AMANDA HOLDEN SAYS IT’S ‘THE BEST HOUR INVESTMENT FOR LOOKING FIVE YEARS YOUNGER’ AND KIM KARDASHIAN-WEST TOOK TO INSTA TO SING ITS PRAISES TOO. What’s so special about MORPHEUS8? We Figured Out!
What do we have in common between Kim K and Amanda Holden? They’re both fans of the latest Morpheus8 rejuvenating treatment designed to tighten the skin and contour the face and body, in addition to stellar careers and enviable wardrobes. In reality, the handheld zapper is a power pair tweak, which puts together two of the most popular micro-needling and radio frequency anti-ageing salon treatments with little downtime. “Micro needling and radiofrequency both work to create a controlled trauma triggering the body’s healing response; collagen and elastin production, meaning you get two treatments in one; a stronger treatment (dubbed ‘microneedling on steroids’) and quicker results than having microneedling and RF individually,” explains Dr. Sabrina Shah-Desai, who offers it at the London Perfect Eyes clinic.
Before recording the live Britain’s Got Talent shows last week, Amanda had the operation and posted on Instagram: ”The results were completely incredible. I’ve found that my skin is very plump and it’s a lot tighter. I’m more than ready to yell about how brilliant this new therapy is from the rooftops! It was the perfect time to spend in looking at least five years younger.”
Olivia Attwood of Love Island is also a recent convert to the treatment, posting her Instagram video of her doing it on her chin and jawline.
What is Morpheus8?
Morpheus8 ‘injects’ radiofrequency energy into the skin with loads of tiny needles, which often serve as a micro-needling treatment itself, as well as being the name of a Matrix character and looking like a Harry Potter broomstick. Both are collagen-boosting in various ways. Microneedling induces a skin micro-trauma that activates the healing response, while heat is used through radiofrequency to shrink, wrap, and tighten the skin. For skin tightening and contouring, it can be used on the face, neck and body. “It stimulates the production of new collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid in the skin, resulting in firmer, smoother, more lifted and hydrated skin,” explains Dr Tatiana Lapa, who offers the procedure at her London clinic.
It’s one of those treatments that sounds like it does it all, as “You’ll see an improvement in contour and sometimes a slight difference in volume also, as it can have a plumping effect. Skin will be tighter, healthier and more youthful and you’ll see an improvement in texture and tighter pores too.” It’s particularly effective on hooded eyes too.
“The Morpheus8 has been gaining traction since it first appeared in 2019 and now has found a new niche treating ‘Zoom chin’ and jowls”, says Dr Sabrina, “the area of the face that many people have found more noticeable on video calls.”
“It’s also particularly effective on scarring, included pitted scars, and active acne”, adds Dr Tatiana.
A Morpheus8 treatment may also help tummy knees and thighs. The machine has deeper pins which can be used for cellulite and stretch marks, adds Dr Sabrina.
What happens in Morpheus8’s Treatment?
First of all, a numbing cream is applied. “After the area is numbed the tip of the handpiece is applied to the skin and using a foot pedal the needles are delivered into the skin at the programmed depth and energy,” explains Dr Sabrina. This delivers pulses of radiofrequency heat energy into the skin.
The depths of the needles is adjustable depending on the area and what it is being treated for, as Dr Sabrina explains. “For skin tightening you’d work in the dermis [middle layer of skin], for resurfacing you’d work in the epidermis [outer layer of skin] and for contouring you’d work in the subdermal tissue [the deepest skin layer].”
There are newly released 7mm needles to work on the deepest layers, particularly great for areas such as the thighs and abdomen; for treatment with these you’d require local anesthetic.
How long does the treatment take?
“The whole face would take around 25 minutes, while the abdomen would probably be 30 minutes”, Dr Sabrina told us. She recommends one to three treatments, but says that results are often seen even after one treatment.
Does it hurt?
Kim jokes on Insta during her treatment that she “hates” the doctor performing the treatment, adding it’s actually not that bad, though we have a feeling Kim is quite a tough cookie when it comes to these things. “Most patients experience mild discomfort but this is managed well with the anesthetic,” adds Dr Sabrina. “Bony areas such as the forehead can be more uncomfortable, but the eye area is not as bad.”
What is the downtime?
There’s very little downtime with Morpheus8. You may experience a little redness but this should dissipate within four to 24 hours, depending on the depth of the treatment you had, according to Dr Sabrina.
Amanda says that you’ll be left with a red shiny face for a couple of days afterwards – if you’ve ever had salon micro needling you’ll be familiar with that slightly sunburned ‘tight face’ feeling afterwards, but this can be made more comfortable with good post-treatment skincare.