Gold Needle (RF Microneedling)
What Is It?
The proper name for gold needle is fractional microneedle radiofrequency. We say “gold needle” because it’s the name people follow more easily. Picture a handpiece shaped like a pen, carrying microneedles with insulated tips. The needles go down to the depth we set, and at that exact moment radiofrequency energy is released from their tips. The heat appears at the depth we are aiming for, and the surface of the skin is relatively spared. When the tissue heats up for an instant at those points, the repair cells, the fibroblasts, react as if to say “uh-oh, I think we’re burning” and rush to the scene. That controlled stimulus is what sets collagen and elastin production going.
Because the surface is spared, we can consider the treatment in darker skin types too; with methods that heat the surface, these skin types carry a higher risk of colour change. Gold needle comes up for pore appearance, uneven texture, acne scars and skin firmness. We set the depth and energy separately for each area.
How Is It Done?
First I look at your skin: its thickness, the pore structure, the type and depth of any scars, and whether there is active acne. If your complaint is pigmentation, we also identify the type of pigmentation. For pigmentation, gold needle comes into the plan only as support.
On the day, after a topical anaesthetic cream, we bring the handpiece into contact with the skin. We set the needle depth and the energy separately for each area. A session takes 30-45 minutes on average. We usually build the protocol as 3-4 sessions, 4 weeks apart, and adjust the number to how the skin responds. If you wish, we can combine it with mesotherapy or exosomes in the same plan. I like these combinations; while the tissue repairs itself, we are also handing it the materials for the job.
Who Is It For?
It suits people who are bothered by the look of their pores, who describe uneven texture and superficial looseness, or who have acne scars. We also consider it for people with darker skin who are wary of colour change with heat-based methods.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding, active infection or an open wound in the area, a bleeding disorder, uncontrolled chronic illness, a tendency to keloid, implanted devices such as a pacemaker and medication that makes the skin sensitive to light change the plan. In the summer months and on tanned skin, I decide the timing.
Process & Recovery
Skin assessment
We look at skin thickness, pore structure, scar type and whether acne is active. We plan the depth, energy and number of sessions from that, and take photographs.
Session day
After a topical anaesthetic cream we apply the handpiece to the area, setting depth and energy separately for each zone. The session takes 30-45 minutes.
First 3-4 days
We expect redness, swelling and a slightly rough surface. You hold off on make-up for a day; if any crusts form, you leave them alone.
First month
Moisturising and sun protection are part of the result in this period. Sessions are usually 4 weeks apart, and the tissue keeps repairing itself in between.
End of series
After the three-session protocol we compare photographs. The collagen response goes on for months, so this is where we decide on any further session.
Results & Duration
The tight feeling in the first days passes. The real change comes with the collagen response and builds up as the sessions go on. Usually after the second session the texture starts to look smoother and the pores look softer.
The reported range of effect is around 12 months. The skin keeps ageing, so the gain is not permanent; to hold on to it, we set the repeat interval at a check-up. Sun protection and a regular skincare routine have a direct effect on how long it lasts.
What Is Not Promised
Gold needle does not replace a face lift. It doesn’t gather up marked sagging and doesn’t take the place of surgery. It doesn’t make pores disappear either; pore structure is genetic, and our aim is to soften how they look.
With acne scars the response depends on the type of scar, and not every scar improves to the same degree. For pigmentation it isn’t the first choice on its own; pigmentation treatment is a separate plan. No one can promise a rate of improvement, a number of sessions or how long the effect will last.
Key Benefits
- Pore tightening
- Less visible pigmentation
- Tissue renewal
Aftercare Notes
- in the first month. In summer and on tanned skin the timing is decided by the doctor. It can be combined with treatments such as exosome and mesotherapy within the same plan.
“For problems on the surface I mostly recommend laser to my patients. If the real job is repairing the tissue deeper down, gold needle tends to help a little more. We decide together which one suits you once we’ve sat down and talked the problem through properly.”
— Dr. Sinan Akyürek
Frequently Asked Questions
How does gold needle treatment work?
With heat. Microneedles with insulated tips go down into the lower layer of the skin and release radiofrequency energy there. The heat appears at the intended depth, the surface is relatively spared, and the collagen response is stimulated.
How does it differ from laser?
It carries the energy deep. With laser the heat climbs much higher and the surface is strongly affected as well; with gold needle the tissue warms to around 60-70 degrees Celsius. We decide which suits you from your skin type and your complaint.
How many sessions are needed?
Usually 3-4 sessions, 4 weeks apart. We adjust the number to how the skin responds.
Is the procedure painful?
You feel it a little. We apply a topical anaesthetic cream beforehand. There is warmth and stinging during treatment, and the area may be tender for a few days afterwards.
How much redness follows?
A few days. We expect redness and swelling for the first 3-4 days. Make-up is usually possible the next day.
Can I have it in summer?
We usually prefer winter, because with energy-based treatments the chance of pigmentation is a little higher in summer. On tanned skin, too, I decide the timing.
Will it clear my acne scars?
Not completely; it makes them less visible. The response depends on the type and depth of the scar, and not every scar improves to the same degree.
How long does it last?
About 12 months. The skin keeps ageing, so we set the repeat interval at a check-up.