FAST FACTS
The service: Morpheus8
What it is: A microneedling treatment that uses radiofrequency energy to tighten and lift the skin. It can also be used to treat acne scarring, fine lines, pores, pigmentation and stretch marks. Primarily used for the face, neck and chest but can also be used on the abdomen and other areas.
Treatment duration: About 90 minutes. Requires the use of numbing cream and antiviral medication if you’re prone to cold sores. You can also request mild sedation to make the procedure more comfortable.
Who it’s for: People who want to lift and tighten their skin to create a more defined jawline. Suitable for all skin types and tones.
Pain: Mild to moderate during the procedure, some discomfort similar to sunburn immediately after the procedure, some itchiness for the first couple of days while your skin heals.
Downtime: 1-2 days. Your skin will be a little red and inflamed immediately after the procedure and you’ll need to use a good barrier cream and keep your skin makeup free and clean for 48-72 hours. There might be minor peeling and breakouts in some areas depending on the depth and number of passes used.
My rating: four stars
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Dear readers,
If you search for information and reviews about Morpheus8, you’ll see headlines like “the one service the Kardashians all love” or “my only regret is I didn’t do this sooner.” The service claims to boost collagen, improve skin tightness and create lift around the jawline and neck in results that can last for more than a year. I had to see what the fuss was about.
I’d heard of microneedling — short, ultra fine gold or silicone needles are stamped across your skin in a grid pattern to create controlled damage, triggering your body to produce collagen and elastin. These are the two key proteins responsible for skin firmness and smoothness. Morpheus8 combines traditional microneedling with radiofrequency skin tightening in one powerhouse treatment, and from the reviews I read, most people saw really impressive results in three to six months.
My technician, Colleen, helped me to identify the areas of skin laxity and texture that we could tackle, despite having no discernible skin issues herself whatsoever (the entire staff is an outstanding advertisement for Bella Sante, you can’t help but admire their healthy, glowing skin.) She got me settled in with a thick layer of numbing cream and some medication to help me relax, then cleaned my skin and got to work. She used a handheld wand to stamp over my whole face in smooth patterns, going over the areas where I had more lines and textural issues for an extra pass. She paid close attention to my jawline and neck and also included the area just under my eyes and eyebrows. Most of the time, I could barely feel the 24 tiny needles as they pierced my skin and delivered a soft tingle, but as we adjusted the depth for greater collagen stimulation (along my jawline, for example) and around sensitive areas like the edges of my nostrils, it was moderately uncomfortable. Each stamp is only about a second long, though, so all things considered I wasn’t too bothered by it.
When the procedure was finished, Colleen applied a post-treatment serum and gave me some after-care instructions: use a new, clean pillowcase or towel over my pillow for two to three days, use a good barrier cream like Eucerin’s Aquifor cream and use my gentle cleanser and moisturizer but no active ingredients like retinol or vitamin C for at least a week.
That night, my skin showed some pin-point marks in some areas and my chest and neck had a raised pattern that reminded me a lot of turkey skin. By day two, it looked worse — the skin along my jawline broke out into a rash of pimples, the skin around my nose and mouth was dry and peeling and my neck and chest continued to show the grid pattern from the needle stamp. I knew from the reading I’d done that can happen and joked with my husband that when I said I wanted to rewind the clock on my skin, I didn’t mean all the way back to my teen years when I was dealing with acne breakouts. Luckily, by day four my skin settled down and one week later, it was all clear (still red at the breakout spots) and it looked fine with normal makeup.
The verdict: I know that I shouldn’t expect to see results for at least three months or more, my skin will take time to start making some new collagen. But I swear that the fine lines around my eyes are almost invisible and the big creases — those 11 lines between my eyes and the lines starting to etch at the corners of my lips — are already softer. I can’t say with certainty that it’s all because of Morpheus8 — I also use a great skin care system, I’m drinking more water and trying to get more sleep, I’ve had a recent IPL treatment to help with pigmentation and firmness, and these all build on each other to support and improve my skin. But there are already definite improvements. And it’s only going to get better.
See you all soon,
~Michelle
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