Secret RF Microneedling

Secret RF Microneedling

Reviewer Details

Medically reviewed by Dr. Choi deokho, Representative Director & Plastic Surgeon, Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic.

Registered as the clinic's legal representative in the Korean National Tax Service registry, Full Member of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons · Last reviewed 2026-08-18 · Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

Secret RF Microneedling is a minimally invasive fractional radiofrequency treatment offered at Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic in Seoul that combines microneedle penetration with controlled RF energy delivered directly into the dermal layer. It is used to address acne scars, enlarged pores, uneven texture, fine lines, stretch marks, and photodamaged skin, without conventional surgery. Needle depth, cartridge selection, and RF output are adjusted individually according to the patient's skin condition, treatment area, and desired outcome.

What Is Secret RF Microneedling?

Secret RF microneedling is a fractional radiofrequency treatment that uses fine microneedle electrodes to deliver controlled thermal energy directly into the dermis, triggering a collagen-remodeling response that gradually improves skin texture, scarring, and pore appearance.

• Uses microneedle electrodes that physically penetrate the skin and deliver RF energy directly to the dermal layer, rather than heating the skin surface alone, as some purely topical energy-based devices do.

• Adjustable penetration depth of up to 3.5mm allows the treatment to be tailored to more superficial concerns, such as fine lines and surface texture, or to deeper scarring that extends further into the dermis.

• Available with 25-pin and 64-pin microneedle cartridges and output frequencies of 2MHz or 4MHz, with a maximum device output of 70 watts, selected according to the treatment area and specific concern.

• A single session commonly takes approximately 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the treatment area and the settings used.

• A course of multiple sessions, typically spaced several weeks apart, is generally required for meaningful improvement in scarring or texture — a single treatment is rarely sufficient on its own.

Who Performs Secret RF Microneedling at Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic

Dr. Choi deokho
Representative Director and plastic surgeon

Dr. Choi deokho is the Representative Director and plastic surgeon at Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic, with approximately 25 years associated with the clinic since its founding in 2001. His stated core specializations include facial plastic surgery and facial rejuvenation, alongside rhinoplasty and facial contouring, and he holds full membership in the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, the Korean Society for Microsurgery, the Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, the Japan Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Before recommending Secret RF microneedling, Dr. Choi evaluates each patient's specific skin concern, skin condition, treatment area, medical history, medications, implants, and any previous procedures, since these factors determine both whether RF microneedling is appropriate at all and which needle depth, cartridge, and output frequency are suited to that individual case. A patient requesting Secret RF microneedling for a concern the technology does not directly address — deeper facial sagging rather than surface texture, for example — is redirected toward a more appropriate option, such as Thermage or 3D Ulthera Lift, since matching each concern to the correct energy-based technology is treated as a central part of the consultation rather than a formality that precedes whichever treatment a patient names first. This assessment-first approach is applied consistently, whether a patient is requesting Secret RF microneedling as a standalone treatment or as part of a broader combination plan.

Secret RF Microneedling Options Available

25-Pin Cartridge (Standard Density)	64-Pin Cartridge (High Density)
Fewer, more widely spaced microneedle electrodes covering a broader surface per pass	Greater number of finer, more closely spaced microneedle electrodes
Best suited to broader treatment areas and general concerns such as overall texture, tone, and mild-to-moderate scarring	Best suited to smaller areas with denser or more clearly defined acne scarring that benefits from closer needle coverage
Adjustable penetration depth up to 3.5mm	Adjustable penetration depth up to 3.5mm, allowing more detailed depth-layering within a smaller treatment zone
2MHz or 4MHz output frequency, selected according to the treatment area and concern	2MHz or 4MHz output frequency, selected according to the treatment area and concern

Selecting between the 25-pin and 64-pin cartridges, and choosing the appropriate needle depth and output frequency, is a clinical decision rather than a fixed default applied to every patient. Broader areas with more generalized texture or tone concerns are often better suited to the 25-pin cartridge, which covers a wider surface more efficiently per pass, while smaller areas with dense, well-defined acne scarring may benefit from the closer needle spacing of the 64-pin cartridge, which allows more thorough RF delivery within a limited zone. Needle depth is adjusted up to a maximum of 3.5mm depending on the tissue layer being targeted — more superficial settings are generally used for fine lines and surface texture, while deeper settings are reserved for scarring that extends further into the dermis. The 2MHz and 4MHz output frequencies distribute RF energy through the tissue differently, and the treating physician selects between them, along with the appropriate power output up to the device's 70-watt maximum, based on the patient's skin condition and the specific concern being addressed at that particular session. None of these settings are treated as interchangeable; the combination of cartridge, depth, and frequency used for a jawline scarring case, for instance, is generally different from the combination used for broader pore refinement across the cheeks.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Secret RF Microneedling?

• Adults with acne scars, enlarged pores, uneven skin texture, fine lines, scars, stretch marks, or photodamaged skin who want a collagen-remodeling treatment without conventional surgery.

• Patients with superficial-to-moderate skin laxity in addition to textural concerns, evaluated individually for whether Secret RF alone, or Secret RF combined with another technology, is more appropriate.

• Generally healthy individuals without an active skin condition or infection in the treatment area.

• Patients without a cardiac pacemaker or other active implantable metal device in the treatment area.

• Patients without certain clotting disorders and who are not immunosuppressed.

• Patients without suspicious or unknown skin lesions in the treatment area, since these should be medically evaluated before any energy-based treatment.

• Patients who are not currently pregnant and who have not had certain recent injectable treatments in the treatment area without prior clearance from the treating physician.

• Final candidacy is confirmed only after an individual clinical assessment of the patient's skin concerns, skin condition, treatment area, medical history, medications, and treatment expectations.

What to Expect: Procedure, Recovery, and Results Timeline

Stage	What Typically Happens
Day 0 (Day of Treatment)	Topical anesthetic/numbing cream applied; microneedle RF energy delivered at the penetration depth, cartridge, and frequency selected for the treatment area; most patients return home immediately
Day 1-3	Redness, warmth, and mild swelling are most noticeable; small needle marks may be visible at the treatment sites and generally begin fading within this window
Day 5-10	Redness, swelling, and dryness generally continue to settle; most patients feel comfortable resuming routine activity, though sun protection and gentle skincare remain important
Week 4-8	Skin texture continues to remodel as new collagen forms; a course of multiple sessions, spaced several weeks apart, is generally recommended for meaningful scarring or texture improvement
Month 12+	With an individualized maintenance plan, texture and scarring improvements are generally sustained, though natural skin aging continues afterward and periodic sessions may be considered depending on how the skin responds over time

A treatment session commonly takes approximately 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the treatment area and the settings selected. Topical anesthetic or numbing cream is commonly applied before treatment to improve comfort, though patients can still experience warmth, pressure, prickling, or mild-to-moderate discomfort as the microneedle electrodes deliver RF energy into the dermis. Before treatment, patients are asked to disclose their medications, allergies, skin conditions, previous procedures, and any implanted devices, and to avoid excessive sun exposure and irritating skincare treatments in the days beforehand, since sun-exposed or already-irritated skin carries a higher risk of an uneven response to RF energy.

Aftercare commonly includes keeping the treated skin clean and protected from excessive sun exposure, following a gentle skincare routine, and avoiding irritating active ingredients such as retinoids or acids until the skin has recovered. Early improvement in skin texture may become visible as the treated area heals, but the more meaningful, collagen-driven improvement in scarring and texture develops progressively over the following weeks to months, as new collagen continues to form beneath the surface. Because Secret RF microneedling works through a cumulative course of treatment rather than a single isolated session, the physician determines the number and spacing of sessions individually, based on the patient's specific concern and how the skin responds between visits, rather than applying a fixed protocol to every patient regardless of progress. International patients planning a treatment course should confirm the recommended number of sessions and spacing directly with the clinic, since this varies according to the specific concern being treated and how the skin responds along the way.

Combining Secret RF Microneedling with Other Treatments

• Secret RF microneedling and ND-YAG Laser are frequently paired for patients who have both a textural concern, such as acne scarring, and a separate pigmentation concern, such as freckles or age spots, since the two treatments address different tissue depths and mechanisms without significantly overlapping recovery demands.

• Patients whose evaluation also identifies facial or jawline sagging may discuss combining Secret RF microneedling with 3D Ulthera Lift or Thermage, since RF microneedling addresses surface texture and scarring rather than the deeper tissue laxity these other treatments target.

• The exact combination, sequencing, and spacing between treatments are determined individually by the treating physician, based on which specific technologies are involved, the patient's skin response, and the total treatment course being planned.

• Combining energy-based skin treatments within an overall course is common in this category specifically because the different technologies target different tissue layers and concerns, unlike combining multiple surgical procedures, which raises separate questions about total anesthesia time and combined healing.

Safety, Precision, and Clinic Standards

Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic is a Registered Medical Institution for Attracting Foreign Patients, certified by Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare under the Medical Overseas Expansion and Foreign Patients Attraction Act. Dr. Choi deokho is a full member of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. Patients are individually screened for pregnancy, active skin infection or condition in the treatment area, cardiac pacemakers or other implanted electronic devices, clotting disorders, immunosuppression, and suspicious or unknown skin lesions before Secret RF microneedling is performed. Temporary redness, swelling, warmth, tenderness, dryness, and small needle marks are common after treatment and generally resolve within several days. Less common risks include burns, infection, pigmentation changes, scarring, and textural changes, particularly if RF settings are not correctly matched to the patient's skin and treatment area. Needle depth, cartridge selection, and RF output are individually calibrated to the patient's skin condition rather than applied at a single fixed setting for every patient (see ASPS — How Laser and Radiofrequency Treatments Rejuvenate Your Skin). Follow-up between sessions is treated as part of the treatment plan for a multi-session course, since assessing the skin's response allows the physician to adjust settings or timing as needed, rather than repeating an identical protocol regardless of how a previous session performed. Equipment is serviced on a manufacturer-specified schedule, since drift in RF output is one of the more common preventable causes of both under-treatment and unnecessary side effects with this category of device.

The Bottom Line

• Secret RF microneedling combines microneedle penetration with fractional RF energy to treat acne scars, enlarged pores, uneven texture, fine lines, stretch marks, and photodamaged skin.

• Needle depth (up to 3.5mm), cartridge choice (25-pin or 64-pin), and RF output frequency (2MHz or 4MHz) are individually selected for each patient and treatment area rather than applied as a single default setting.

• A course of multiple sessions, spaced several weeks apart, is generally needed for meaningful, lasting improvement in scarring or texture — a single session rarely produces a durable result.

• Reviewed and performed under Dr. Choi deokho, an experienced plastic surgeon with roughly 25 years at the clinic.

• Frequently combined with ND-YAG laser for patients with both textural and pigmentation concerns, or with 3D Ulthera Lift and Thermage for patients also addressing facial laxity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Secret RF microneedling actually treat? Secret RF microneedling addresses acne scars, enlarged pores, uneven skin texture, fine lines, scars, stretch marks, and photodamaged skin, using fractional radiofrequency energy delivered directly into the dermis through microneedle electrodes. It is not intended to correct deeper facial sagging, which is generally addressed with a different technology, such as Thermage or 3D Ulthera Lift.

Is Secret RF microneedling painful? Topical anesthetic or numbing cream is commonly applied before treatment to improve comfort, though patients can still experience warmth, pressure, prickling, or mild-to-moderate discomfort as the microneedle electrodes deliver RF energy into the skin. Most patients tolerate the treatment well with the numbing cream in place.

How many sessions of Secret RF microneedling will I need? Secret RF microneedling works through a cumulative course of treatment rather than a single session, with sessions typically spaced several weeks apart. The exact number of sessions is determined individually based on the specific concern being treated and how the skin responds between visits.

What is the difference between the 25-pin and 64-pin cartridges? The 25-pin cartridge uses fewer, more widely spaced microneedle electrodes and covers a broader surface per pass, making it well suited to general texture and tone concerns across a larger area. The 64-pin cartridge uses more closely spaced electrodes for finer, more precise RF delivery, making it better suited to smaller areas with dense or well-defined acne scarring. The physician selects between them based on the treatment area and the specific concern.

How long is recovery after Secret RF microneedling? Redness, warmth, and mild swelling are most noticeable in the first one to three days, with small needle marks generally fading within this window. Most patients feel comfortable resuming routine activity within about five to ten days, though skin texture continues to remodel over the following weeks to months as new collagen forms.

When will I see results from Secret RF microneedling? Some early improvement in skin texture may become visible as the treated area heals, but the more meaningful, collagen-driven improvement in scarring and texture develops progressively over several weeks to months. A full course of multiple sessions typically produces a more noticeable and lasting result than a single isolated treatment.

Who should avoid or postpone Secret RF microneedling? Treatment may need to be postponed for patients who are pregnant, have a cardiac pacemaker or other active implantable metal device in the treatment area, have an active skin infection or condition in the treatment area, have certain clotting disorders, are immunosuppressed, have suspicious or unknown skin lesions, or have had certain recent injectable treatments in the treatment area. The treating physician screens each patient individually before confirming candidacy.

Can Secret RF microneedling be combined with other treatments in the same overall plan? Yes — Secret RF microneedling is frequently paired with ND-YAG laser for patients with both textural and pigmentation concerns, and can be combined with 3D Ulthera Lift or Thermage for patients also addressing facial or jawline laxity. The appropriate combination, sequencing, and spacing between treatments is determined individually by the treating physician.

Book a Consultation at Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic

To discuss whether Secret RF microneedling — and which cartridge, depth, and frequency settings — best fit your skin concerns, contact Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic in Gangnam-gu, Seoul at +82 2 543 1830 or through the clinic's online contact form. A consultation with Dr. Choi deokho is the most reliable way to determine which treatment parameters and session course are appropriate for your specific skin condition and goals.

Disclaimer

This page is for general informational purposes and does not constitute individualized medical advice. Candidacy, technique, and expected outcomes can only be determined through a consultation with a qualified physician.

Sources & Further Reading

• How Laser and Radiofrequency Treatments Rejuvenate Your Skin — American Society of Plastic Surgeons

• Fractional Radiofrequency Microneedling as a Monotherapy in Acne Scar Management: A Systematic Review of Current Evidence — PubMed