Call it RF redefined, Potenza is the new hybrid tech to try in 2024. Combining radio frequency technology with the penetrative abilities of microneedling, Potenza delivers skin-tightening RF energy and certain topicals, such as exosomes, directly into the deeper layers of the skin for results that are faster and more dramatic than ever.
Potenza is an effective way to deliver exosomes onto the skin. In case you missed it, exosomes are all the rage these days. You may likely have heard about it from a K-beauty fanatic or on TikTok who spills the beans on how K-pop idols get their glow. Two words come to mind when we talk of exosomes: rejuvenation and regeneration. Exosomes are delivered onto the skin to help lessen visible signs of aging such as wrinkles and fine lines, and improve skin texture by plumping and hydrating the skin.
We were recently introduced to this genius combo, and to keep you up to speed, we lay out all you need to know on exosomes and Potenza.
What is Potenza?
Potenza is an RF (Radio Frequency) microneedling device. Created by Cynosure, the same company to thank for treatments such as PicoSure and RevLite, Potenza is one of the first machines to combine radio frequency technology with the penetrative abilities of microneedling.
Through the use of special microneedling tips, Potenza creates channels for topicals to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin for faster and better results. Certain ingredients, such as madecassoside for skin soothing or hyaluronic acid for hydration, are simply more effective the deeper they penetrate.
Potenza is also a more advanced form of RF technology. Through the same microneedling tips, RF energy goes deeper into the skin, creating controlled heat which generates more collagen.
What skin concerns does it treat?
Potenza is such a customizable treatment. While radio frequency tightens the skin through the stimulation of collagen (which everyone can benefit from), the topicals applied with it dictate the results patients can expect.
During your pre-treatment consultation, topicals will be chosen based on your specific skin concerns. Having a consultation with a dermatologist is particularly important as you wouldn’t want to waste your microneedling treatment on topicals that would not benefit you.
We thankfully had time to sit down with Dr. Davin Lim, an Australian board-certified Laser, Procedural and Aesthetic Dermatologist. He is considered one of the world’s leading experts for laser-treated skin disorders and rejuvenation and was voted part of the top 1 percent of Aesthetic Specialists Worldwide.
According to Dr. Davin, not all ingredients are compatible or safe to be used with Potenza. “It’s important to realize that when we use the Potenza fusion system, we’re increasing the permeability of certain skincare actives, and not all skincare actives are compatible to be going down to the lower portion of the skin. When infusing topicals, it has to be made for dermal delivery,” says Dr. Davin.
Exosomes are a new way of rejuvenating the skin. They are made to be delivered to the deeper layers of skin, hence not only making it an effective treatment with Potenza, but a very safe one as well. —Dr. Davin Lim
What are some of the ingredients that work best with Potenza?
As mentioned earlier, madecassoside for inflammation and hyaluronic acid for hydration are great topicals to infuse with Potenza. Other ingredients include tranexamic acid, which decreases the production of melanin, which in turn improves skin luminosity and decreases skin dullness. Exosomes, a fairly new skin booster, is one of the best topicals to use with Potenza for brighter and more luminous skin.
What are Exosomes? Why is it one of the best actives to pair with Potenza?
One of the signature treatments offered by Facial Care Centre is their Total Skin Rejuvenation program which uses Potenza to efficiently deliver the AnteAGE MDX Exosome Solution down to the bottom layers of the skin where it works the best.
According to Dr. Davin, “Exosomes are a new way of rejuvenating the skin. They are made to be delivered to the deeper layers of skin, hence not only making it an effective treatment with Potenza, but a very safe one as well. It basically contains packets of information containing mRNA, lipids, and proteins, which transmit from one cell to the other. In the context of skin rejuvenation, the cross-talking between one cell to the other increases the amount of collagen production and hence, will address key factors such as fine lines, wrinkles, and open pores.”
The Treatment Experience
How do you prepare for the procedure?
Aside from reading this article, there isn’t anything you are required to do pre-treatment. A consultation would be important, but this is just to check if Potenza is the best treatment for you, and which topical would be most efficient in targeting your main skin concern.
What does the treatment feel like?
Topical anesthesia would be applied to the areas to be treated, which helps a lot because anyone who has had microneedling would tell you it’s not the most relaxing experience. The great thing about Facial Care Centre is that their estheticians are trained to help make each treatment as comfortable as possible. Before the treatment, they will show you that they are using a brand-new Fusion Tip. They use a new one for each patient because needle tips become dull after each use. During the treatment, the esthetician will regularly check in to see if you can handle the Potenza’s level, and would adjust accordingly. Based on our experience, we’d rate this treatment’s pain level as 3 to 4 over 10.
What can you expect after the treatment?
Dr. Davin says that “most people will be red for a period of 6 to 18 hours, some people may take a little bit longer, depending on the depth used and the settings.” In our experience, the redness subsided after a few hours.
How many sessions will you be needing to see results?
You’ll see results right after the swelling subsides and in just one treatment. However, Dr. Davin recommends a series of treatments. “We usually see outcomes with one treatment. Generally speaking, we advise a series of between 3 to 5 sessions, for optimal results, and those can be spaced between 3 to 5 weeks apart,” he says.
Skin treatments have really come a long way. Learning about Potenza has gotten us excited to both try this particular treatment and keep an eye out for all the upcoming innovations in the aesthetic space.
How much does it cost?
Facial Care Centre’s Total Rejuvenation Program is the first in the country to combine Potenza RF microneedling and the AnteAGE MDX Exosome Solution. Treatments start at P77,000.
BEAUTY TERMS TO KNOW
Skincare Actives
These are the skincare ingredients that make a difference in your skin. When reading an ingredients list, it is good to know which ingredients are actives to understand what a certain product can do for your skin. Some of the most popular actives are hyaluronic acid, AHAs and BHAs, and vitamin C. Most of the other ingredients would be classified as inactive ingredients, and are simply preservatives, texture enhancers, stabilizers, and the like.
Skin Boosters
A fairly new host of skincare treatments, skin boosters are injected or microneedled into the deeper layers of the skin. All the rage in Korea, skin boosters such as Exosomes and Rejuran are known to give K-Pop idols an otherworldly glow.
RF
Radio Frequency, more commonly known as RF, is a staple technology for skin tightening. It works by using heat to trigger the body’s natural healing processes and stimulate collagen and elastin production.
Microneedling
Microneedling involves the use of tiny needles on either a tip or a roller, to provide an infusion pathway on the skin. Using microneedles makes your topicals work harder because it is delivered more efficiently down to the bottom layers of the skin, which is usually hard to reach through superficial application.
