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In the aesthetics industry, trends and technology constantly evolve as consumers demand more.

But so far, I’ve not seen any device that can treat acne scars and lift saggy skin with results similar to a facelift at the same time — till Potenza came about.

If you follow me on social media, you might have seen me rave about this new Microneedling radio frequency device endlessly.

This is because I firmly believe Potenza is set to be the dernier cri in skin rejuvenation and skin tightening treatments, and I’m proud to be the first doctor in Southeast Asia to receive the machine directly from the USA.

As a results-oriented doctor, I won’t say something works until I’ve seen evidence for myself.

While Potenza is a fairly new treatment device even outside of SEA, so far I’ve tried it on celebrity clients like Jamie Yeo and Lynn Poh and other longtime patients with fantastic results.

Clearly being an early adopter paid off as very soon aesthetic clinics in Singapore will be scurrying to purchase this product.

Due to regulations, I am unable to provide before and after pictures here, but I am happy to share them during in-person consultations at my clinic.

Without further ado, let me explain what Potenza is and what makes it so uniquely different compared to other Microneedling devices.

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First, what is Microneedle Radiofrequency (RF) and how does it work?

Microneedling RF is a minimally invasive procedure that works by using small needles to prick the skin and generate heat and RF energy in the deeper layers of the skin.

The purpose of treatment is to generate collagen production and new skin tissue for smoother and firmer skin; it is often used to reduce the appearance of acne scars and stretch marks.

Compared to fractional CO2 and Erbium lasers, Microneedling does not cause as much heat and collateral damage and thus requires a lesser downtime. It is therefore safe for all skin types —including dark skin— as it is not a laser.

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How is Potenza different from other Microneedling RF devices?

As with all Microneedling RF devices, Potenza uses ultra-fine needles to penetrate the top layer of skin and deliver thermal energy into the skin right where it’s needed, causing tissue coagulation and stimulating the body’s natural healing processes. It is designed to treat:

• Acne scars
• Open pores
• Wrinkly skin
• Dull, oily skin
• Stretch marks
• Loose, saggy skin
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Potenza, created by Cynosure, also comes with an entirely novel treatment system that delivers the following benefits:

Four different radiofrequency modes

• Potenza offers four modes with two different frequencies: Monopolar, bipolar and 1MHz and 2MHz. This means practitioners can choose from Monopolar 1MHz, Monopolar 2MHz, Bipolar 1MHz and Bipolar 2MHz. In layman terms, Monopolar RF allows energy to be delivered across a larger and deeper area of tissue for heating, skin tightening and face lifting. This deeper penetration is able to effectively reach fat and the retaining ligaments layer, and when done properly, results are akin to a very well-done threadlift. I’ve seen for myself the face and neck lifting effects this function can achieve on patients. Bipolar RF allows energy to be delivered in a more concentrated manner to superficial tissue; treatment is more shallow and focused. It is ideal for overall skin revitalisation and best for atrophic acne scars, stretch marks and textural issues like open pores.

Tiger tip technology

• Potenza has a patented Tiger Tip technology where RF energy is released at two different depths. This allows for two depths of treatment in just one pass, treating more tissue in a single treatment without sacrificing the epidermis. Normally most doctors do two separate passes at different depths to treat the full thickness of the tissue, and most of us in the industry can agree that we achieve a better outcome by treating several levels of tissue especially for skin revitalisation. Potenza is treated at two levels, which theoretically removes the need for a second pass, saving a lot of time and energy for both the patient and doctor.

9 different tips

• The Potenza system offers multi-needle array tips in various densities and single-needle tips at different depths, totalling up to nine tip options. This versatility may be daunting for a doctor who’s fairly new to microneedling, but experienced ones will very much appreciate the variety of needle tip configurations available as every face has different levels of thickness, facial fat and skin issues. Many devices don’t offer this kind of flexibility when it comes to needle density.

Patented cushion plus technology

• Potenza has a patented Cushion Plus technology where topical serums and collagen stimulators are released into the skin once the microneedles are penetrated at the precise depth. Our skin contains protective layers to prevent our deeper skin layers from dehydration, bacteria and viruses. What this also means is that it’s harder for topical products to penetrate our skin and bypass our epidermis, hence the popularity of treatments like Skinboosters. With this Cushion Plus technology, we can deliver in useful skin rejuvenating serums and collagen stimulators, treating conditions like melasma, dry skin and wrinkles!

Fusion tip

• A feature I’m extremely excited about —and exclusive to Potenza— is the Fusion Tip, which treats skin through three pathways:

1. Mechanical effect by microneedle insertion
2. Coagulation by radiofrequency energy
3. Enhanced penetration of applied topicals

While penetration of topicals is usually limited with regular RF needles, the Fusion Tip allows for 67% more penetration! This is possible due to its dual-air chamber design which generates varying levels of pressure to push any topical product on the skin into the channels.

Many critics including myself were skeptical at first, but it was a study by Cynosure that knocked it out of the park. Conducted on ex-vivo porcine skin, the study took black ink and passed it through a regular Insulated I-25 tip and CP-21 Fusion Tip. Everything else kept equal, results showed a marked difference between the two. Samples with the regular microneedle displayed a finer ink stain without much depth penetration, whereas samples with the Fusion Tip proved to have heavier staining under the epidermis and deeper penetration into the tissue. This is despite both needles having a 2mm needle penetration depth.

Single needle hand piece

• The single needle hand piece is specially designed to treat and improve blemishes on the skin.

References

1. Juhasz, M., & Cohen, J. L. (2020). Microneedling for the Treatment of Scars: An Update for Clinicians. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 13, 997–1003. https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S267192
2. McCrudden, M. T., McAlister, E., Courtenay, A. J., González-Vázquez, P., Singh, T. R., & Donnelly, R. F. (2015). Microneedle applications in improving skin appearance. Experimental dermatology, 24(8), 561–566. https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.12723