Micro-needling has been used for many years to improve aesthetic outcomes in people. For example, it has been used to tighten sagging skin and reduce appearance of acne scars in a subtle and natural way.
It was only in recent times doctors combine micro-needling with radiofrequency energy to achieve better skin lifting and scar treatment outcome.
INFINI was introduced about two to three years ago in Singapore and touted as one of the most effective ways to treat acne scars and skin laxity - until Genius came along.
What is Genius RF?
Genius is an upgraded, improved version of the RF micro-needling device called INFINI. It delivers high-intensity focused radiofrequency energy in a fractional pattern to through an array of 49 insulated ultrafine needles made of titanium. The 34G needles can be adjusted to achieve a depth of 0.3mm to 3.5mm, inducing focal RF injury to provide multilayer approach to skin rejuvenation treatment.
The amount of RF energy can be adjusted up to 50W and the exposure time can be varied between 10 milliseconds to 1 second, all of which can be manually adjusted by the doctor.
In addition, Genius obtained FDA clearance in December 2018 for the purpose of delivering focused RF energy to the deeper layers of the skin to stimulate collagen and elastin fibers for skin rejuvenation.
How does the Genius work?
Similar to INFINI, it uses the process of collagen stimulation to rejuvenate the skin at the cellular level. With each shot delivered into the dermis, radiofrequency energy is precisely administered into the deeper dermal layers.
The micro-channels created by the ultrafine needles coupled with the precise radiofrequency energy trigger the body’s healing processes while boosting natural collagen levels over time. As collagen levels increase and cell turnover occurs, the skin becomes firmer, smoother and more rejuvenated.
What conditions can Genius treat?
In addition to its remarkable neocollagenesis effects, Genius can harness radiofrequency energy to produce controlled volumetric tissue coagulation by increasing the body’s own hyaluronic acid levels.
Another unique function that Genius can treat is hyperhidrosis – a disorder of the autonomic nervous system characterized by excessive sweating not necessarily caused by exercise or heat.
Traditionally, injecting tiny doses of botulinum toxin is a popular, convenient way to treat over-sweating. However, Genius can also treat hyperhidrosis equally well using fractional RF heating. The treatment destroys eccrine glands (a major sweat gland responsible for producing sweat) by thermolysis at the deep dermis.
In essence, Genius is an effective treatment for addressing the following conditions:
• Mild skin laxity
• Depressed acne scars
• Uneven skin texture and tone
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Stretch marks
• Hyperhidrosis
Why is Genius more superior than INFINI
Although the mode of delivery and the science behind the treatment are largely similar, the technology of Genius has improved by leaps and bounds. The manufacturer, Lutronic introduced a smart technology that measures the impedance of the skin and how much energy is absorbed with each pulse, so that the doctor can modulate the energy being delivered during the treatment.
Simply put, the feedback mechanism that is built into the system delivers the exact amount of energy for optimal effectiveness, so that the best outcome is achieved with minimal discomfort.
In addition, the needles have been redesigned for a more comfortable, accurate treatment with significantly less downtime. The manufacturers have improved the taper, grind angles, and coating of their insulated needles for a smoother and cleaner insertion into the skin with less resistance.
Experience with Genius
Over the past few months, the doctors at Radium Medical Aesthetics have been performing many Genius acne scar treatments and Genius skin lifting treatments and the general consensus is that the treatment is much more bearable than INFINI. They have also observed less bleeding and swelling as compared to INFINI.
Most importantly, the patient satisfaction level of the treatment outcome was exceptionally high.
Genius RF micro-needling treatment is now available at Radium Medical Aesthetics in Singapore .
Jason Chan is a beauty writer based in Singapore.