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Radiofrequency microneedling (INFINI™) at Dr. Nüchel Aesthetik in Mönchengladbach

Regenerative medicine & skin quality

Radiofrequency microneedling (INFINI™)

Skin tightening and scar treatment with the INFINI™ system: fine microneedles deliver radiofrequency energy in a targeted manner into the depth of the skin and stimulate the body's own collagen formation – while largely sparing the skin surface.

Treatable areas

  • Acne scars
  • Pores
  • Cheeks
  • Jawline
  • Neck
  • Around the mouth

Radiofrequency microneedling combines two principles in one procedure: microneedling, in which very fine needles create controlled micro-injuries, and radiofrequency, which generates heat within the tissue. With the INFINI™ system by Lutronic, insulated microneedles release their energy at a precisely adjustable depth exclusively at the needle tip – in the dermis, where collagen and elastin provide firmness.

The precisely delivered heat creates tiny coagulation zones that trigger a natural repair process: the skin forms new collagen and gradually tightens – the result builds up over weeks to months. Because the skin surface is largely spared, downtime is short. Typical areas of application are sunken acne scars, diminishing skin tone, enlarged pores and uneven skin texture; following medical assessment, the procedure may also be considered for darker skin types.

All information is provided for general guidance and does not replace personal medical advice. Treatment results can vary from one individual to another.

Indications

Who it is suitable for

Whether a treatment makes medical sense in your case is something we determine together in a personal consultation. Typical concerns include:

  • Acne scars, in particular sunken (atrophic) scar forms
  • Diminishing skin tone on the face, jawline and neck
  • Enlarged, visible pores
  • Fine crepey lines, for example on the cheeks, around the mouth or on the neck
  • Uneven, coarse skin texture and a tired-looking complexion
  • A wish for skin tightening without surgery and without an ablative laser
  • Patients with darker skin types, in whom ablative lasers are used only cautiously – following individual medical assessment
  • Also in combination with other procedures as part of a coordinated treatment concept

Step by step

How the treatment works

This is how the treatment usually proceeds with us – from the first consultation through to aftercare.

  1. Consultation and skin analysis

    We assess your skin findings – such as scar form, skin laxity and skin type –, clarify contraindications and realistic expectations, and decide together whether RF microneedling is the suitable procedure for you.

  2. Preparation and anaesthesia

    On the day of treatment the skin is thoroughly cleansed and disinfected; an anaesthetic cream then takes effect over about 30 to 45 minutes.

  3. RF microneedling with the INFINI™ system

    The treatment head with the insulated microneedles is guided step by step over the planned areas; we adjust needle depth and energy individually depending on the region, skin thickness and findings – frequently in several passes at staggered depths. The treatment time itself is usually about 20 to 30 minutes.

  4. Soothing aftercare

    Immediately afterwards we cool the treated skin and apply a soothing, wound-friendly care product; the skin is now reddened and may feel as it does after sunburn.

  5. Subsequent sessions and review

    Depending on the findings we plan one to three sessions at intervals of about six weeks. We assess the treatment success together at a review appointment some months after the last session, when collagen build-up is well advanced.

Transparency

Prices

Halbes Gesicht
400 €
Ganzes Gesicht
750 €

All prices are guide values for initial orientation. Medical services are billed according to the German scale of fees for physicians (GOÄ); the final amount depends on the individual effort involved and is discussed transparently with you before treatment. For treatments without a listed price, we are happy to give you a guide value during your consultation.

Enquire about this treatmentView the full price list →

Patient information

Safety & patient information

Responsible treatment includes open information about possible risks and side effects – even when they occur only rarely.

  • Redness, swelling and a sensation of warmth

    Very frequent and to be expected: immediately after the treatment the skin is reddened, slightly swollen and feels as it does after sunburn. These reactions are an expression of the intended treatment stimulus and usually subside within one to three days; cooling relieves the discomfort.

  • Micro-crusts and skin dryness

    At the puncture points, fine, pinpoint crusts may form, which detach on their own within a few days. The skin may temporarily feel dry and rough and flake slightly. Please do not scratch or detach the crusts – this increases the risk of pigment shifts and small scars.

  • Pinpoint bleeding and small bruises

    The needle punctures can injure the smallest blood vessels, which leads to pinpoint bleeding or occasional bruises. These are harmless and usually disappear within a few days; blood-thinning medications can increase the tendency.

  • Tenderness to touch and temporary altered sensations

    In the first few days the treated skin may be tender to touch; occasionally temporary tingling, numbness or itching are described. These sensations usually subside on their own.

  • Temporary hyperpigmentation

    As a response to the treatment stimulus, the skin in the treated areas may temporarily darken (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation). The risk is lower with RF microneedling than with ablative procedures, but not ruled out – particularly in darker skin types, with fresh tanning or absent sun protection. The discolouration usually recedes over weeks to months; consistent UV protection is the most important prevention.

  • Hypopigmentation (lightening)

    Rarely, a lightening of the skin may occur in treated areas, which can persist for longer. A restrained choice of energy settings, adapted to skin type and area, serves as prevention.

  • Infection and herpes reactivation

    Despite a sterile working method, germs can penetrate via the micro-channels and trigger a local infection – recognisable by increasing redness, overheating, pain or pustules. In those prone to cold sores, the treatment can favour an outbreak; preventive medication can be sensible. If there are signs of an infection, please contact us immediately.

  • Scarring and grid marks

    Very rarely – for instance through excessive energy, unfavourable wound healing or manipulation of the crusts – scarring or visible, grid-shaped imprint patterns of the needle matrix (so-called grid marks) may occur. A careful setting of needle depth and energy, adapted to skin type and area, as well as consistent follow-up care, minimise this risk.

  • Absent or smaller effect than hoped

    The response to the treatment varies from person to person and depends, among other things, on scar type, skin condition, age and regenerative capacity. Despite correct execution, the result may fall short of expectations or require further sessions. A particular outcome cannot – as with any medical procedure – be guaranteed.

When we do not treat

In certain situations we do not carry out a treatment, or only at a later time – for your safety.

  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding – in the absence of sufficient safety data, we refrain from the treatment during this time.
  • Pacemaker, implanted defibrillator or other active electronic implants – radiofrequency currents can interfere with their function.
  • Metal-containing implants in the treatment area – an individual medical assessment is required here.
  • Acute skin infections, inflammation, open wounds or active herpes in the treatment area; a florid, strongly inflammatory acne should also be brought under control first.
  • A tendency to excessive scarring (keloids or hypertrophic scars).
  • A treatment with isotretinoin (active substance against severe acne) in the preceding months – the appropriate time interval is determined individually by the physician.
  • Relevant coagulation disorders or anticoagulant therapy – a treatment is carried out only after careful weighing of benefit and risk.
  • Pronounced wound-healing disorders, poorly controlled diabetes or a marked immune deficiency or immunosuppressive therapy.
  • Freshly tanned or sunburnt skin in the treatment area – the treatment is postponed until the skin has settled.
  • Unrealistic expectations or findings for which, from a medical point of view, another procedure is better suited.

This information does not replace a personal medical consultation. Before every treatment we inform you individually about the procedure, risks and alternatives.

In depth

Medical details & background

How it works & the evidence

The firmness and elasticity of the skin rest essentially on the dermis, a connective-tissue mesh of collagen and elastin fibres. With increasing age, through UV radiation and after inflammatory processes such as acne, collagen production declines; existing fibres are remodelled or – as with sunken (atrophic) acne scars – replaced by inferior scar tissue. The consequences are diminishing elasticity, crepey lines, visible pores and uneven scarred areas.

RF microneedling acts precisely on this layer: around each needle tip a tiny, spatially limited coagulation zone arises, in which tissue proteins are denatured in a targeted manner by the heat. The body responds with an orderly wound-healing cascade – repair cells migrate in, growth factors are released, and connective-tissue cells (fibroblasts) form new collagen and elastin over weeks to months. This collagen remodelling gradually tightens the tissue and can lift sunken scars from within.

The distinctive feature of the INFINI™ system is its insulated microneedles: the energy emerges exclusively at the non-insulated needle tip; penetration depth and energy delivery can be precisely adjusted and are frequently applied in several passes at staggered depths. Because the pigment-forming cells (melanocytes) sit in the largely bypassed upper skin, the risk of inflammation-related pigment shifts – in particular post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) – is usually lower than with ablative procedures; the procedure may therefore, following careful medical assessment, also be considered for darker skin types. A residual risk nonetheless remains and is part of the individual information provided.

RF microneedling is an internationally established procedure of aesthetic dermatology. Controlled studies and reviews describe, with appropriate application, improvements in atrophic acne scars, skin texture, pore appearance and mild to moderate skin laxity; the side-effect profile is predominantly assessed as favourable – including in darker skin types, with comparatively low rates of pigment complications.

At the same time, the evidence has clear limits: the body of studies is heterogeneous (different devices, protocols and energy settings, small patient groups, short follow-up periods, often subjective rating scales), robust long-term data are limited, and comparative studies against classic microneedling or fractional lasers do not permit blanket superiority statements. Realistic is a step-by-step, moderate improvement over a treatment series – not a guaranteed or complete disappearance of scars or lines; the response varies from person to person.

Preparing for your treatment

A few simple measures before your appointment help you contribute to the best possible result with as few complications as possible.

  • Avoid intensive sunbathing and tanning beds in the two weeks before the treatment and use sun protection consistently – we do not treat on tanned skin.
  • After consultation, pause irritating active ingredients such as fruit acids or vitamin A acid preparations (retinoids) a few days before the appointment, so that the skin is not pre-irritated.
  • Inform us about your medical history, implants (in particular a pacemaker or metal in the treatment area), medications, allergies and any tendency to cold sores – in the case of a herpes tendency, preventive medication can be sensible.
  • Please do not stop blood-thinning medications on your own initiative, but discuss their use with us in advance.
  • Please come without make-up where possible; the skin is thoroughly cleansed and disinfected before the treatment.
  • Before important occasions, plan a time buffer of about a week, as redness, swelling and micro-crusts can be visible for a few days.
Aftercare

The right care after treatment supports healing and the result. You will receive individual recommendations from us – as a rule:

  • Cool the treated skin carefully in the first few hours (no ice directly on the skin), in order to relieve redness and swelling.
  • Avoid make-up in the first 24 to 48 hours and touch the skin as little as possible while the micro-channels are still open.
  • Do not detach or scratch off the fine micro-crusts – they fall off on their own; premature removal increases the risk of pigment shifts and small scars.
  • Care for the skin gently and with moisturising products in the first week; avoid peels, fruit acids, retinoids and alcohol-containing products until the skin has fully healed.
  • Avoid intensive exercise, sauna, steam bath and swimming pool for about two to three days – sweating and germ exposure can disturb the healing.
  • Protect the treated areas consistently from UV radiation for several weeks (SPF 50+, avoid direct sun and tanning beds), in order to prevent pigment shifts.
  • Contact us immediately if increasing pain, pronounced redness with overheating, pustules or other unusual complaints occur.
  • Attend the agreed follow-up and review appointments.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Answers to questions we are asked particularly often about “Radiofrequency microneedling (INFINI™)”.

Thanks to the anaesthetic cream, most patients experience the treatment as well tolerable. What remains noticeable is a brief pinprick and a distinct sensation of warmth during the energy delivery – particularly at sites close to bone such as the forehead or jawline. We adapt pace and settings to your sensation and take breaks if needed.

With classic microneedling, only the mechanical needle stimulus acts as an impulse for skin renewal. With RF microneedling, radiofrequency energy is added: it creates targeted heat zones in the depth of the dermis and provides an additional, stronger impulse for collagen remodelling and tightening – especially with sunken acne scars and diminishing skin tone, with comparably short downtime.

The fractional CO₂ laser removes microscopically small columns of tissue including the skin surface – often very effective, but with a longer healing time and a higher risk of pigment shifts, particularly in darker skin types. RF microneedling introduces the energy beneath the largely intact surface: shorter downtime and tending to be more pigment-sparing, but the effect develops more slowly and may be weaker for superficial texture problems.

Consultation, indication and treatment are carried out exclusively by licensed physicians with a dermatological background. The choice of needle depth and energy requires sound knowledge of skin anatomy and is decisive for the efficacy and safety of the treatment – particularly with darker skin types and scar treatments.

There is no fixed age limit – the indication is decisive. For acne scars, a treatment can already be sensible in young adults, once the active acne is sufficiently controlled; for skin tightening the procedure is predominantly sought from middle adulthood onwards. In minors we generally do not carry out purely aesthetically motivated treatments.

Sources & guidelines

  • AWMF guideline register – register of the scientifically based guidelines of the medical specialist societies, including on the treatment of acne scars (www.awmf.org).
  • German Dermatological Society (DDG) – specialist society for dermatology with recommendations and patient information.
  • Controlled studies and reviews in dermatological specialist journals on radiofrequency microneedling for acne scars, skin texture and skin laxity.
  • Manufacturer information and technical documentation of the INFINI™ system as well as regulatory assessments of the medical device.

Personal consultation

Arrange a personal consultation

In a confidential conversation on our practice floor at the Albertus Zentrum in Mönchengladbach, we take time for your questions and assess whether the treatment may be suitable for you.

Book a consultation

More treatments

You might also be interested in

Depending on the findings, ablative lasers (fractional CO₂ or Erbium:YAG laser) with a stronger surface effect but longer healing time can be an alternative or complement. Where a loss of volume or contour is the main concern, hyaluronic acid fillers – and for expression lines, botulinum toxin – are often the more fitting choice; combinations are also possible.

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