POST CARE GUIDE

RF Microneedling (Fractora) Aftercare

Fractora is InMode's radiofrequency microneedling device, and it reaches deeper than standard microneedling: fine needles carry RF heat into the dermis to remodel collagen, tighten, refine texture, and soften acne scars in ways topical skincare cannot. That extra depth buys a little more downtime. The first 24 to 72 hours look and feel like a moderate sunburn, and a fine grid of pinpoint dots called MENDS (microscopic epidermal necrotic debris) crusts and sheds over about a week. This guide walks you through the whole recovery — the redness and swelling window, the no-pick rule for the MENDS, the week off actives and sweat, strict daily sunscreen, and the 4-to-6-week point when new-collagen tightening starts to show.

Download Post Care Guide (806) 701-5840

Your RF Microneedling recovery at a glance

What happens, and when

Here is the path from treatment day to final result.

First 72 Hours

Redness and swelling

Expect redness and swelling that looks and feels like a moderate sunburn for the first 24 to 72 hours. Swelling is usually worst around the eyes and peaks on day 2 or 3. Cool compresses and sleeping propped on two pillows the first night both help. Keep everything gentle in this window — no actives, no makeup, no scrubbing.

Week 1

No sweat, no actives

Through day 7, skip the gym, saunas, hot yoga, and anything that makes you sweat heavily, along with all active skincare — retinol, glycolic and salicylic acids, and vitamin C. Leave makeup off the first 24 hours, then keep it light. Tiny scabs called MENDS will dot the skin; let them shed on their own and never pick.

4 to 6 Weeks

Tightening builds

New collagen forms gradually rather than overnight, so firming and smoother texture become visible around the 4-to-6-week mark and keep building for months. Most people see the fullest result from a planned series rather than a single session. Your provider maps out the right number of treatments at your consultation.

How to care for your skin barrier through deep recovery

How to Care for Your Skin After Fractora

Let the MENDS dots shed on their own

Within a day or two you will notice a fine grid of pinpoint dots and tiny crusts across the treated area. These are MENDS — microscopic epidermal necrotic debris — the treated tissue working its way out as new skin forms underneath. They may look slightly bronzed and feel rough like fine sandpaper, and they shed on their own over roughly 4 to 7 days. Do not pick, scrub, or scratch them, no matter how tempting: lifting a MENDS crust early is the fastest route to a scar or a dark mark.

Sleep elevated (first night)

If your face feels swollen, sleep with your head propped on two pillows the first night or two. Keeping your head above your heart lets fluid drain instead of pooling overnight, which noticeably cuts morning puffiness — especially around the eyes, where Fractora swelling tends to concentrate. A cool (never frozen) compress before bed helps too. This is optional comfort care; if you are not swollen, sleep however you are comfortable.

Hyaluronic acid + bland moisturizer (AM and PM)

From day 2 onward, keep the barrier hydrated morning and night. Layer a hyaluronic acid serum onto damp skin, then seal it with a plain, fragrance-free moisturizer — nothing with acids, retinol, or added actives. Hydrated skin rebuilds its surface faster and keeps the tiny MENDS crusts from feeling overly tight or itchy. Reapply moisturizer any time the skin feels dry during the first week. Simple and bland is the goal, not an involved routine.

Daily SPF 30+ (mandatory)

Once the surface has closed — generally around 24 hours — daily broad-spectrum sunscreen becomes non-negotiable. We recommend SkinBetter Science sunbetter Tone Smart SPF 75 each morning, reapplied every two hours whenever you are outdoors. A mineral formula with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide is gentlest on healing skin. Sunscreen is not just for beach days; incidental sun through car and office windows still drives pigment on recently treated skin. Keep the habit going well past the first week.

Strict sun avoidance (first week)

Keep the treated skin out of direct sun for at least the first week. Freshly resurfaced skin is far more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation — lingering brown patches — and sun in this window is the most common trigger. Seek shade, wear a wide-brimmed hat, and avoid tanning beds entirely. This matters even more for deeper skin tones, which react more strongly to inflammation; if that is you, be especially strict and ask us about a conservative plan at your consultation.

First 24 hours (gentle only)

For the first 24 hours, treat the skin like it is healing, because it is. Cleanse once or twice a day with a mild, fragrance-free cleanser and lukewarm water, then apply Plated Calm to soothe and settle the redness. Pat dry with a clean towel — never rub. Leave off makeup, retinoids, acids, vitamin C, and any scrub or exfoliant. If the skin feels tight or warm, a cool compress over clean fingertips is fine; harsh or fragranced products are not.

Redness, swelling, and pinpoint marks for 3 to 5 days

What's Normal: Fractora Downtime

Normal, temporary, and part of the process.

Redness (first 24 to 72 hours)

Bright redness across the treated area is the most visible part of Fractora downtime and looks much like a moderate sunburn. It is usually strongest for the first 24 to 72 hours, then fades to a softer pink. Because it is so noticeable early on, most people plan one to three quieter days around the treatment and save social or work-heavy events for later in the week. Mineral makeup can help camouflage the color once the surface has healed, generally from about day 3.

Bruising (up to 10 days)

Because Fractora needles reach into the dermis, small pinpoint bruises can show up at treatment sites, especially in thinner-skinned areas like the lower face and neck. They are usually minor and clear on their own within about 7 to 10 days as they move through the normal fading colors. Arnica gel can make them look less obvious in the meantime. If you bruise easily, tell us before your next session so we can plan around it — avoiding alcohol and blood-thinning supplements beforehand also helps.

Residual pinkness (up to 1 week)

After the MENDS shed, a gentler pinkness often lingers on the newest skin for up to a week or so, sometimes a little longer on more sensitive spots. This is normal and fades as the surface matures. From about day 3, once everything has closed over, mineral makeup covers the pink well if you would rather not show it. Keep the new skin hydrated and protected with sunscreen through this stage — fresh skin colors easily in the sun, and that is what turns a harmless pink into a lasting brown.

Pinpoint dots and crusting (days 1 to 7)

A day or two after treatment, a pattern of tiny dotted scabs — the MENDS — appears across the skin in the grid left by the microneedle tips. They can take on a faint bronze tone and a rough, sandpapery texture, and they flake away on their own over about 4 to 7 days. This is exactly what healthy healing looks like: the heat-treated columns of tissue are pushed out and replaced by fresh skin. Resist the urge to help them along — picking or scrubbing invites scarring and pigment changes that far outlast the dots.

Swelling (peaks days 2 to 3)

Some swelling is part of the process, and it usually peaks on day 2 or 3 rather than right after treatment. It tends to gather around the eyes and cheeks and can leave you looking a little puffy in the mornings. Sleeping elevated, using cool compresses, and staying upright during the day all help move fluid along. For most people it has settled by around day 5. If swelling is worsening after day 3 instead of easing, that is worth a call to us.

Products, sun, and activities to avoid for 72 hours

What to Avoid After Fractora

Sun Exposure

Strict sun avoidance for at least 2 weeks. Daily SPF 30+ minimum from day 2 forward. Recently-fractionated skin is highly photosensitive and at risk of long-lasting pigmentation.

Sweating & Heat

Avoid sweating, strenuous exercise, saunas, steam rooms, and swimming for 1 full week. Sweat introduces bacteria into the open channels and can prolong recovery.

Pressure & Rubbing

Do not exfoliate, rub, or apply pressure to the treated area until fully healed — about 2 weeks. This includes facial massage, microcurrent devices, and aggressive cleansing.

Active Skincare

No retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, vitamin C, or any active ingredient for 1 week. Reintroduce gradually starting around day 10 to 14 — gentle vitamin C first, then low-strength retinol.

Picking Dots & Scabs

Do not pick or disturb the MENDS dots or any crusting under any circumstances. Picking causes scarring, hyperpigmentation, and undoes the result we just built.

Makeup (first 24 hours)

Do not apply makeup for the first 24 hours. Mineral makeup is allowed from day 2 — skip liquid foundation until the dots have shed (around day 7).

When to Call The Spa After Fractora

Contact The Spa immediately if you experience:

Redness, swelling, a fine grid of pinpoint MENDS dots, mild pinpoint bruising, and a sunburn-like feeling are all expected in the first 24 to 72 hours after Fractora. None of that needs a call. Reach out promptly if you notice any of the following:

Redness or swelling that worsens after the first 3 days instead of steadily improving.
Signs of infection — pus or yellow drainage, spreading warmth, red streaking, or a fever.
Severe or increasing pain that climbs after the first 24 hours rather than fading.
Unusual discoloration — dark or white patches, or skin that has not returned to its normal color by about week 2.
Blistering, open areas, or crusting beyond what your provider described at your visit.

During business hours, call us at (806) 701-5840. For severe symptoms outside our hours, go to the nearest urgent care or emergency room and let us know as soon as you are able. When in doubt, call — we would always rather hear from you.

FAQ

Your questions, answered

We’ve answered some of the most common questions below to help make your experience simple, transparent, and stress-free.

Microneedling combined with radio-frequency (RF) energy delivered through the needles. The needles create micro-channels at the surface; the RF energy heats deeper tissue layers. Result: surface texture improvement AND deeper skin tightening simultaneously. Significantly more dramatic than standard microneedling.

What is RF Microneedling (Fractora)?

Skin laxity (jawline, jowls, neck), deep texture concerns, acne scars (particularly deep ice-pick or boxcar scars), stretch marks, sagging, fine lines and wrinkles, significant pore size. Better than standard microneedling for tightening; better than RF alone for surface concerns. Best of both modalities.

What does RF Microneedling treat?

Standard microneedling creates surface micro-injuries triggering collagen at the dermis level. RF microneedling does that AND adds heat energy deeper. Standard is good for texture/glow; RF is required for true tightening and deep concerns. RF has slightly more recovery but produces more dramatic results.

How is RF Microneedling different from standard microneedling?

A structured series of 3 to 6 sessions, spaced 4 weeks apart, is recommended to achieve optimal skin tightening and resurfacing results. Maintenance every 12–18 months keeps results.

How many RF Microneedling sessions will I need?

Topical numbing applied for 45 minutes before treatment makes it well-tolerated. The heat element adds warmth sensation compared to standard microneedling. Most patients describe it as more intense than standard microneedling but manageable with numbing.

Does RF Microneedling hurt?

Recovery from RF Microneedling is about 7 days. Day 1–2: significant redness, swelling, possibly some bruising or pinpoint marks at needle sites. Day 3–5: redness fading, possible mild flaking. Day 7: most patients back to normal appearance.

What's the recovery from RF Microneedling?

$375–$650 per session depending on area treated. Larger or multi-area treatments at the higher end. Series pricing available. Members receive discounted pricing.

How much does RF Microneedling cost in Lubbock?

Initial improvement (better texture, slight tightening) visible at 4–6 weeks. Full collagen and tightening response builds over 3 months as tissues continue remodeling. Best to evaluate at 3 months post-final session.

When will I see RF Microneedling results?

Yes—generally safer for darker skin than ablative laser treatments because the RF energy bypasses pigment in the skin surface. Still requires appropriate technique. We adjust settings based on skin type.

Is RF Microneedling safe for all skin tones?

Book a complimentary consultation. We'll evaluate the concern (tightening, scarring, texture), confirm RF microneedling is the right tool, and design a treatment plan. Call (806) 701-5840 or book online.