My Mother's Neck!

With nearly 20 years of experience in dermatology, Dr. Gilly Munavalli from North Carolina specializes in all aspects of dermatology. However, Prejuvenation.com wanted to learn more about one newer area of dermatology in particular: Microneedling with Radio Frequency. Does it work and can it do something for my aging neck? 

As one of the hottest new treatments in the aesthetic field, microneedling with RF is often used to treat acne scars and for skin tightening around the jawline. We asked Dr. Munavalli if it can help with looseness and that crepey texture on the neck we often see pop up in our 40's and 50's. 

The Aging Neck

Your neck is one of the first areas to show signs of aging.  Munavalli says as we age, our necks lose volume due to sun damage and that can lead to looseness and a crepey appearance. "Microneedling can treat the neck without damaging the surface. If you want to get some tightening of the loose skin, the Genius Lutronic device is very good because it goes at different depths and you can treat the skin a lot more superficially.  And that's kind of where you need to be, to get that crepey appearance to go away," says Munavalli. 

How does Micro-needling with RF work?

"Microneedling is delivered by tiny needles imparting energy in the skin with the goal of boosting collagen and improving your appearance," says Munavalli. The needles create "micro-injuries" beneath the surface of your skin and the RF heats the underlayers causing constriction and tightening, which results in more collagen and elastin. 

Who Benefits Most?

RF microneedling works for all skin type and tones. Anyone looking to improve these common concerns:

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Acne scarring
• Mild skin laxity
• Uneven skin tone 

Munavalli says the downtime you experience with this treatment is a lot less and a lot safer in some cases than ablative resurfacing. You may experience some temporary bruising, but the procedure overall is usually very easy on the patient with most reporting only pressure or a warm sensation on the skin. Depending on the size of the area treated, the procedure can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes.