Published 2 August 2026 · Updated 19 August 2026
Looking for microneedling, and not sure which platform fits?
MED YU MED runs three RF microneedling platforms — Morpheus8, Genius and VIVACE — and they are not interchangeable. A consultation matches the device and depth to your skin and goal before you book a course.
DHA-licensed doctors · Bluewaters Island 6, Dubai · daily 10:00–22:00
- Session
- 30–60 minutes
- Anaesthetic
- Topical cream before
- Back to normal
- 1–3 days
- Typical course
- 3–4 sessions, 4–6 weeks apart
- Price
- from 1200 AED
What “microneedling” means at MED YU MED
Microneedling covers two different technologies, and MED YU MED offers one of them. Traditional microneedling — sometimes sold as Dermapen or CIT — uses plain needles to injure the skin and trigger collagen production, with no added energy. It is not on our price list.
What we do is RF (radiofrequency) microneedling: insulated needles that deliver heat into the dermis as they puncture the skin, on three platforms — Morpheus8, Genius by Lutronic and VIVACE. Adding radiofrequency changes what the treatment can reach, and it does not automatically beat plain needling on every measure — the evidence section below sets out where each one holds up and where it does not.
If you came here looking for a classic microneedling facial with no radiofrequency, ask at consultation about mesotherapy, which delivers actives into the skin without heat.
Three RF platforms, compared
All three combine needles with radiofrequency energy. What differs is how the energy is delivered and where each one is strongest.
| Platform | How it delivers RF | Best suited for | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genius (Lutronic) | Insulated needles with real-time impedance feedback that adjusts to the tissue as it works | Consistent depth control across a course | 1200 AED |
| VIVACE | Insulated needles inserted by a motorised mechanism, session finished with red-and-blue LED light | Full face and neck, a gentler sensation | 1650 AED |
| Morpheus8 (Morpheus Pro) | Fine needle grid, radiofrequency across a wider range of dermal and subdermal depths | Deeper laxity, acne scarring, body areas | 1800 AED |
Timings and prices are from the clinic’s own service pages and price list, checked 18 August 2026. Full list: treatment prices. Which platform and how many sessions is decided at the consultation, not from this table.
What the evidence actually shows
A 2021 critical review of 42 studies on RF microneedling (DOI 10.1097/DSS.0000000000002972) found the largest body of evidence for skin rejuvenation, followed by acne scars, acne itself, stretch marks and excess underarm sweating, with smaller evidence sets for melasma, rosacea, cellulite and hair loss. Its conclusion: the treatment can be used repeatedly and safely, including in darker skin phototypes, and the remodelling it produces builds up over time rather than showing immediately.
For acne scars specifically, a meta-analysis of 12 studies and 414 participants (DOI 10.1007/s00266-022-02845-3) is more mixed: plain microneedling reached statistical significance on objective scar-severity scales, while RF microneedling did not. Patient-rated satisfaction was similar for both, and neither approach triggered post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. A separate split-face study against fractional CO2 laser on atrophic scars found no significant difference in scar-score improvement (ECCA scores moved from 54.73 to 30.53 with RF microneedling and from 53.67 to 31.03 with CO2 laser), but RF microneedling came with shorter redness, pain, swelling, crusting and fewer pigment changes afterward (DOI 10.1080/09546634.2026.2687842).
The full evidence review, including studies on combining RF microneedling with PRP and with ablative laser, is on the RF microneedling guide.
Why phototype matters here. Ablative lasers carry a real risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation on darker skin. Insulated RF microneedling needles limit epidermal heating compared with a laser, which is part of why the critical review above reports it as usable across phototypes — but settings still need to be confirmed for your skin at consultation, not assumed from a review.
The intervention can be used repeatedly and safely, including in people with darker skin phototypes, and the remodelling it produces is progressive rather than immediate.
Critical review of 42 studies, Dermatologic Surgery, 2021
Risks, and when we will not treat
The FDA issued a safety communication on 15 October 2025 covering RF microneedling devices generally: reported injuries include burns, scarring, fat loss, disfigurement and nerve damage, some requiring surgical repair. Its guidance is to be treated only by a licensed provider trained on the specific device being used — one reason MED YU MED keeps RF microneedling under physician-led protocols on named, DHA-registered platforms rather than a generic “microneedling” service.
We do not treat with RF microneedling if you have an implanted electronic device anywhere in the body — a pacemaker or defibrillator is a full contraindication, regardless of the treatment area. Fillers, threads or implants in the zone change the plan. We also hold off during pregnancy and breastfeeding, over active infection or open wounds, after recent isotretinoin without medical clearance, in anyone prone to keloid scarring, and where an uncontrolled condition impairs healing. This list is not exhaustive — the doctor reviews your history at consultation.
Who this suits, and who should wait
Treatment usually suits you if
- You want gradual skin remodelling rather than an immediate change
- You can commit to a 3–4 session course, not a single visit
- No implanted electronic device anywhere in your body
- Your skin is currently free of active infection or open wounds
Better to postpone or ask first if
- You have a pacemaker, defibrillator or any implanted electronic device
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
- You have fillers, threads or an implant in the treatment area
- You took isotretinoin recently and have not been cleared
- You are prone to keloid scarring
Which platform fits your skin?
Three devices, three different jobs. Fifteen minutes with a doctor answers the question this page cannot: which one your skin and goal actually need, and how many sessions.
FAQ
What is RF microneedling, and how is it different from regular microneedling?
Plain microneedling — sometimes sold as Dermapen or CIT — uses solid needles to injure the skin and trigger collagen production, with no added energy. RF microneedling adds radiofrequency: insulated needles deliver heat into the dermis as they puncture the skin, on top of the mechanical injury. That combination is what MED YU MED offers, on three platforms — Morpheus8, Genius and VIVACE.
Does MED YU MED offer classic (non-RF) microneedling or Dermapen?
No. Our microneedling price list covers RF microneedling only — Morpheus8, Genius and VIVACE. If you specifically want a plain-needle facial without radiofrequency, ask at consultation about mesotherapy, which delivers actives into the skin without heat.
Which of the three platforms should I choose?
It depends on what you are treating. Morpheus8 covers the widest depth range and more body areas, which suits deeper laxity and acne scarring. Genius adjusts energy in real time as the needles meet different tissue, which favours a consistent result across a course. VIVACE inserts needles with a motorised mechanism rather than a manual stamp and finishes each session with LED light, which most patients describe as the gentler option. The doctor confirms the choice at consultation.
How much does microneedling cost in Dubai at MED YU MED?
Genius starts from 1200 AED, VIVACE from 1650 AED, and Morpheus8 from 1800 AED, depending on the treatment area. A full course runs several sessions — see the full price list linked below.
Is RF microneedling safe for darker skin tones?
A review of 42 studies reports that the treatment can be used repeatedly and safely, including in people with darker skin phototypes, because insulated needles limit epidermal heating compared with ablative lasers. That does not remove the need for a doctor to confirm your specific settings at consultation.
Does RF microneedling work better than plain microneedling for acne scars?
Not on the evidence available. A meta-analysis of 12 studies and 414 participants found that plain microneedling reached statistical significance on objective scar-severity scales, while RF microneedling did not, though patient satisfaction with both was similar and neither caused post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. A separate study comparing RF microneedling with fractional CO2 laser on atrophic scars found no significant difference in outcome, but shorter redness, pain, swelling and crusting with RF.
How many sessions will I need, and how far apart?
Most courses run 3 to 4 sessions, spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. The exact number depends on the platform, the area and what you are treating — the doctor sets the plan at consultation.
Is RF microneedling painful?
A topical anaesthetic goes on 30 to 60 minutes before the session, which most patients find enough to make the needles tolerable. Expect some warmth and pinpoint redness for a day or so afterward, regardless of platform.
Can I combine it with PRP or exosomes?
Yes. PRP or exosomes can be applied immediately after needling, while the micro-channels are still open, and this is a standard add-on at MED YU MED. Ask about it at consultation.
Medical disclaimer: this page is for information and does not replace a consultation. Assessment of your skin, diagnosis and any treatment decision belong to a licensed doctor.
License statement: MEDYUMED MEDICAL CLINIC LLC operates under DHA License 6589480, Bluewaters Island 6, Dubai.
Individual results caveat: outcomes vary with skin type, treatment area, platform chosen and aftercare followed. No result is guaranteed.
Sources
- Dermatologic Surgery, 2021, critical review of 42 studies on RF microneedling — safety across skin phototypes and repeat use.
- Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, meta-analysis of 12 studies, 414 participants — plain microneedling vs RF microneedling for acne scars.
- Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2026, split-face comparison — RF microneedling vs fractional CO2 laser on atrophic scars.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, safety communication issued 15 October 2025 — injuries reported with radiofrequency microneedling devices.
- Full evidence review with all studies: RF microneedling guide.
- Prices and session times: MED YU MED price list and service pages, checked 18 August 2026.
Three platforms. One consultation to pick the right one.
The evidence above is a starting point, not a diagnosis. A doctor examines your skin, confirms there is no contraindication, and sets the platform, depth and course before you commit.
MEDYUMED MEDICAL CLINIC LLC · DHA License 6589480 · open daily 10:00–22:00. Outside our hours, urgent problems go to the nearest emergency department or 998.
