What's Really Behind All the Buzz About RF Microneedling
July 14, 2025
The gold needles your skin will appreciate
Is this just another "revolutionary" skincare treatment? After eighteen months of watching patients literally stop mid-sentence when they catch themselves in our lobby mirror, we figured it was time to explain what's actually happening with RF microneedling.
Women who've tried everything, spent thousands on treatments that barely moved the needle, suddenly seeing changes that make their friends start asking pointed questions about "work."
Let's Back Up and Explain What This Actually Is
So here's the deal with RF microneedling. Kellye Vogel, our PA who does all these treatments, explains it like this: most skincare treatments are like repainting a house with foundation problems. You might get a temporarily prettier surface, but the underlying structure is still compromised.
These gold needles - and they're literally gold-plated, not some marketing gimmick - create tiny controlled injuries while shooting radiofrequency energy into the deeper skin layers. Your body freaks out (in a good way) and starts churning out collagen and elastin like you're twenty-five again.
The Vivace system we use is frankly ridiculous in terms of technology. Computer-controlled needle depth, robotic insertion patterns, built-in LED therapy. Kellye can adjust literally everything based on what your skin needs. It's not a one-size-fits-all situation.
But here's what surprised me most: the results look completely natural. No one's walking around looking like they had "work done." They just look like better versions of themselves.
The Stories That Made Our Patients Believers
Maria came to us eight months ago ready to book a facelift. She's a successful real estate agent, mid-fifties, and was getting tired of people asking if she was feeling okay when she wasn't wearing makeup.
During her consultation, Kellye noticed that Maria's skin issues weren't just aging - they were layered with years of sun damage from showing houses all over North County. Standard aesthetic treatments wouldn't address the deeper structural problems.
We ended up doing a series of Vivace treatments with PRP enhancement. Basically using Maria's own blood platelets to supercharge the healing process. The transformation was so gradual and natural that Maria's clients started commenting that she looked "rested" and asking about her skincare routine.
Eight months later, Maria hasn't scheduled that facelift. She doesn't need it.
Then there's Lisa, who came in completely defeated. Three dermatologists had tried increasingly aggressive treatments for her adult acne. Antibiotics, harsh topicals, even discussions about Accutane. Nothing worked, and her skin was getting worse.
Kellye took one look at Lisa's pattern and saw what the others missed. The breakouts weren't random - they perfectly matched her stress cycles and irregular periods. Classic perimenopause presentation that most doctors treat as separate issues.
We coordinated with Dr. Nanos on hormone support while Kellye addressed the skin inflammation with targeted RF microneedling treatments. Three months later, Lisa's skin was clearer than it had been since college.
What Actually Happens During Treatment
First off, our office doesn't feel medical. We designed it specifically to feel more like an upscale spa because no one wants to feel like they're having surgery when they're trying to improve their appearance.
Kellye starts every appointment with this crazy detailed skin analysis using imaging that shows damage you can't see in normal light. Sun spots that haven't surfaced yet, collagen breakdown patterns, areas of dehydration - it's honestly a little shocking what's hiding under there.
Then she customizes literally everything. Needle depth, energy levels, treatment pattern - all based on what your specific skin analysis revealed. The numbing cream ensures you're comfortable, though most people say it feels like warm vibration with light pressure.
The actual treatment takes about forty-five minutes. Kellye moves the device across your skin in overlapping patterns while those gold needles do their thing. You can feel the warmth from the radiofrequency energy, but it's not uncomfortable.
Afterward, she applies these incredible healing serums that penetrate through all those microscopic channels the needles created. Your skin looks flushed for a few hours - similar to a mild sunburn - but most people are back to normal activities the next day.
The Science Part (Without Getting Boring)
The radiofrequency energy heats your skin to exactly 42-45 degrees Celsius. That's the sweet spot for triggering maximum collagen production without causing damage. The gold coating on the needles conducts energy more efficiently and causes less irritation than other metals.
Here's the cool part: your body thinks it's been injured and immediately starts repair mode. Fibroblasts - the cells that make collagen - kick into overdrive. Over the following weeks and months, new collagen fibers form while existing ones tighten and reorganize.
The improvement continues for months after treatment. Patients often call three months later saying their skin is still getting better. That's because the collagen remodeling process takes time to fully develop.
Beyond Basic Treatments
For patients wanting maximum results, Kellye often adds what she calls biological accelerators. PRP therapy uses your own blood platelets, which are loaded with growth factors. When applied during microneedling, these penetrate deeply and essentially give your skin a personalized healing cocktail.
We've seen patients who did basic RF microneedling get excellent results. But the ones who add these enhancements often experience transformations that border on dramatic.
Let's Talk Money
The women who do this treatment were already spending hundreds monthly on skincare products that delivered minimal results. This actually works out to be more cost-effective over time, plus the results are dramatically superior.
Sarah, who owns a marketing firm in Carlsbad, put it perfectly: "I was dropping three hundred a month on serums and creams that maybe made a tiny difference. This gave me results that no amount of expensive skincare could achieve. I actually enjoy looking in the mirror now."
Most people need three to four treatments spaced about a month apart. The investment varies depending on the treatment plan, but we're transparent about all costs during consultation.
Why We Chose This Specific System
There are tons of microneedling devices out there. We researched for months before investing in the Vivace system because our patients deserve the best technology available.
The precision is unmatched. Computer-controlled needle penetration eliminates human error that can cause uneven results. The robotic insertion reduces discomfort while ensuring optimal coverage. The integrated LED therapy speeds healing and reduces downtime.
Most importantly, Kellye can customize every parameter for each individual patient. It's not a cookie-cutter approach - everything is adjusted based on your skin analysis and goals.
How This Fits Into Overall Health
What we love about this treatment is how it fits into our whole-person approach to wellness. While Kellye is rebuilding your skin's foundation, we're also looking at hormonal factors, nutrition, stress management, and lifestyle elements that impact skin aging.
When aesthetic treatments are coordinated with overall health optimization, the results are often more dramatic and longer-lasting. Your skin reflects your internal health, so addressing both simultaneously creates transformation that goes beyond surface improvement.
If You're Considering This
Your consultation with Kellye includes that detailed skin analysis. The imaging reveals damage and potential you can't see in your bathroom mirror. She'll explain exactly what RF microneedling can accomplish for your specific concerns and design a treatment plan that fits your goals and lifestyle.
The transformation doesn't happen overnight, but patients consistently tell us the gradual improvement feels more natural and confidence-boosting than dramatic procedures that suddenly change your appearance.
The consultation is complimentary. Even if you decide not to proceed, you'll learn more about your skin health than you probably have in years. And honestly, the analysis alone is worth the visit.
Ready to see what your skin could look like with the right intervention? Book your appointment today!
The biggest regret most patients express is waiting so long to try this.
Meet the Author
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Sabrina Falquier started crying at a medical conference in Napa. Not because something went wrong, but because something finally felt right. After years of seeing 18 patients a day in 15-minute slots, checking all the boxes of a successful medical career while feeling like something was missing, she found herself at Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives—a collaboration between Harvard School of Public Health and the Culinary Institute of America. The keynote speaker started talking, and tears came. One shoulder whispered all the possibilities. The other shoulder reminded her of all the reasons she couldn't pursue them. By day two and a half, she realized something that changed everything: her current employer was just that—her current employer. Not her destiny. Now triple board-certified in internal medicine, culinary medicine, and lifestyle medicine, Sabrina has built a career teaching medical students, consulting with community organizations like Olivewood Gardens, and showing people that the most powerful medicine might already be sitting in their pantry. This conversation wanders through the deeply personal terrain of leaving the medical highway for the frontage road, the science behind why plants matter so much, and the quiet courage it takes to listen when something inside you says "there has to be more than this." Key Moments & Takeaways 00:00 - 07:03 | The Conference That Changed Everything Sabrina shares the moment she knew she had to leave traditional primary care. Spoiler: it involved crying at a medical conference and realizing her employer wasn't her destiny. 07:03 - 15:22 | What Actually Is Culinary Medicine The definition that matters: using food and nutrition to prevent and treat disease through hands-on learning. Medical students cooking in kitchens. Communities learning that canned tomatoes still count. Evidence-based nutrition that doesn't require a Whole Foods budget. 1 5:22 - 24:36 | The Plant Kingdom Revolution Why plants matter beyond fiber and nutrients. Phytochemicals, polyphenols, and the compounds that actually make your cells work better. The science behind eating the rainbow (and no, Skittles don't count). 24:36 - 32:15 | Teaching the Next Generation Medical students learning to cook. Teenagers at Olivewood Gardens discovering that healthy food can taste incredible. The ripple effect of planting seeds with future doctors who will actually talk about food with their patients. 32:15 - 40:48 | Making It Work in Real Life The pantry strategy when you haven't been to the grocery store. Why frozen and canned vegetables are completely legitimate. How to think about food when your schedule is chaotic and your budget is real. 40:48 - 49:07 | Rancho La Puerta & What's Next Sabrina's work at the iconic wellness resort in Tecate, Mexico. Teaching in their kitchen. Her husband rediscovering his humanity there during the pandemic. The place where boot camp and hammocks coexist. 49:07 - 54:25 | Following the Pull The scary, beautiful reality of going off the linear path. No regrets. Financial instability sometimes. The practice of saying yes to mission-aligned opportunities and no to everything else. An invitation to listen to what's calling you next. Resources Mentioned Sensación Salud Website: https://www.sensationssalud.com/ Instagram: @sensationssalud Dr. Sabrina Falquier's Podcasts Culinary Medicine Recipe Olivewood Gardens and Learning CenterRancho La Puerta (Tecate, Mexico) - April 2025 dates available The Kitchenistas of National City documentary Culinary Medicine Resources American College of Lifestyle
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