Morpheus8 RF Microneedling Edmonton

Morpheus8 can be applied to several areas throughout the body. Generally, treatment is conducted on wrinkly or irregular (acne/acne scars) skin. Common treatment areas include:

• Full Face; forehead, around the eyes, nose, cheeks, chin and neck
• Bra Fat
• Abdomen
• Thighs
• Buttocks
• Knees

All treatments are provided by a registered (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) who is certified by InMode. Procedure length depends on the total areas being treated, and parameters used during treatment. Parameters can change depending on the nurses discretion or patient tolerance of power.

A typical treatment starts with the application of a topical anesthetic prior to treatment. During the treatment, there can be some mild discomfort that is typically very tolerable. Once the treatment is complete, a topical moisturizer is applied and you are free to go.

Unlike other skin remodeling techniques, Morpheus8 employs electrical currents to deliver precise heat for treatment. For example, a limitation of laser treatments occurs when light energy is diffracted, and ultimately absorbed by epidermal melanin (Alster and Lupton, 2007). When melanin levels increase, it can cause hyperpigmentation, a condition that darkens the skin. This complication is not associated with non-ablative treatments such as the Morpheus8, as RF based systems target and tighten any skin type.

In contrast to ablative laser and light treatments, RF treatment is associated with less side-effects and posttreatment downtime. This is mainly due to the method in which skin and fat cells are being heated. Micro-needling allows for the controlled and precise delivery of electrical currents underneath the dermis. Not only does this render fat cells, but it also promotes collagen contraction and immediate skin tightening (Kist et al. 2007). In addition, continued treatment allows for the formation of new collagen and collagen bundles over months, post treatment (El-Domyati et al. 2019).

At the Nakatsui DermaSurgery Centre, your comfort and safety is of the utmost importance. Topical, and even local anesthetic can be provided to make the procedure as painless as possible. Pronox (Laughing Gas) is available, as well as iv sedation if required. However, depending on treatment area, power, and technique, comfort may vary. Areas treated in high volume and intensity are subject to better results, but less comfort.

Our dermatologist, Dr. Nakatsui, spent a lot of time researching this technology. Morpheus8 definitely has some advantages over laser in that the energy is delivered beneath the skin whereas lasers primarily act at the surface of the skin, which has the potential to cause pigmentation in darker skinned individuals. With Morpheus8, energy can be delivered deeper into the skin and avoid the risk of stimulating melanocytes (pigment producing cells).

There are also many different RF microneedling devices on the market right now, including the Cutera Secret, Cynosure Potenza, Candela Profound, and Lutronic Genius. Although there are definitely similarities between all of these devices, only Morpheus8 is capable of reaching depths greater than 4 mm (up to 8mm) and capable of treating up to 3 different depths in one pass. No other RF microneedling device has this degree of tunability.

Another advantage of Morpheus8 over other RF microneedling devices is it’s patented lattice network that allows the energy to go from the tips of the pins to the skin surface. Most RF devices transmit energy between the pins–the problem with this is that this increases the chance of developing bridging of the ablation between the pins as the energy is increased, which is undesirable because the goal is to leave unaffected, healthy tissue between the areas of ablation. This is in contrast to Morpheus8 where energy is transmitted from the pins to the surface of the skin. As a result, higher powers can be used at the tips AND energy is is also transmitted more superficially at lower powers towards the surface of the skin so more levels of the skin can be affected simultaneously at lower power.

Our dermatologist also considered the number of pins and the force with which the needles are inserted into skin. Having more needles isn’t always a good thing as it can prevent the needles from penetrating to the desired depth. Also not having the ability to push the needles in forcefully enough will prevent the needles from penetrating to the desired depth.

The cost of the treatment depends on the area being treated and the intensity of the treatment. Treatment cost for Morpheus8 RF microneedling ranges from $350 to $1500. The cost of a single treatment for the face at our skin rejuvenation clinic is $850 or $2167 for a package of three.

Results are visible within 1 week. More noticeable and satisfactory results appear after 3 weeks. For best results, skin benefits from an average range of 3-6 sessions, with 4-6 weeks between sessions. Optimal plans will be created with your practitioner to achieve desired results.

We have had Morpheus8 since 2020 and Fractora since 1995. If Fractora was RF microneedling 1.0, then Morpheus8 is definitely RF microneedling 2.0. Although they both employ RF technology to treat skin laxity and irregular skin, Morpheus8 has added technology that results in several benefits.

Morpheus8 pin delivery into the skin is now automated and precise. This ensures treated areas are being subjected to appropriate amounts of RF. Additionally, increased pin length and a conductive lattice allows for more RF energy and more even RF energy to be applied into the dermis, promoting the coagulation of tissue and reduction of internal bleeding/bruising, as well as faster healing.

Morpheus8 pins are also coated with silicon, resulting in a less invasive experience for the skin, allowing for quicker healing.

There are a few situations where we might use Fractora instead of Morpheus8, and we can help decide which is the best treatment for you as we have both devices!

Generally, patients will experience redness (erythema), swelling (edema), and some pinpoint bleeding and bruising. Soreness is also normal. This will persist for 1-3 days, which is far less downtime than other skin remodelling treatments. Skin may also peel for 2-7 days depending on treatment intensity. Scarring and pigmentation changes are unlikely. Morpheus8 takes into account these conditions and aims to reduce downtime through silicone coated needles, and deeper RF delivery to prevent bruising/bleeding. This method of energy delivery also reduces the chances of hyper- or hypopigmentation. If the above conditions do not persist, downtime using the Morpheus8 is minimal, and makeup can be applied 1-2 days post-treatment. Post treatment protocols include:

• Cooling of the skin
• Moisturizing treated area
• No scratching/scrubbing treated area
• Avoiding UV radiation exposure
• Avoiding hot water and direct heat

Morpheus8 is better for more advanced skin aging, helping with laxity and textural changes of the skin, whereas Clear and Brilliant is meant for improvement of milder aging changes.

IPL Photofacials are better at treating red blood vessels and brown age spots, whereas Morpheus 8 is better at treating the textural aging and laxity changes of the skin, in addition to acne scarring.