Your guide to safe recovery following Potenza RF Microneedling.

Potenza combines controlled microneedling with radiofrequency (RF) energy delivered into targeted layers of the skin. Following treatment, your skin undergoes a controlled inflammatory and wound-healing response that supports progressive collagen and elastin remodelling.

Correct aftercare is important to support skin-barrier recovery, minimise unnecessary irritation and protect your treatment outcome.

Typical visible downtime: approximately 2–5 days.

More intensive or deeper treatments may result in a longer recovery period. Individual responses vary.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER TREATMENT

Your skin may appear red and feel warm, tight or sensitive.

It is normal to experience:

• Redness and flushing
• Warmth or a sunburn-like sensation
• Mild-to-moderate swelling
• Tenderness
• Tightness
• Pinpoint redness
• Mild pinpoint bleeding immediately after treatment
• Temporary raised areas
• Dry or rough-feeling skin
• Tiny pinpoint crusts over the following days

These responses should progressively settle as the skin recovers.

FIRST 24 HOURS

Treat the area very gently.

Avoid touching the treated skin unnecessarily. Always wash your hands before applying any recommended post-treatment products.

Do not pick, rub or scratch the skin.

CAN I WASH MY FACE?

Follow the specific cleansing instructions provided by your practitioner.

Once you have been advised that cleansing can resume:

• Use cool to lukewarm water
• Use a gentle cleanser
• Cleanse using clean hands only
• Avoid cleansing brushes and devices
• Do not scrub
• Pat the skin dry gently with a clean towel

Avoid very hot water.

SKINCARE

Keep your skincare routine simple and barrier-focused during the initial recovery period.

Use only the gentle or post-procedure products recommended by your practitioner.

Do not immediately return to your full active skincare routine.

MAKEUP

Avoid makeup for at least the first 24 hours and longer if the skin remains significantly red, irritated or compromised.

When makeup is resumed, ensure brushes, sponges and applicators are clean.

Do not apply makeup over skin that appears raw, weeping or significantly irritated.

EXERCISE

Avoid strenuous exercise and excessive sweating for approximately 24–48 hours.

Heat and sweat can increase irritation while the skin barrier is recovering.

Avoid:

• Gym workouts
• Running
• Hot yoga
• Intense cardio
• Activities that cause significant facial sweating

HEAT & WATER EXPOSURE

For approximately 48 hours, avoid:

• Saunas
• Steam rooms
• Spa baths
• Very hot showers
• Swimming pools
• Ocean swimming
• Excessive heat exposure

Remember that Potenza has already delivered controlled thermal energy into the tissue. Additional unnecessary heat immediately following treatment should be avoided.

SUN EXPOSURE

Avoid unnecessary direct sun exposure while the skin is recovering.

Use broad-spectrum SPF 50+ once appropriate for your recovering skin and reapply according to product instructions and exposure.

Use additional physical protection such as hats and shade.

This is particularly important because inflammation combined with UV exposure can increase the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in susceptible skin.

Do not intentionally tan following treatment.

DAYS 2–3

Redness and swelling generally begin to reduce.

You may notice:

• Dryness
• Tightness
• Mild sensitivity
• Rough or sandpaper-like texture
• Pinpoint marks
• Tiny crusts
• Mild flaking

This can be part of the normal recovery process.

Do not exfoliate or attempt to remove the rough texture or crusting.

DAYS 3–5

The skin should progressively begin returning toward its normal appearance.

Tiny pinpoint crusts may still be visible.

These should be allowed to shed naturally.

Do not pick, scratch, scrub or manually remove them.

Following more intensive RF microneedling, mild redness, sensitivity or dryness may persist beyond five days.

ACTIVE SKINCARE

Temporarily discontinue potentially irritating active ingredients, including:

• Retinol and prescription retinoids
• AHAs such as glycolic and lactic acid
• BHAs / salicylic acid
• Exfoliating toners or pads
• Benzoyl peroxide
• Physical scrubs
• Strong or acidic vitamin C formulations
• Other irritating corrective products

As a general guide, active skincare is usually withheld for approximately 5–7 days, or until the skin barrier has fully recovered.

Do not restart active skincare while your skin remains red, sensitive, peeling or crusted.

Reintroduce products gradually rather than restarting everything at once.

If your practitioner has given you a different timeframe, follow your personalised instructions.

WHAT SHOULD I USE?

During recovery, keep your routine simple.

Your practitioner may recommend:

Gentle cleanser
To cleanse without unnecessarily disrupting the recovering barrier.

Hydrating / barrier-supportive skincare
To support comfort and recovery.

Broad-spectrum SPF 50+
To protect recovering skin from UV exposure once appropriate.

Avoid experimenting with new skincare products immediately following treatment.

PINPOINT CRUSTING

Tiny dark or rough pinpoint areas can occasionally develop following RF microneedling.

These are generally associated with the controlled treatment response and should gradually resolve.

Do not pick them.

Picking or prematurely removing crusting may increase the risk of:

• Prolonged redness
• Irritation
• Infection
• Post-inflammatory pigmentation
• Scarring

Allow the skin to shed naturally.

SWELLING

Mild-to-moderate swelling can occur, particularly following treatment of areas where the tissue is thinner or more reactive.

Swelling is generally most noticeable during the first 24–48 hours and should progressively improve.

Do not aggressively massage swollen areas unless specifically instructed by your practitioner.

WHAT NOT TO DO

During recovery:

• Do not pick or scratch the skin
• Do not manually remove crusting
• Do not exfoliate
• Do not use facial scrubs
• Do not use cleansing brushes
• Do not wax the treated area
• Do not use depilatory creams
• Do not intentionally tan
• Do not use at-home microneedling devices
• Do not aggressively massage the treated skin
• Do not undergo another advanced skin treatment before the skin has recovered

OTHER FACIAL & SKIN TREATMENTS

Avoid additional procedures until your skin has adequately recovered.

This includes:

• Microneedling
• Chemical peels
• Laser treatments
• Fractional resurfacing
• Other RF treatments
• Tixel
• Dermaplaning
• Waxing

The appropriate interval between procedures depends on the treatment being considered and your individual recovery.

Contact VÉU if you are unsure when your next treatment can safely be performed.

WHEN WILL MY SKIN LOOK NORMAL AGAIN?

For most clients, significant redness and swelling improve within approximately 24–72 hours.

Dryness, roughness, pinpoint marks or mild crusting can remain for approximately 3–5 days.

Following more intensive treatments, visible recovery may occasionally last longer.

The absence of peeling or crusting does not mean your treatment has been ineffective.

WHEN WILL I SEE RESULTS?

Potenza results develop progressively.

Some improvement in skin quality may become noticeable after the initial inflammatory response has settled.

However, the primary biological response involves collagen and elastin remodelling, which continues over the following weeks and months.

When Potenza is being used for acne scarring, significant texture or laxity, improvement is generally progressive and multiple treatments may be recommended.

WHAT IS NORMAL — AND WHAT ISN'T?

EXPECTED

Temporary redness, warmth, swelling, tenderness, tightness, dryness, sensitivity, pinpoint marks and mild crusting can occur.

These reactions should generally improve progressively rather than become increasingly severe.

CONTACT VÉU IF YOU EXPERIENCE

• Increasing rather than improving pain
• Significant or rapidly increasing swelling
• Blistering
• Extensive weeping or discharge
• Increasing redness or heat after the expected initial inflammatory period
• Signs of infection
• A significant or rapidly worsening rash
• Unexpected or concerning pigmentation changes
• Crusting that appears unusual or is worsening
• Any reaction you are concerned about

If you are unsure whether your skin response is normal, contact VÉU and provide clear photographs in natural lighting, along with the date your treatment was performed.

For severe symptoms or a medical emergency, seek urgent medical attention.

YOUR SKIN IS REMODELLING

Potenza creates both a mechanical and controlled thermal response within the skin.

The visible redness may disappear within several days, but the biological remodelling process continues beneath the surface for considerably longer.

During the initial recovery period, keep your routine simple:

Cleanse gently. Support the skin barrier. Protect from UV. Avoid heat. Do not pick.

Allow your skin the time it needs to recover.

If you have any concerns during your recovery, contact VÉU.

VÉU SKIN CLINIC
Advanced RF treatment. Clinically considered aftercare.