The Honest Truth from a Former Medical Esthetician
RF microneedling has exploded in popularity, often praised as a “non-invasive facelift.” But after performing these treatments myself, owning the machine, and watching results unfold over time; I just wouldn't recommend it.
This isn’t about shaming anyone who loves their results. It’s about sharing an honest, experience-based perspective that too few people in the industry talk about. I have no financial incentive either way; I no longer work in the industry, and I now focus on skin education through Biome Aid Skin. This is just my experience...
Short answer? For most patients, RF microneedling is not worth the cost or your time.
What Real Patients Are Experiencing
What's beyond the marketing promises and what people are actually reporting.
After reviewing hundreds of independent forums, Reddit threads, and my own survey data, one theme stands out: most people walk away underwhelmed.
Some patients experience mild improvements in texture or scarring, but many feel their skin looks nearly the same weeks later. Then there’s a smaller group who experience real complications, like burns or grid marks, often linked to improper technique, over-aggressive settings, or improper patient selection.
It’s important to separate these two realities. While damage does happen, it’s far less common than people think. The bigger issue is that, for the average person, the results just don’t match the promise.
“I spent $2,000, and my scars aren’t any better.” Reddit user, r/SkincareAddiction
“I went for 2 treatments and had less than 5% improvement overall.” Patient review, RealSelf
Even with good technique, the outcomes tend to be subtle and short-lived.
Why So Many People Are Disappointed
1. The “Just Wait” Timeline Trap
Patients are often told that RF microneedling results “take time to appear.” You might hear:
· “Give it three months for collagen to form.”
· “You’ll see results at six months.”
· “You may just need another series of treatments.”
Here’s the truth: collagen production occurs during active healing, typically within the first 4–6 weeks. After that, any changes are minimal and microscopic. The long waiting period is often more about justifying repeat sessions than science.
Some plastic surgeons have even expressed concerns about internal scar tissue formation after repeated RF treatments, which may complicate future procedures like facelifts.
2. Collagen vs. Hype
RF microneedling does stimulate some collagen, but not nearly enough to create a “lift” or visible tightening. That’s why you rarely see dramatic before-and-after photos outside of marketing materials.
In most cases, patients report a temporary glow that fades within a few weeks. True collagen remodeling takes time, but the amount of new collagen generated by RF devices is modest, not transformative.
3. Technique vs. Technology
It’s important to separate bad outcomes from underwhelming ones.
Most of the horror stories you’ll read online, things like burns, grid marks, or indentations, come from improper technique or poor patient selection. Those are preventable issues, and to be fair, RF microneedling isn’t a particularly difficult procedure to perform correctly.
But here’s the bigger issue: even when it’s done perfectly, results are often subtle or short-lived.
The real disappointment doesn’t come from botched treatments, it comes from well-executed ones that still fail to deliver the “wow” results patients were promised.
That’s the part no one warns you about. It’s not that it’s unsafe; it’s that it’s often underwhelming.
Breaking It Down by Concern
Acne Scars
It can help mild scarring, but studies show that traditional microneedling or fractional laser resurfacing often deliver better results without the thermal damage risk.
Wrinkles & Fine Lines
Some softening is possible, but results are subtle and fade within a year. Laser treatments with controlled ablation like CO₂ remain the gold standard for long-term wrinkle reduction.
Skin Tightening
The truth is that no treatment can lift or tighten skin the way surgery can. Energy-based devices like RF microneedling may give a short-term glow, but not structural tightening. Sometimes, strategic filler placement can create the illusion of lift by restoring lost volume, and for some people, that’s a great option before considering surgery.
Pigmentation or Sun Damage
RF microneedling doesn’t target pigment at its source. For sun spots or uneven skin tone, light-based therapies such as IPL or BBL are far more effective (I’ll be breaking this down in detail in an upcoming post).
What My Own Research Found
To verify whether my experiences matched the broader reality, I ran a small, independent Facebook survey.
· 143 participants
· Average satisfaction: 4/10
· 65% said they would not do it again
· 19% said they would
· 16% were unsure
Morpheus8 was the most mentioned and the most criticized device.
Why I Stopped Offering It
I owned the machine and offered RF microneedling for years. While I never saw major complications, I also rarely saw results that justified the hype. Over time, I shifted toward treatments that consistently made my clients happy and discouraged RF microneedling altogether.
Why This Message Isn’t More Common
RF microneedling is a billion-dollar industry. Machines cost clinics $100,000+, and treatments range from $800 to $2,000 per session. With that kind of overhead, many businesses feel pressured to promote the treatment regardless of results.
Additionally, most of the top-ranking online articles are sponsored by device manufacturers or written by clinics actively selling the treatment. Real, unsponsored accounts rarely reach the first page of Google.
This post isn’t about creating fear, it’s about transparency. You deserve to know what real patients experience before spending thousands on your face.
The Bottom Line
RF microneedling might be safe in the right hands, but that doesn’t make it effective.
For texture, scarring, and pigmentation, there are safer, better-studied options. For tightening, surgery remains the only truly effective long-term solution. For some, fillers can be a great in-between option to restore volume and create a more lifted appearance.
My professional opinion: If you’re going to invest thousands in your skin, choose treatments with proven results.
Want the Truth About What Actually Works?
Download my free guide:
“The Aesthetic Treatment Truth Guide: Which Procedures Actually Deliver (And Which Are All Hype)”
👉 Grab your free copy here
Inside, I break down perimenopause-related skin changes, why popular treatments sometimes fail, and the alternatives I now stand behind.
Written by Lola Gillies, former medical esthetician and founder of BiomeAidSkin.