Microneedling, cellulite reduction and skin tightening: the facts

“TL;DR: Microneedling is a very low-tech, high-risk method to achieve superficial skin tightening and is not suited to deep skin tightening or cellulite reduction at all. Barbaric RF microneedling is even more riskier in terms of adverse reactions and definitely not the miracle, one-session solution it is touted to be - and long-term not sustainable either.

In contrast, properly applied deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency is more focused, effective, comfortable and safe (99.5%+ safe at our clinic).”

Microneedling for cellulite and skin tightening: does it work?

• Can microneedling get rid of cellulite and loose skin?

• Superficial vs deep vs very deep microneedling

• Deep microneedling vs deep tissue radiofrequency: barbaric vs gentle treatment

• Cellulite (3-30mm depth) is just too deep for microneedling (0.25-3mm depth)

• RF microneedling for cellulite?

• Microneedling for skin tightening or cellulite removal? Just not good enough

• Have a skin tightening/cellulite treatment in London with the experts

• Advanced, infrared / red light therapy treatments in London at LipoTherapeia

• Discover our professional training in cellulite, skin tightening, radiofrequency and ultrasound

Can microneedling get rid of cellulite and loose skin?

Microneedling is a popular treatment for skin rejuvenation, with mixed efficacy:

• It is safe and affective for superficial (epidermal) skin rejuvenation and acne

• But not so much for deep dermal rejuvenation (skin tightening)

• And it does not work at all for hypodermal applications (deep skin tightening, cellulite)

Microneedling uses multiple ultra-fine needles to temporarily create tiny holes in the skin.

The holes, comprising an injury to the skin, stimulate the skin’s own repair processes, and this leads to higher tissue protein synthesis:

• Keratin for more superficial microneedling (up to 0.1mm)

• Collagen/elastin for deeper microneedling (up to 2mm)

Superficial vs deep vs very deep microneedling

There are two types of microneedling, according to needle length:

• Superficial microneedling, i.e. up to 0.25, affects mainly the epidermis and some of the superficial dermis

• Deep microneedling, 0.5-2mm, affects both the epidermis and the dermis

• Very deep microneedling, 2mm+, affects the epidermis, dermis and the hypodermis

Superficial microneedling is quite safe, as long as it is performed hygienically and professionally, although it can sometimes lead to irritation, inflammation and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).

This cannot be said for deep microneedling, which causes a lot more irritation, with inflammation and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation being quite common.

Anything above 2mm depth, i.e. very deep microneedling, is bloody (literally) and just too prone to adverse reactions to be considered either a safe or a sustainable treatment.

The more often you puncture the skin at 2mm+ depth, the more you significantly increase the chances of a severe reaction.

Deep microneedling vs deep tissue radiofrequency: barbaric vs gentle treatment

So I would say that while superficial microneedling is generally safe and makes a lot of sense for epidermal applications, deep microneedling is a needlessly barbaric and medieval method to stimulate deep collagen production.

This is especially true when other deep-acting collagen-stimulating methods, such as deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency, can target the cellulite tissues with great accuracy, both in terms of focus and in terms of power, without ever puncturing/damaging the surface of the skin.

And deep, strong RF is far more effectively in stimulating collagen/elastin production than microneedling.

As deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency has an excellent safety profile when provided by a knowledgeable and professional practitioner (99.5%+ safety rate at our clinic), it is also sustainable, as it can be performed dozens of times, with 1-2 day breaks inbetween, without any irritation.

On the other hand applying dozens of times very deep microneedling probably carries a 100% rate of a severe adverse reaction.

Given that for skin tightening and cellulite it is impossible to provide long-lasting results with just one session, sustainable treatments that can safely be provided multiple times are essential.

Cellulite (3-30mm depth) is just too deep for microneedling (0.25-3mm depth)

So microneedling is inefficient in regard to collagen / elastin stimulation (i.e. skin tightening) compared to deep tissue radiofrequency - and also needlessly painful and unsafe.

When it comes to cellulite, however, the main reason that microneedling CANNOT get rid of cellulite is not even its safety profile / sustainability.

It is the fact that cellulite lies 3-30mm deep into the skin (3-8mm for superficial cellulite and 8-30mm for deep / pseudo-cellulite).

This means that deep microneedling, at 3mm maximum depth, barely scratches the surface of cellulite - literally.

RF microneedling for cellulite?

Lately, radiofrequency microneedling at depths of up to 8mm is being proposed for cellulite reduction.

Microneedling RF:

• Combines the injury from very deep punctures, up to 8mm

• With the injury from extremely high intensity radiofrequency that aims to literally cause deep skin burns by heating the skin at 60-90ºC, which is euphemistically called “coagulation”, when in reality it is just deep skin burns

The idea behind this barbaric method is to stimulate scar-type collagen production and/or damaging cellulite adipose tissue (and we all know how good scar tissue collagen is from different scars on our skin after a cut or muscles after a sports injury).

RF microneedling at 3-8mm is neither effective nor safe, because:

• You cannot have it more than a couple of times without risking adverse reactions (we have seen plenty of clients who complain that “RF microneedling has damaged my legs”)

• Damaging adipose tissue is not the same as eliminating it forever - it can easily regenerate itself

• Creating collagen scar tissue, i.e. skin hardening, is not the same as creating functional collagen tissue, i.e. skin tightening

All in all, those miraculous, one-session, very painful, very expensive “miracle” 😂 RF microneedling treatments just don’t work and are not safe either.

Microneedling for skin tightening or cellulite removal? Just not good enough

So no, microneedling, either on its own or combined with extremely high intensity RF (i.e. RF microneedling) will not get rid either of your cellulite or your skin looseness:

• If it is too superficial is a waste of time for cellulite and skin tightening

• If it is deep it is simply unsafe and still not that effective, especially in relation to deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency

• If it is deep and combined with radiofrequency is even more unsafe and still not that effective, especially in relation to deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency

In contrast, professionally applied deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency is effective, very safe and sustainable, long-term.

Have a skin tightening/cellulite treatment in London with the experts

At LipoTherapeia we have specialised 100% in skin tightening and cellulite reduction for more than two decades and 20,000+ sessions.

This is all we study and practise every day and have researched and tried hands-on all the important skin tightening equipment and their manufacturers.

As strong, deep acting radiofrequency and deep-acting, high-power ultrasound cavitation are the technologies of choice for skin tightening and cellulite reduction, we have invested in the best RF/ultrasound technologies in the world.

Furthermore, over the last two decades we have developed advanced RF and cavitation treatment protocols in order to make the most of our technologies, for maximum results, naturally and safely.

Our radiofrequency/ultrasound treatments are comfortable, pain-free, downtime-free, injection-free, microneedling-free, 99.5%+ safe and always non-invasive.

And our focus is on honest, realistic, science-based treatment, combined with caring, professional service, with a smile.

We will be pleased to see you, assess your cellulite, skin laxity or fibrosis, listen to your story, discuss your case and offer you the best possible treatment.

Learn more or check prices and book an expert treatment at our London clinic (49 Marylebone High Street, W1)

Advanced, infrared / red light therapy treatments in London at LipoTherapeia

At LipoTherapeia we are passionate about phototherapy (also known as photobiomodulation/PBM, red light therapy, infrared light therapy, blue light therapy, LED light therapy etc) and we use the most powerful equipment available today (up to 240mW/cm2), for best results and treatment of large body areas.

We use specialised therapy protocols for skin rejuvenation / anti-ageing, pigmentation / post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), moderate/severe acne, skin redness, sensitive/inflamed/irritated skin, wound healing, sports injuries / musculoskeletal pain and overall wellness / well-being.

Our LED phototherapy sessions are comfortable, deeply relaxing and super-safe and are great to enhance our radiofrequency/ultrasound treatments for skin tightening / cellulite reduction.

On our booking page you can book stand-alone phototherapy sessions or combine them with our other treatments, as an add-on.

Learn more or check prices and book an expert LED phototherapy treatment at our London clinic (49 Marylebone High Street, W1)

Discover our professional training in cellulite, skin tightening, radiofrequency and ultrasound

Do you want to deeply understand radiofrequency, ultrasound cavitation, cellulite and skin tightening?

Attend a half-day, 1-day or 2-day or 3-day professional consultancy / one-to-one masterclass and confidently offer your clients the safest, strongest and most effective treatment possible.

Service available via Zoom or at our central London practice.