High-tech facials: Potenza

Professional Beauty deputy editor Kezia Parkins visits Wigmore Street to try Cynosure’s Potenza

THE LOWDOWN:

I was invited to the gorgeous Thérapie Clinic on Wigmore Street in Marylebone, which perfectly balances clinical professionalism and luxury, to try the Potenza device from Cynosure. The radiofrequency micro-needling (RFM) device is a favourite among celebrities like Kim Kardashian so I was excited to try it. Potenza is the world’s first fourmode RFM treatment to combine both bipolar and monopolar radio frequencies with precision micro-needling in one device, addressing multiple skin concerns.

THE EXPERIENCE:

Because my skin tone is a IV-V on the Fitzpatrick scale, I had a patch test behind the ear before my facial treatment. I have had plenty of RFM before but have never had a patch test! Some numbing cream was applied to my neck by my lovely therapist Christina, who proceeded to conduct a thorough consultation. I appreciated the level of detail in the process to ensure that I received the best results, and no harm was done to my skin.

At 33, a few fine lines are starting to creep in, and I want to nip them in the bud before they become deeper. I also wanted to address a bit of hyperpigmentation and scarring on my cheeks.

Christina was knowledgeable and firm about what I should do before and after the treatment, while being warm and comforting. She stressed that I should use “no actives whatsoever” the week prior and post-treatment to avoid irritation or a reaction, and I was told to drink plenty of water.

A few weeks later I was back at the clinic and greeted warmly by Christina, who conducted another thorough consultation and made me reiterate that I had avoided all actives, especially retinol. It was tough, but I did it!

I knew Potenza was quite a unique RFM device and judging from the amount of numbing cream involved, I started to get a little nervous that the pain may be a little more than I was used to, due to the higher needle depth.

Potenza’s adjustable settings offer versatility and customisation, meaning that each patient receives an individualised treatment that’s completely tailored to their skin’s needs. The device resurfaces the skin by creating evenly spaced microscopic holes with an average depth of 0.5 to 4mm that are not visible to the naked eye.

The depth of the needle can be adjusted to skin concern, condition, and the area of the face. For example, the forehead is treated using a more superficial needle depth because of the bone, but the cheeks can handle a lot much deeper treatment.

After about 30 minutes of lying comfortably and listening to my therapist’s soothing voice, my face was fully numb.

The treatment started on my forehead and Christina checked my pain level at every few passes of needle penetration. I honestly couldn’t feel a thing, perhaps because the needle depth was lower.

The Potenza device’s ultra-fine precision needles pierce the skin’s surface, while the controlled delivery of RF energy penetrates the dermis. Both function simultaneously to stimulate the body’s natural healing response within the skin. This works to boost collagen and elastin production, as well as restore and tighten. As the collagen and elastin continue to regenerate several weeks post-treatment, the skin’s structure is said to improve over time, minimising fine lines and wrinkles, and creating tightening or smoother, firmer, more radiant skin.

The only time I felt uncomfortable was when Christina was working around my mouth area which she explained was common due to the higher sensitivity. She did two passes of the device over my face. The advanced bipolar mode allowed energy to flow from needle to needle and a monopolar mode passed through the skin at a deeper level, spreading across a wider area for a more efficient treatment.

THE VERDICT:

For the most part, the treatment was painless, and I experienced only a little redness, itching, and tingling throughout the rest of the day. The week after, my skin looked dry and dull, which was to be expected as my skin cells were turning over. The second week after I had a breakout before my period as usual, but it was quite a bit worse than usual, which again, is to be expected. Now, however, everything has settled down and my skin looks completely poreless. It is no longer dry and is now soaking up my skincare so much better. My skin feels tighter and, when I raise my eyebrows, the lines that appear there seem a lot less pronounced.

Three weeks later and I don’t even think I have reached the peak of the results yet. My skin tone also looks a lot more even suggesting an improvement in the hyperpigmentation.

BUSINESS BENEFITS:

Potenza can be carried out on all skin types, anywhere on the body and at any time of year, delivering a truly inclusive, accessible, and convenient minimal-invasive solution to amazing skin in just a few treatments. It can also be used for the treatment of many conditions besides those typical of ageing – large pores, uneven skin texture, pigmentation, sun damage, blemishes, acne scarring and dull complexion. It can even be used to treat C-section scarring. It is also often incorporated into combination treatments to optimise results, meaning it is great as part of a bespoke treatment package. Price: From £295