Like a lot of people, I didn’t think much about skincare until my 30s were staring me in the face and I was beginning to see signs of aging. All of the sudden, years of neglect and too much time in the sun caught up to me. When I looked in the mirror, it was hard not to focus on the fine lines on my forehead, around my eyes, and even in the corners of my smile.
As a busy professional and mom to four, I’m pretty much always tired—and I don’t have much time. But one thing I’ve begun to prioritize is my skin. I wash my face twice daily, use both vitamin C and retinol, and get Botox every three to four months.
Having smoother, even-toned skin helps me feel more alive—like I’m putting my best foot forward every day and doing something for myself for a change. So when I heard the buzz about Morpheus8, I couldn’t wait to try it out.
It’s apparently Kim Kardashian’s go-to anti-aging procedure. And TikTokers call it “the holy grail of skincare treatments.” Would my own results live up to the hype? I tried it to find out.
First, what is Morpheus8?
Before we get into the results, let’s back up a little bit to find out what exactly Morpheus8 is—and what it does for your skin.
Morpheus8 is a relatively new in-office skincare treatment that combines microneedling with radio frequency. “Morpheus8 uses radio frequency micropins to deliver regulated heat energy to the skin’s surface at a certain depth, depending on the area being treated and whether the intention is to tighten skin, repair wrinkles, melt fat, or all of the above,” explains Dr. Anna Chacon, a board-certified dermatologist in Miami.
Essentially, the machine’s wand has 24 tiny needles that pierce the skin, reaching the subdermal layer. Then, the radio frequency energy gently heats the skin.
How much does it cost?
It’s not cheap—the office of Dr. Michelle Henry, MD, which is where I went for the treatment, charges about $2,500 per treatment. And the doctor told me that most people need anywhere from one to three treatments to see results. But the purported benefits are enviable.
What are the benefits?
Dr. Henry explained that because the Morpheus8 needles penetrate the subdermal layer, results are more significant than other microneedling and laser treatments. Results may include:
- Increased collagen production
- Diminished fine lines and wrinkles
- Tighter skin
- Improved skin tone and texture
- Decreased hyperpigmentation
- Less acne scarring
- Faded stretch marks (when used on other areas of the body besides the face)
The treatment begins with a consultation
My appointment at Dr. Henry’s office started with a skincare consultation to make sure the treatment was suitable for me–and to help her determine what level of treatment best suited my skin type.
Then they prep your skin
Then, the tech cleansed my face with micellar water. Because Morpheus8 sends 24 tiny needles down into your skin, they also rubbed a numbing cream all over my face before the actual treatment and let it sit for 30 minutes. It didn’t hurt at all—just felt increasingly cool and tingly as the cream absorbed into my skin, almost like your skin feels when you hold ice against it.
Once the 30 minutes was up, the tech once again cleansed my face with micellar water to remove any excess numbing cream. She then used an antiseptic on my skin to make sure no pollutants or irritants (including the numbing cream) penetrated my skin with the needles.
Finally, they turn on the machine
At this point, it was time to proceed with the actual treatment. Dr. Henry turned on the machine, and set it to level 14. She chose this particular level, because it’s considered moderate—not too high for a newbie, but not super light, since I told her my skin isn’t particularly sensitive.
The treatment itself was a lot like laser hair removal, in the sense that she held the wand over various areas of my face, then triggered it in each location. With each trigger, the wand sent all 24 needles into my skin and flashed with the radio frequency.
Dr. Henry slowly moved all around my face, repeating the entire process about three times. In total, this only took about 10 minutes.
Did it hurt?
Overall, the anticipation of each pulse was worse than the pain of each pulse. In fact, as someone with a moderate pain tolerance, I wouldn’t describe Morpheus8 as painful at all—more so slightly uncomfortable.
If any area hurt, it was the upper lip. But it wasn’t a sharp pain. Instead, it was more like a quick pinch that made me flinch and caused my eyes to tear slightly.
What’s the recovery like?
Once the treatment was complete, the tech used micellar water to wipe little droplets of blood from my face. Then, she applied Neocutis Aftercare to help soothe the inflamed skin. Finally, she gave me two ice packs and recommended I sit with them for about five minutes.
Is there any downtime associated with Morpheus8?
Hardly! Immediately after my treatment, I was a little embarrassed to head out into the city streets—my skin was definitely red and splotchy. It felt tight and burned slightly—as if I had a pretty decent sunburn. The discomfort came in waves, but it was nothing I’d describe as truly painful—just slightly uncomfortable. Occasional icing help soothe these sensations.
And, by the time I woke up the next morning, my skin was almost back to normal. It didn’t hurt—it was just a tiny bit sore to the touch—and was only slightly splotchy. By the 24-hour mark, you’d never know I’d had the treatment the day before, both in look and feel.
So, is Morpheus8 worth the hype?
It’s hard to say definitively. While some Morpheus8 outcomes can be seen almost immediately, it can take three to four weeks to observe all of the results, says Cachon. “You’ll be able to notice a healthier, firmer, and more even skin a few weeks after the session.”
That said, I do see an overall improvement in my skin’s texture—especially in areas that tend to get a bit rough, like my forehead and the little crease between my lip and my chin. I think my skin also looks overall brighter than it did just a week ago.
I’m not quite ready to tout it as the holy grail just yet, but I’m optimistic that three months from now, my before and after will show significant results.
Contributing Writer
Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in creating SEO and e-commerce content across a range of lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She also has significant experience creating native and branded content.
