Back in April 2020 I wrote a blog about Fractora and explained how it had helped me with my acne. At the time that was the best treatment out on the market, in my opinion and had helped me dramatically. But guess what? The aesthetics world came out with Fractora’s sister called Morpheus8 and its like Fractora but EVEN BETTER!

Let me start over, my name is Meghan, and I am a 37-year-old that has struggled with acne, large pores, and an oily skin complexion my whole life. I have tried a ton of different treatment options, but nothing seemed to help me accomplish my skin care goals. Working for Dr. Diane Bowen I have had the luxury of being exposed to various treatment options for the skin and get to hear about the latest and greatest treatments that come out. Just recently we came across Morpheus8 by Inmode and were impressed by what the manufacturer was saying about this new microneedling with radio frequency technology. We had already seen what this same company had done with Fractora and were believers in the results after seeing it firsthand.

What is Morpheus8?

Morpheus8 is a safe and effective non-surgical treatment that uses microneedling with radio frequency to achieve subdermal adipose remodeling. Before the word “needle” freaks you out, remember that “micro” means very, very small. The provider uses this handpiece that has these itty-bitty needles that go into the skin creating a controlled trauma, this causes the body to produce new collagen and elastin- the stuff that makes us look more youthful. Out of the tips of these microneedles emits heat or radio frequency. This heat is emitted at different depths into the skin, something Fractora cannot do, allowing for an overall better, more rounded treatment. Nothing foreign is put into the body; its just your body doing what it naturally does: repairing itself. Due to the depths of penetration that this treatment works under the surface of the skin it helps to reduce or shrink the sebaceous glands. These glands are what produces the oil and in some of us who suffer with acne, too much oil is created.

What areas can be treated with Morpehus8?

Anywhere you have skin!  Morpheus8 is most commonly used on the face, neck, chest, abdomen and upper thighs but it can be used on any part of the body that could use some extra “remodeling.”

My experience:

Prior to my visit, I switched to a gentle skincare regimen without “active ingredients” like glycolic or retinol for 3 days. I discontinued any acne medication, fish oil, blood thinners or ibuprofen. Topical numbing cream was applied to my face and neck. I was also offered a prescription for Valium to help keep me calm if needed. By the way, did I mention that I have an awful feel of needles?! Yeah, like panic attack, excessive sweating, get dizzy kind of scared. Thankfully, the staff at Golden Isles Center for Plastic Surgery was very understanding and reassuring to me. I got to relax to some spa music while I waited for the numbing cream to kick in. If you want this would be a good time to catch up on some kindle reading or that latest podcast you have been dying to hear.

The treatment itself is not like a relaxing day at the day spa but it also wasn’t the worst pain felt. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would say it was a 4-6. I was given a tube to hold onto that was blowing cool air and I was able to direct it onto the skin where the treatment was happening. The cool air was like an additional numbing that made most areas feel like a 1-2 on the pain scale. The places where I felt more of a “pinch” sensation was on the boney spots like cheek bones and forehead. The handpiece has these micro pins that protrude out of the handpiece and enter the skin, during each press a pulse of radio frequency is released below the surface of the skin at different depths up to 4 millimeters. Multiple passes are done to the treatment area to ensure an adequate and efficient procedure is done. You get your money’s worth. I had felt like Rocky when he got to the top of the staircase at city hall with my arms proudly in the air and “eye of the tiger” blasting in the background.

Immediately after the treatment I felt like I had wind burn, it looked rosy, and felt hot. It was explained to me that the redness and heat was a good thing, it’s the body’s inflammation response and inflammation is what causes the new collagen and elastin to form. I was given post care instructions and some products to use over the next few days.

The Day After

When I woke up the redness was gone. It was a little tender to the touch, kind of like if you had a sun burn. I had some swelling under my eyes, like when my allergies are in full swing. There was no pain or discomfort. My skin felt rough like sandpaper to the touch, which was all the little micro channels that were created from the handpiece. I had some itchiness on my neck that I used hydrocortisone cream for. I kept my skin hydrated with a thin layer of A&D ointment for the next 2 days.

What’s next

For the next week it was much of the same, redness was gone, swelling went down, and each day the sandpaper feel was diminishing. For about the next 2 weeks’ time my skin was purging and caused some breakouts, for me it was exciting to see all the nastiness coming up and out but I can see how for most normal folks this would be upsetting and discouraging which is why I mention it. The purge is normal. I also felt my skin getting tighter. By this point I needed to exfoliate my skin in the worst way. It was like the need to scratch an itch. At the two week mark I used a gentle granular exfoliant and scrubbed (gently) my face. It felt so good to get the last of that sandpaper feel off. I also resumed my normal skin care regimen as per the instructions of my provider.

Is this result for real?

At 30 days post procedure I saw a great difference in the texture and tone of my skin. It was clear, bright, and healthy looking. It felt hydrated but not oily. I was able to just use mascara and didn’t have any of the painful acne breakouts anymore. I was really excited. The best news was hearing that the result was going to continue to improve.

At 60 days post procedure I have a jawline and cheek bone definition that I didn’t know was even possible. This was not the focus of my treatment since the acne was my main concern but now I am understanding what they meant when they talked about “subdermal adipose remodeling.” Morpheus8 has melted away my fat double chin and brought out the jawline definition I haven’t seen since 25!  It also helped lift and tighten the mid face so that I have reduced the marionette lines and defined my cheek bones. I am a huge fan and believer once again in Morpheus8 by Inmode!  I can’t wait for my next treatment.

Other points to mention

The cost is not cheap, but it won’t break the bank. Typically, you are looking at spending 1,000-$1300 for one treatment. A series of 3 treatments is suggested to start and often a discount is applied for purchasing them in a package. Did I mention this can be done on stretch marks or the crappie skin above the knees? When I add up all of the treatments, I have tried over the years that failed, I am happy to pay the $1300 and have it done again and again! I plan to do the 3 treatments about one month apart and then do a maintenance treatment about two times a year. This will help keep the oil production in check, the acne at bay, and might as well keep fighting the next phase of wrinkles and sagging before they begin.

My two cents

In case you haven’t noticed, I’m drinking the cool aid and am a fan of Morpheus8. I think the treatment is worth every penny and even the little bit of discomfort is worth is too. It’s hard to put a price tag on being able to look someone in the eye with confidence and having a positive self-esteem boost. My thought process is “take care of what the world sees first- your skin!” Not sure if Morpheus8 is the right treatment for you, visit drdianebowen.com to read more or call 912-634-1993 to schedule a consultation!