What Is RF Microneedling? A Complete Guide to the Treatment

One day, you catch your reflection in the mirror and notice some subtle changes: smile lines settling around the mouth, pores that look a little more visible, skin that doesn’t feel as firm as it used to. While you’ve kept up with your skincare routine, the visible results don’t seem to last. 

The tighter, smoother skin you want lies beyond just a surface refresh. Here, RF microneedling comes into play. RF microneedling offers a promising solution for those looking to improve skin appearance. By combining the collagen-stimulating power of microneedling with radiofrequency energy, this treatment coaxes your skin’s natural collagen and elastin to return to action. 

This guide will take you inside the science, the experience, and the outcomes of RF microneedling, and why it’s quickly becoming a trusted tool in modern aesthetics.

What Is RF Microneedling?

Traditional microneedling creates micro-injuries on the skin’s surface, prompting a natural repair response. These micro-injuries enhance collagen and elastin production in both the epidermis and dermis. Adding radiofrequency engages fibroblasts in deeper layers of the skin, encouraging them to lay down stronger, more organized collagen fibers.¹

Depth and intensity, thus, set RF microneedling apart from standard microneedling. Additionally, this technique treats various skin issues effectively, providing cosmetic improvements. In a split-face clinical trial, this dual stimulation led to significant improvements in wrinkle depth, elasticity, and collagen density on the RF-treated side.²

How RF Microneedling Works

RF microneedling’s impact lies in its ability to activate repair at both the surface and deeper layers of the skin. 

• The process begins with ultra-fine needles creating tiny, controlled injuries. This signals the skin to begin repair, producing new structural proteins.
• At the same time, RF energy is delivered through the needles into the dermis. The RF thermal energy contracts existing collagen while stimulating the growth of new fibers. 

This mechanical- and energy-based approach works on multiple levels at once.³ The surface becomes smoother as cell turnover increases, while the deeper layers, including the dermis, rebuild elasticity.⁴

Benefits of RF Microneedling

Research continues to support the efficacy of RF microneedling in everything from wrinkles to scars to overall skin quality.

• Improving skin firmness – RF microneedling visibly lifts the skin, helping it look and feel more resilient with each session.⁵

• Smoothing wrinkles – In clinical trials, RF microneedling delivers nearly 50% reduction in wrinkle scores after just 2 to 3 sessions, outperforming microneedling alone.⁴
• Reducing scars and enlarged pores – For many patients, scarring is one of the most stubborn concerns. Here, the procedure can reduce the severity of scars and visibly reduce pore size.⁶

• Enhancing tone and texture – The skin becomes more uniform in color, less dull, and feels tighter.⁷ Patients also often report smoother skin on the face, neck, and other areas prone to mild laxity. With the right skin tightening products after an RF microneedling session, these visible results can be further enhanced and maintained over time.

Taken together, these benefits explain why RF microneedling has become so popular. 

What to Expect During and After Treatment

Preparing for your treatment and knowing what to expect can help ensure the best visible results possible. 

• Most RF microneedling sessions begin with the application of a topical numbing cream to promote a more comfortable experience.
• Once the treatment starts, you may notice pressure or a controlled warmth as the microneedles deliver radiofrequency energy into the skin.
• The session itself is relatively short, typically under an hour.
• Immediately afterward, the facial and body skin often looks and feels similar to a mild sunburn: redness, slight swelling, and sometimes pinpoint marks that resolve within a day or two. Proper microneedling aftercare—including gentle cleansing, hydration, and sun protection—helps soothe the skin and support optimal healing.
• Downtime is usually minimal, ranging from 1 to 3 days, though this varies depending on treatment intensity.

The visible results, however, are not instant. Most people begin to notice visible changes within a few weeks, as their skin produces new collagen and elastin.⁸ Optimal outcomes typically require a series of sessions, spaced several weeks apart. The addition of RF energy in these sessions ensures that facial rejuvenation is efficiently achieved.

Is RF Microneedling Safe for All Skin Types?

When performed by a trained professional, RF microneedling is generally safe across many skin types and tones. This makes it more versatile than some energy-based devices that carry a higher risk of pigmentation changes.⁹ This versatility makes it a preferred choice for facial treatments.

That said, like any procedure, it’s not without risks. 

• Temporary redness, mild swelling, or pinpoint bleeding are normal and usually short-lived.
• Rare complications, such as infection or persistent irritation, are largely preventable with proper technique and aftercare. 

Supporting Visible Results with Skincare

RF microneedling can trigger change, but the skin needs support to fully capitalize on it. Immediately after treatment, the barrier is in a delicate state, making gentle hydration, barrier-strengthening products, and vigilant sun protection essential.¹⁰

The right skincare can also help amplify your visible results. Formulas like ALASTIN®’s TriHex Technology® do what ordinary skincare cannot: They support the body’s natural process for generating new, healthy collagen and elastin fibers. ALASTIN is regenerative skincare on a whole other level, amplifying skin’s own natural abilities to deliver visible results.

At the same time, they provide the nourishment the skin needs to rebuild stronger than before. It’s regenerative science designed to complement treatments like RF microneedling.

With this dual approach (professional procedure and targeted skincare), visible results are not only more noticeable but also longer lasting.¹¹

Enhance Your RF Microneedling Visible Results With ALASTIN

At ALASTIN, we’ve built our identity around one principle: Skin can regenerate, and with the right assistance, that ability can be amplified. While each session of RF microneedling sets the stage for skin renewal, post-procedure care defines how complete that renewal looks to you. 

Think of it like this: Your provider jumpstarts the process with RF microneedling, and our TriHex Technology® skincare products are proven to provide visible results long after you leave the office. It’s science that helps extend and protect your investment. In addition, establishing a daily skincare routine with ALASTIN’s products helps keep your skin in optimal condition.

Make every treatment count. Discover ALASTIN’s medical-grade skincare today. 

Sources: 

1. International Open Access Journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Effects of Bipolar Radiofrequency on Collagen Synthesis from Patients with Brachial Ptosis. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10101252/
2. Nature.com. Comparison of the effects of fractional microneedle radiofrequency and microneedling on modulating the senescent fibroblast milieu in aged skin. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-02545-3
3. PubMed Central. Adjustable Depth Fractional Radiofrequency Combined With Bipolar Radiofrequency: A Minimally Invasive Combination Treatment for Skin Laxity. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6460431/
4. PubMed Central. Microneedling With RF-Assisted Skin Penetration Improves the Hard-to-Treat Periorbital Wrinkles: Nonrandomized Clinical Trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39418172/ 
5. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. Subcutaneous Radiofrequency Microneedling for the Treatment of Thigh Skin Laxity Caused by Weight Loss: A Case Study. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6624002/ 
6. PubMed Central. Evaluation of Microneedling Fractional Radiofrequency Device for Treatment of Acne Scars. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4134659/ 
7. Cleveland Clinic. Radio Frequency (RF) Skin Tightening. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24683-radio-frequency-rf-skin-tightening
8. Dermatologic Surgery. Microneedling: A Review and Practical Guide. https://journals.lww.com/dermatologicsurgery/abstract/2018/03000/microneedling__a_review_and_practical_guide.11.aspx
9. Dermatological Reviews. Fractional radiofrequency based combinations for augmented skin rejuvenation results. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/der2.8 
10. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. An Open-label Study Assessing the Efficacy and Tolerability of a Post-treatment Skincare Protocol Following Radiofrequency Microneedling for Facial Rejuvenation. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9122279/
11. American Academy of Facial Esthetics. Consistency in Skincare: Why It’s the Key to Radiant Skin. https://facialesthetics.org/consistency-in-skincare-why-its-the-key-to-radiant-skin/

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