Sublative RF is a technology from Syneron, and my love affair with this particular treatment actually started in 2009.
Sublative RF is one of my favourite treatments when we're looking to stimulate collagen and remodel the skin from within. I use it for fine lines, loss of firmness, overall skin plumping and refinement, and particularly for improving the appearance and texture of acne scarring.
The same collagen stimulation can help improve the overall quality and texture of the skin. Over a series of treatments, the skin can become firmer, smoother, more refined and beautifully plumped, not because I'm putting something into your face, but because we're encouraging your own skin to produce and remodel collagen.
It's particularly lovely for someone who feels that their skin is starting to look a little thinner, less firm or less plump, or for someone who has texture and acne scarring they would like to progressively improve. We're not changing the architecture of your face or filling anything in; we're encouraging your own skin to produce collagen and remodel itself.
For acne scarring, I can use Sublative RF to work progressively on those depressed and uneven areas, particularly rolling and boxcar-type scarring. It's a treatment where patience really pays off because we're gradually changing the quality and texture of the skin rather than simply disguising the scar.
I also love it for someone who wants that beautiful, healthy, firm, slightly plumper quality to their skin without looking as though they've had something done.
And because I've worked with this technology for so many years, I'm quite particular about who I use it on and how I use it. I'm looking at your skin, the concern we're treating, the depth of the problem and the result we're trying to achieve, and then I decide how aggressively or gently I want to approach it.
If your goal is better skin rather than a different face, Sublative RF can be a beautiful treatment.
Sublative RF isn't something I want to put on everybody simply because they've asked for it. I want your skin to be healthy, intact and ready to respond to the treatment, and I want to be confident that this is actually the right technology for what you're trying to achieve.
I'll ask you to wait if your skin is sunburned, recently tanned, irritated, inflamed, broken or still healing from another treatment. I also won't treat over active infection or significant active inflammation. These are important safety considerations with energy-based resurfacing treatments.
I also won't treat you if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, and I need to know about any medications or medical conditions that could affect healing or make the treatment inappropriate. If you have an implanted electronic device such as a pacemaker or defibrillator, that also needs to be discussed before treatment.
If you have active acne, particularly inflamed acne in the area we want to treat, I may suggest that we get that under control first. Sublative RF can be wonderful for the scarring left behind by acne, but I don't want to be treating scar tissue while your skin is still actively breaking out.
And if you have a history of keloid or abnormal scar formation, poor wound healing, significant immune suppression or anything else that could make healing unpredictable, I'll want to assess that very carefully before deciding whether this is appropriate.
I'm also very particular about timing around other treatments. If you've recently had surgery, resurfacing, deep peels or certain injectables, I'll want to allow your skin to settle properly before we introduce another treatment. The exact timing depends on what you've had done and the area being treated.
And finally, if you're expecting Sublative RF to completely erase deep acne scars, dramatically lift substantial laxity or give you the result of a surgical procedure, this probably isn't the treatment I would choose for you. I want us to have the same expectations before we start.
My job is not simply to sell you a treatment. My job is to look at your skin and tell you whether I genuinely think Sublative RF is going to give you a result I'm happy to put my name to.
The treatment itself uses controlled radio-frequency energy to create tiny, precise zones of thermal stimulation in the skin, encouraging collagen production and progressive remodelling.
For Sublative RF, I use the Syneron eMatrix with the Sublative RF applicator. Syneron's Sublative technology uses fractionated bipolar radio-frequency energy, and the eMatrix is specifically documented as a Syneron Sublative RF system.
I've continued to maintain and service my machines rather than constantly moving on to the newest technology, because I know this platform, I know how it responds to skin and I know the results I can achieve with it.
I also use single-use disposable treatment tips, so every client has a fresh tip for their treatment. Once that tip has been used, it is disposed of; it is never reused on another client.
You may notice small red squares or grid-like marks across the treated area. Your skin may feel warm or hot initially, which is expected following treatment.
That warmth can continue for up to 48 hours, although for most people it settles within the first 24 hours. You may notice a small amount of weeping or moisture from the skin the following morning.
Every treatment carries some risk. I go through the risks and the recovery with you at your consultation before we begin.
For Sublative RF, my pricing depends on the area we're treating and how much of the skin we need to remodel. As a general guide, I'm usually around $700 to $1,000 per treatment, with smaller areas such as the eye area or a specific scar being less.
I don't like putting everyone into the same treatment package because I may be treating fine lines and overall skin quality on one person, while someone else may be coming specifically for acne scarring or a particular area of laxity. I'll look at your skin first, decide how I want to approach it and give you the exact price before we begin.
Your treatment includes my assessment, the Sublative RF treatment itself, your personalised aftercare and my ongoing guidance as your skin remodels.
And because this is a treatment where I genuinely believe the series matters, I'm always happy to discuss a course price if we decide that several treatments are appropriate for your skin. I'd rather plan the whole journey with you than have you simply book one treatment at a time without knowing where we're heading.
The one thing I find myself saying over and over again is don't underestimate what Sublative RF can do, but don't expect your final result overnight.
Sublative RF is a collagen-remodelling treatment, so we're asking your own skin to do the work. You may notice your skin feeling firmer and looking fresher relatively quickly, but the real beauty of the treatment develops gradually over the weeks and months that follow.
I also want you to understand that more energy doesn't automatically mean a better result.
For fine lines, loss of firmness, overall skin quality and acne scarring, I'm particularly interested in the cumulative effect. Each treatment gives us another opportunity to stimulate the skin and continue the remodelling process. That's why I'd rather create a proper treatment plan than have you judge the technology after one appointment.
I've stayed with Sublative RF for so many years because I've seen what happens when we give the skin the right stimulation, use the technology properly and then allow it to remodel.
So if you're looking for an overnight fix, this probably isn't your treatment.
But if you're prepared to invest in your own skin and allow me to progressively improve its quality, Sublative RF can be a beautiful way to create firmer, smoother, more refined and more youthful-looking skin, without changing the way you look.
You may notice your skin feels firmer and looks fresher after the first treatment, but Sublative RF is progressive. The more significant changes develop as your skin produces and remodels new collagen, so a course of treatments will generally give us a much greater opportunity to improve firmness, texture and overall skin quality.
Yes. This is one of the reasons I love the technology. Deeper ice-pick scars are different and may require a medical approach.
The collagen your skin produces is your own collagen. However, your skin continues to age and change, so I think of Sublative RF as part of an ongoing skin-maintenance program. Once we've achieved the improvement we're looking for, occasional maintenance treatments can help keep your skin looking firm, smooth and beautifully refined.
Results vary from person to person.
Radio Frequency can be an excellent treatment on its own, but one of the things I particularly value about this modality is how well it can be incorporated into a broader treatment plan.
Depending on your skin, concerns and what we are trying to achieve, Radio Frequency can also be stacked with other treatments, including CO2 Laser, IPL and RF skin tightening treatments.
There have been countless Radio Frequency devices introduced to the market since I first started using this technology.
I've tested many of them.
I've had every opportunity to purchase newer machines, but I don't change technology simply because something newer or more fashionable comes along.
I stay with what works.
Over the years, I've continued to invest in this technology, including acquiring additional machines from doctors' practices when they've become available, because I genuinely love what this modality can do. It's actually becoming increasingly difficult to source the original technology, which is one of the reasons I'm very particular about maintaining the equipment I know and trust.
The technology is only as good as the treatment. This is something I have always been very particular about. The skin must be prepared correctly. Sublative Radio Frequency needs to be performed on bone-dry skin. This is why I take the preparation of your skin very seriously.
The machine tells me if the treatment area needs to be wiped or if the treatment tip needs to be cleaned.
That feedback is an important treatment-quality feature because it allows me to respond to what your skin is actually doing during your treatment.
For me, this is what makes good technology truly valuable. It's not just about having a machine that delivers energy. It's about having sound technology, intelligent feedback, correct skin preparation and an experienced practitioner who understands how to use it. That combination is why I continue to use this treatment, and why I have continued to trust it for so many years.
| Activity | When |
|---|---|
| Makeup | After 48 hours |
| Gym | After 48 hours |
| Swimming | Day 5 |
| Sauna | After a week |
| Sun | Ask me first |
| Alcohol | After 48 hours |