In this month’s first blog of the New Year, we talked about a treatment that combines microneedling with the delivery of radiofrequency energy called Profound.
To stay on that same path for our second January blog, let’s get into another combination of RF and microneedling called Pixel8-RF. Pixel8 isn’t as intense a treatment as Profound, but we still feel it’s a great option for patients in our Alpharetta and Atlanta locations of Beaty Facial Plastic Surgery.
Adjustable options
Profound may be a somewhat more aggressive combination of RF energy and microneedling, but Pixel8 has a variation that patients appreciate. For the microneedling portion of Pixel8, the handpiece has three different options for the number of pins: 25-pin, 49-pin, or 64-pin cartridges. This gives us great latitude for treating areas more quickly thanks to the larger pin configurations.
Also, with Pixel8-RF the penetration depth of the microneedles can be adjusted to match the area being treated. These settings penetrate from .5 mm to 3.5 mm. So, when we’re treating an area such as the forehead, we can set the penetration depth to be much shallower, as there isn’t the same skin thickness as there is, say, on the cheeks.
RF + microneedling
The key to these treatments is skin rejuvenation through increased collagen production, along with instant collagen remodeling across the treatment areas. Why is this so important? Collagen is the protein in the body responsible for providing the structural framework under our skin. It basically creates a latticework in the dermis that supports the epidermis. The problem is, as we age, our collagen production declines every year by one additional percentage point after we celebrate our 20th birthday. That means, at 45 we’re working with 25 percent less collagen than in our younger days, and it only continues to decline. This is why our skin begins to sag and develop more lines and wrinkles.
When the Pixel8-RF needles puncture the skin and are at full depth, they emit a burst of radiofrequency energy directly into the dermis. When RF energy enters the dermis, it converts to heat. When the body senses heat in the dermis layer, it assumes there has been a wound. It responds by remodeling the existing collagen in the area and then initiating new production of collagen and elastin to heal the perceived wound, although there isn’t actually any wound. This increase in collagen smooths, firms, and improves skin texture and tone.
As with Profound, bypassing the epidermis and delivering the RF energy directly into the dermis means higher levels of RF energy can be used without worrying about damaging the outer skin. This means better rejuvenation through collagen renewal.
Now that you have a new TV from Christmas, you no longer worry about pixilation. But you skin is thinking about Pixel8 at Beaty Facial Plastic Surgery. Call us at (770) 753-0053 to schedule an appointment.
