Morpheus 8 RF Microneedling

Morpheus8 is an advanced RF microneedling system.  Its job is to tighten facial & neck skin, in turn reducing laxity. Morpheus8 has a unique feature, namely delivering high energy RF to different levels of the skin. This addresses tightening of the fat layer & the lower dermal layer of skin

Morpheus8 excels in treating-

• Laxity & sag of the lower face & neck
• Enlarged pores
• Acne scars (rolling & atrophic)

Other conditions that can be treated with Morpheu8 include; 

• Laxity of the body, chest
• Stretch marks
• Textural skin concerns 
• Improving skin quality, reducing dull skin

Morpheus8 RFM can stimulate & tighten skin on the face & neck. With deep remodelling of collagen & the network around fat cells, Morpheus8 can restore skin turgor, as increasing the tensile strength of skin reduces laxity.

Patients with the highest probability of success include-

• Mild to moderate skin laxity of the lower face & neck.
• Absence of sun damage. 

If you have significant sun damage, RF devices do not work as well. The reason is that collagen is broken & lax. For this group we recommend deep chemical peels or ablative lasers. 

My clinical team & I profile patients before any treatment. This translates to a high hit rate (patient satisfaction rate)

10 to 40 minutes. For simple procedures such as acne scars, your treatment is over in less than 10 minutes. For more complex procedures such as facial & neck laxity, it takes 40 minutes or more. 

Typically, 2- 5 days, depending on settings. Settings depend on the clinical findings. As a guide; 

• Acne scar M8 treatments; 2-3 days.
• Facial laxity M8 treatments; 3-5 days.
• Neck laxity M8 treatments; 5+ days.
• Double chin M8 treatments: 2-4 days.

Lasers are better at treating surface changes such as skin quality, namely fine lines, medium depth wrinkles, pigmentation, enlarged pores & sun damage. 

RF microneedling devices such as Morpheus are indicated for treating deeper pathology, namely laxity in the dermis & fat. For effective skin tightening, all the layers in the skin must be treated, hence why we combine treatments.

Without fluffing around, yes. It hurts. Hence why we –

1. Use specialist strength numbing gel
2. Provide nerve blocks
3. Use laughing gas
4. Provide conscious sedation

My nurses & I are results driven- this means we will provide the best possible treatments & come up with methods to make your treatment as comfortable as possible. 

As treatments tighten facial skin, Morpheus8 slims down the face & neck. Patients notice a more slender & tighter profile after this treatment. It is also a great treatment for under chin fat (double chins) & thus M8 is a substitute for chin liposuction.

Morpheus8 provides the deepest RF treatment of any system, with the ability to go as deep as 7 mm, almost double the depth of other leading devices. Deeper RF is required for certain areas of the face & neck. M8 can also tighten loose skin on the arms & knees.

Side effects are different from expected outcomes. It is normal for patients to experience a sunburn-like flush for 1-3 days following Morpheus8. In some cases, it can last up to 6 days. Pimples or pustules can be seen in some cases. It is usually self-limiting. Side effects include:

• Prolonged swelling
• Significant bruising.
• Scabbing
• Prolonged pigment changes
• Gridding that lasts for 2-4 months

I do rank Morpheus8 as one of the best RF microneedling devices around, with similar results as Genius RFM. Morpheu8 has the advantage over Genius & Infini RF when it comes to speed (as energy is delivered in all layers of the skin). Morpheus has class leading penetration as it has the longest needle length of any device.

Morpheus8 has sequential delivery of RF energy within one penetration cycle, this means the needle can treat up to 3 depths. This translates to faster, more efficient delivery of energy, with greater patient comfort. 

For best results, most patients need a series of 1-3 sessions, spaced out 4-8 weeks.

• For mild laxity, only one session is required.
• For atrophic scars: up to 3 or more sessions are recommended

Peak collagen remodelling occurs 3-6 months after your final Morpheus8 session.

Skin tightening; results seen in as little as 7 days. This is due to immediate collagen contraction, which is different from delayed collagen remodelling (takes 8 to 12 weeks).

For atrophic acne scars it can take 16 weeks+ for best results.

Acne scar revision should be based on treating the scar type & not a device allocated algorithm. Rolling & atrophic scars can respond to RF microneedling, often as adjunct to surgical subcision.

All things considered, I do believe that Morpheus8 RF produces similar results than the leading RFM, namely Genius RF. 

RF microneedling is best combined with treatments to treat the upper layers of skin, or to improve dermal remodelling. Here are my favourite combinations.

• Morpheus 8 + fractional laser: This combination provides skin rejuvenation & collagen remodelling in both the upper and lower dermis.
• Morpheus 8 + PDO monos: This combination provides skin tightening in all layers.
• Morpheus 8 + subcision: Is a powerful treatment for deep atrophic acne scars.

RF microneedling can improve neck laxity, double chins & neck wrinkling. For optimal results, we recommend a series of three to four treatments, administered over the course of 3- 5 months. RFM is best combined with treatments such as Profhilo to stimulate maximal collagen production.

Approximately 18 to 36 months. I use Morpheus8 as part of a combination strategy to improve collagen production & laxity. Treatments are aimed to ‘reset’ the aging clock. From there you will age in time (everyone does). 

The aim is thus focused to maintain results. This can be achieved with collagen stimulating skin boosters, skin care & dermal heating devices such as Tempsure, Pelleve, NuEra.

M8 candidates range in age from 20 to 60, depending on concerns. 

• 20-35: correction of acne scars, treatment of mild laxity.
• 35-60: correction of skin laxity & sag of the face & neck.

*A great combination is the use of M8 & collagen stimulating injectables such as Profhilo. This treatment gives amazing results with little or no downtime.

M8 is a great option for the eye area. RF energy tightens loose eyelid skin, improves dark circles, reduces wrinkles & provides better skin tone. M8 is another treatment option for eye bags.

Please follow the guidelines after the procedure. Acne outbreaks are not uncommon following Morpheus8. It is due to-

• True acne due to occlusive creams post treatment.
• Sterile pimples due to inflammation.

If you do experience a severe outbreak of pimples, call the clinic to be reviewed by our nurses. 

Your skin may feel tight and dry for 10-14 days, depending on the settings including the intensity of the treatment. A simple topical moisturizing lotion can be used to help you recover. Our nurses will guide you through the recovery process & when you can restart your own skincare products.

The Inmode Morpheus8 ranks in my top three radiofrequency devices (Morpheus8, Genius RF & Infini). These devices are super powerful but precise. Morpheus 8 utilizes insulated needles, much like Infini RF & Genius RF to deliver energy to pinpoint depths in the dermal layer of skin. 

Why is insulation super important when it comes to RF services? Insulation protects the upper layers of skin, namely the epidermis. Insulation was first used on the generation one Intracel RF, with other RF devices following. Insulation means far better outcomes, with less sessions & greater patient comfort.

M8 is our go to device when it comes to skin tightening as it treats (from deep to superficial), the fibro septal network of fat, the lower reticular dermis & the upper papillary dermis. Tightening of all layers of the skin is essential for predictable skin tightening. In my practice I combine M8 with other collagen stimulating procedures such as fractional lasers, PDO mono vector threads, RF NuEra & HIFU.