The Difference Between Laser Resurfacing & RF
Microneedling: Everything You Need To Know

Apr 6, 2023

Laser skin resurfacing and RF(radio frequency) microneedling are two types of aesthetic treatments that promote skin revitalization. Although each treatment powerfully works to improve the skin’s look and feel, both treatments involve different procedures that produce varying patient experiences and outcomes.

Laser skin resurfacing uses light energy to heat the treatment area to trigger the skin’s natural healing response. Meanwhile, RF microneedling creates tiny punctures within the skin to stimulate the body’s healing response, while delivering targeted RF energy to cause further enhanced treatment results.

Wondering which treatment you should provide for your medical aesthetic practice? Learn more about each treatment below.

How Does Laser Skin Resurfacing Work?

Laser resurfacing, or a laser peel, uses targeted light energy to stimulate new collagen production essential for skin restoration to improve the skin’s overall tone and texture.

There are two types of laser treatments for face: ablative and non-ablative. Ablative lasers remove the top layer of the skin (epidermis) while non-ablative lasers heat the underlying skin tissue to generate new collagen formation.

Ablative laser resurfacing works to reduce signs of mild to moderate wrinkles, skin discoloration, and scarring. Because ablative lasers remove the outermost layer of the skin, this treatment can yield more dramatic and fast improvements to the skin. However, many patients experience pain and discomfort following an ablative laser resurfacing skin treatment and oftentimes need a couple of weeks to recover post-treatment. 

Non-ablative laser resurfacing is used to help improve the skin’s tone and texture over time. Because non-ablative laser resurfacing is less invasive than ablative laser resurfacing, it requires less downtime post-treatment.

How Does RF Microneedling Work?

Radiofrequency (RF) microneedling uses tiny needles to puncture the skin and create microwounds. These microwounds naturally trigger the body’s healing response essential for skin revitalization. As the device passes the treatment area, it also releases RF energy which causes further damage to the skin, and thus, enhances the microneedling effects. RF microneedling can improve a range of skin concerns from signs of aging to acne scars, sagging skin, and more.

How Does Agnes RF Work?

Agnes RF is a type of RF microneedling technology that combines standard microneedling with RF energy to generate new collagen and elastin production critical for smoother, tighter, younger-looking skin. Agnes RF is especially used to improve smaller treatment areas in the face, like the undereye area, upper eyelids, neck, and jowls. It can do this because of its hyper-targeted microneedles allowing you to sculpt the face, neck, and body.

Agnes RF Vs Laser Resurfacing: Which Is Better?

Laser skin resurfacing and Agnes RF are both aesthetic treatments that can help improve a range of skin concerns. However, Agnes RF is better than skin laser treatment for many reasons. Agnes RF requires less downtime post-treatment compared to facial resurfacing, Agnes RF is safe and effective on all skin types, and Agnes RF is specially designed to treat small, delicate areas of the face.

  1. Agnes RF Requires Minimal to Zero Downtime

Agnes RF requires significantly less recovery time compared to laser resurfacing treatment. Many patients who undergo laser facial resurfacing, especially ablative laser resurfacing, require two-plus weeks of downtime. This is because ablative laser skin resurfacing removes the top layer of the skin, which can not only be painful but inevitably require a significantly longer recovery time. Not to mention, as the new skin from the ablative laser treatment regenerates, the new skin will be more susceptible to Sun damage.

Agnes RF requires minimal to zero downtime post-treatment, so patients can go about their day, uninterrupted, post-treatment. Ablative laser resurfacing can present a range of uncomfortable side effects like redness, swelling, itching, and pain which can last for several weeks. Meanwhile, patients who undergo Agnes RF may experience some redness and discomfort; however, not nearly as long as laser facial resurfacing treatment.

Furthermore, because Agnes RF only creates tiny punctures within the skin, this means the top layer of the skin is left intact and thus is less likely to develop scarring and infection.

  1. Agnes RF Is Safe & Effective On All Skin Types

Laser skin resurfacing is best suited for lighter skin types as patients with darker skin tones are at a greater risk of experiencing hyperpigmentation from the treatment. Meanwhile, Agnes RF is safe and effective for all skin types. This means Agnes RF offers the ability to treat any patient that walks through your practice’s doors, which means you can help more patients and increase your practice’s profitability.

  1. Agnes RF Precisely Improves Small Treatment Areas

While laser skin resurfacing and Agnes RF offer precise treatment results, Agnes RF is specifically designed to treat small facial treatment areas requiring utmost precision and accuracy such as the upper eyelids and under-eye area. Dark circles and sagging eyelids are some of the leading visible signs of aging on the face, yet due to their close proximity to the eye, treating these concerns inevitably warrants extreme caution and precision.

The Agnes RF helps improve these smaller, more delicate treatment areas so patients can look years younger in under 30 minutes.

Learn More About How Agnes RF Can Grow Your Practice

Aesthetic Management Partners offers high-quality products and services so you can exceed patient expectations and expand your business.

Contact us today to learn more about how Agnes RF can help grow your practice.

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