of control
- Fewer tears in the skin
- Less pain
- A more successful result
Key Benefits of VirtueRF
Enhanced Collagen Production
The VirtueRF treatment triggers collagen synthesis by inducing controlled trauma within the skin. Increased collagen production improves skin elasticity and texture, which results in the reduction of the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Skin Tightening
The combination of RF energy and microneedles targets the deeper layers of the skin, leading to a tightening effect. This treatment is particularly effective for sagging skin; you can expect a more youthful and lifted appearance. The results for VirtueRF have often been compared to getting a facelift!
Scar Reduction
RF microneedling is a highly sought-after skincare treatment for reducing the appearance of acne scars, surgical scars, and stretch marks. The controlled micro-injuries and heat energy possible with VirtueRF help stimulate the remodeling of scar tissue, promoting a smooth and even skin texture.
Pore Reduction
Because this treatment increases collagen and elastin, it also helps minimize the size of enlarged pores, resulting in a smoother complexion.
Reduction of Hyperpigmentation and Skin Discoloration
RF microneedling can improve skin tone and reduce hyperpigmentation concerns such as melasma (brown or blue-gray skin patches), sunspots, and age spots. A 2022 study showed that pulsed-type RF microneedling treatment, the kind used in VirtueRF, can help decrease the extra melanin that causes dark spots like melasma, leading to a more even and radiant skin tone.
Extreme Control
VirtueRF has multiple handpieces designed to give your skincare professional ultimate control and ensure the most comfortable procedure with maximal results. The Smart RF and Deep RF tools have 36 microneedles for the best tightening and smoothing for the face, hands, and neck. Additionally, the Exact RF uses a single needle to target around the mouth, eyes, and jawline where you want complete precision.
Virtually Painless
Because of its robotic precision delivery (RPD) system, the VirtueRF device provides an experience free from the scratching and tearing seen from other microneedling devices, minimizing pain and discomfort.
Compatible with Other Treatment Options
To maximize the potential of your RF microneedling treatment, VirtueRF is compatible with Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatments. In these procedures, platelets are extracted from your blood and applied to the skin of the face during your microneedling treatment. PRP contains growth factors that are wonderful for healing and can accelerate the healing process of your face and provide optimal results from treatment.
What to Expect from Your VirtueRF Procedure
Before the procedure, a skincare professional will conduct an assessment of your skin and healthcare history to ensure that VirtueRF is the best treatment option for your specific needs. Thankfully, VirtueRF is an excellent fit for nearly everyone! All light and dark skin types can benefit from this procedure. If your healthcare professional agrees that this is the best option for you, they will schedule a future appointment.
While the procedure is virtually painless, a topical numbing cream can be applied on the day of treatment to minimize discomfort. During the treatment, the RF microneedling device is carefully passed over the targeted area, ensuring the needles penetrate to the desired depth.
The procedure itself is over in a flash! The exact duration varies depending on the treated area, but the average time for a VirtueRF treatment of the whole face is about 20 minutes.
Recovery and Aftercare
One of the best parts about VirtueRF is that there is virtually no downtime! Following the treatment, your skin may look slightly red and experience mild swelling, which typically subsides within a few hours. Patients are advised to wear broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect the treated skin and should avoid direct sun exposure.
Your skincare professional will provide you with post-treatment instructions, which may include gentle cleansing, moisturizing, and avoiding aggressive exfoliation until the skin fully recovers. Also, it is typically suggested to avoid putting on any makeup for at least 24 hours after the treatment to ensure that your skin is allowed to heal properly.
To help with recovery after the treatment and to optimize results, VirtueRF is paired with an innovative Microcurrent Dual Face Mask. The wet mask contains ingredients like sodium hyaluronate, aloe vera extract, and caffeine to nourish and moisturize your skin after the treatment. According to the creators of VirtueRF, the wet mask is “rich in antioxidants, vitamins and moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties, [and] it eliminates redness and optimizes the post-RF microneedling healing.”
The dry mask contains patented Tissue X™ microcurrent technology and delivers these ingredients deeper into your skin without the need for separate devices or electricity. Once you have completed your treatment, you are free to go about your day! Your skincare provider will schedule your next appointment.
Results & Maintenance
When it comes to results, the naturally produced collagen and elastin will immediately start to improve the skin’s texture, and it only gets better after the procedure! Patients can expect to see maximum results about 4 – 6 weeks post-treatment.
To ensure that patients see the most from their VirtueRF Microneedling treatment, packages of 3 or 6 treatments are recommended for optimal results. Your skincare expert will space these appointments out approximately 4 – 6 weeks between treatments to allow your skin to heal and achieve the maximum result from each treatment.
Results last an average of 6 months after you have completed your last round of treatments, and patients will often pursue additional treatments every 6 months to maintain their results.
Choosing the Right Team
The most important part of any cosmetic or medical procedure is ensuring that you have the right team looking out for you.
At Source of Health, our team has years of experience using traditional microneedling devices and is constantly training on the latest technological innovations like VirtueRF to provide superior services to our patients. As a leading medical spa in the Scottsdale, Arizona region, we aim to form a close bond with every one of our patients to deliver the best care and help you feel better, look better, and live better.
All of our treatments are performed as part of a holistic look at your health and wellness to meet your specific goals. If you are interested in learning more about VirtueRF or any of our treatment options, feel free to reach out to our team of experts for a consultation – we would love the chance to become your source of health.
