Riding the Wave to Rejuvenated Skin: My Ultimate Duo Experience
EMma moore, surfer, digital marketing freelancer, and daughter of dr. shellie! photo by Elin Fröderberg
As a surfer who has spent countless hours under the Hawaiian sun throughout my life (and not always wore sunscreen) I've started to see the toll that sun exposure has taken on my skin. Combine that with the acne scars from my teenage years and early 20s, and it's safe to say that I've been on a quest for the perfect skin rejuvenation treatment. That's when I discovered Virtue RF Microneedling, a non-surgical procedure that has not only helped me achieve a more youthful appearance but also improved my skin's overall health. In this blog post, I'll share my personal experience getting the Ultimate Duo Treatment at Koru Medical Spa and discuss the numerous benefits of this innovative treatment.
What is the Ultimate Duo?
The Ultimate Duo is the combination of Virtue RF Microneedling and CoolPeel. It takes skin rejuvenation to the next level by combining the collagen-boosting effects of RF Microneedling with the precise exfoliation offered by CoolPeel, this synergistic treatment provides unparalleled results. Together, they deliver smoother, tighter, and more radiant skin, effectively tackling common signs of aging and revealing a refreshed, youthful complexion. Let’s break down each of these treatments individually.
Virtue RF Microneedling
Virtue RF Microneedling is a cutting-edge skin rejuvenation treatment that combines radiofrequency (RF) energy with the precision of microneedling to stimulate collagen production, heal scarring and sun damage, and tighten the skin 1. This unique combination makes it an effective solution for various skin concerns such as wrinkles, fine lines, acne scars, sun damage, and sagging skin. As I am only 27 years old, my main goal with this treatment wasn’t necessarily anti-aging, but trust me- that is a huge bonus!
The treatment involves using a handheld device equipped with ultrafine needles that create microchannels in the skin. As the needles penetrate the skin, they emit RF energy, which heats the underlying layers of the dermis. This controlled thermal damage triggers the body's natural healing process, stimulating the production of collagen and elastin fibers, which are essential for maintaining skin elasticity and strength.
As new collagen fibers form, the skin becomes firmer, tighter, and more lifted. Additionally, the micro-injuries created by the needles prompt the skin to heal itself, leading to improved texture and tone 2.
CoolPeel
CoolPeel laser treatment is a groundbreaking technology designed to address various skin concerns, including acne scars and sun damage, while rejuvenating the skin. This cutting-edge procedure utilizes the precision of CO2 lasers to gently resurface the skin's outer layers, promoting the growth of healthy, new cells.
By targeting damaged tissue, CoolPeel effectively minimizes the appearance of acne scars and sun damage, revealing a more even and radiant complexion. Simultaneously, the laser stimulates collagen production, which helps to tighten and smooth the skin, providing a refreshed, youthful appearance. With minimal downtime and discomfort, CoolPeel offers a safe and effective solution for those seeking to improve their skin's texture and tone, combating the signs of aging and environmental damage.
Catching the Wave to Youthful Skin: My Personal Experience
Lisa Jeanson, APRN, FNP-C was my provider and was amazing!
On the day of my treatment, I arrived at Koru Medical Spa about an hour early, cleansed my face and applied a topical numbing cream provided to ensure my comfort during the procedure. While my face was numbing, I enjoyed a cup of complimentary tea in the clinic’s beautiful waiting room and looked at all the skincare products and browsed the menu of services. Once I was numb in the treatment room, my provider used the Virtue RF handpiece to make multiple passes over my face, focusing on areas where I had the most visible signs of sun damage and acne scars (around my mouth/chin and my forehead).
I’m going to be completely honest with you, this was not the most comfortable experience. However, my provider made sure to communicate with me throughout the treatment and did her best to make me feel comfortable. With RF, I felt a stinging sensation of warmth and pressure as the needles penetrated my skin. Because I was dealing with acne, the heat was turned up higher on the Virtue RF, which could have contributed to the pain of the treatment.
this advanced microcurrent mask soothes and reduces redness after the treatment
After this, we went over my skin with the CoolPeel C02 laser. This was less painful and mostly had a feeling that I can best describe as “spicy.” During the entire treatment, I was able to hold a device that blew cool air through a handheld hose and that helped so much! The entire session took about an hour, after which my esthetician applied a special soothing microcurrent mask to help calm any redness or inflammation.
Immediately following the treatment, my skin was pretty red and felt like I had a sunburn. Over the next few days, I experienced some mild swelling and redness, but these side effects quickly subsided. Within a week, I could see a noticeable improvement in the texture and tone of my skin, and by the end of the month, my acne scars and sunspots were significantly reduced.
Riding the Benefits of Virtue RF Microneedling
My skin looks amazing and I even noticed a huge difference in the tightness of my skin and a reduction in the fat under my chin, which we treated with the RF Microneedling at a high depth. I am thrilled with the results of my Virtue RF Microneedling treatments and have found the following benefits:
Reduced fine lines and wrinkles: The boost in collagen production helps to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, giving the skin a more youthful appearance. I noticed a big difference in my smile lines!
Improved skin texture and tone: The treatment promotes cell turnover, resulting in a more even skin tone and improved texture.
Tighter, more lifted skin: As new collagen and elastin fibers form, the skin becomes firmer, tighter, and more lifted.
Reduced acne scars and sun damage: The healing process triggered by the micro-injuries and exfoliation helps to improve the appearance of acne scars and sun damage and hyperpigmentation.
Minimal downtime: Unlike more invasive treatments, there was minimal downtime allowing me to return to my daily activities after a few days (and catch some waves) quickly. It took me about a week for my skin to heal, but I was surfing in the morning and afternoons about 4 days after my treatment (once the microchannels were closed and not prone to infection)
In conclusion, my experience with Virtue RF Microneedling has been nothing short of amazing. The treatment has not only helped me achieve a more rejuvenated appearance but also improved the overall health and quality of my sun-damaged skin and acne scars as well as the added benefits of slimming my chin and brightening my under-eyes. And the best thing about this treatment is that you continue to see the results at about 2-3 months (the amount of time it takes collagen to produce).
If you're looking for a safe, effective, and minimally-invasive way to address your skin concerns, I highly recommend giving Virtue RF Microneedling a try. The team at Koru Medical Spa was exceptional and so knowledgeable, I knew I was in good hands. I can’t wait to do it again!
Check out my treatment journey on Instagram:
Part 1 - Getting the treatment
Part 2 - Downtime and the results