If you’re exploring ways to refresh your skin without surgery, treatments like RF microneedling, laser resurfacing, and Broadband Light (BBL) therapy are all excellent options. These technologies can treat everything from fine lines and acne scars to sagging skin and sun damage—with little downtime.
Although they all work by stimulating your skin’s natural healing process, each does it in a different way and targets different layers of the skin. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what these treatments are, how they work, and what the latest clinical research says about their safety and effectiveness.
- What Is Fractional RF Microneedling?
RF microneedling combines tiny needles with radiofrequency (RF) heat energy to stimulate deep layers of your skin. A leading system, Morpheus8, uses insulated needles to deliver this energy into the skin and even the layer of fat beneath it, addressing different skin and soft tissue concerns.
How it works:
- Tiny array of needles induce micro-injuries in the skin, as with standard microneedling but while also delivering radiofrequency energy that is converted into heat.
- This process encourages your skin to make more collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep it firm and elastic, remodel scar tissue collagen for improved appearance, breakdown pigment, reduce both sweat gland activity (e.g. underarms) and active non-inflammatory acne
- In deeper settings (used for under the chin or body areas), the heat can also tighten underlying fibrospetal connective tissue framework, bulk coagulate and remodel fat and reduce cellulite for a tighter more contoured appearance.
Unlike lasers, RF doesn’t rely on skin pigment to work, which means it’s safe for all skin types and tones, including darker complexions.
What it treats:
- Skin laxity (mild sagging)
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Enlarged pores and uneven texture
- Acne and acne scarring
- Mild fat under the chin or jawline
- Loose or crepey skin on the body
- Cellulite
- Recalcitrant hyperpigmentation (e.g. melasma)
- Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
Scientific results:
A 2025 study compared long-term outcomes of three acne treatments (isotretinoin, ablative laser, and RF microneedling) in hundreds of patients:
- RF microneedling led to a 24% acne relapse rate after 3 years.
- By comparison, laser-treated patients had a substantially higher 75% relapse rate and those on oral medication had 67%.
This suggests RF microneedling doesn’t just improve scars—it may help reduce oil gland activity, making it effective for long-term acne control too.
Another randomised split-face study directly compared Morpheus8 and a fractional CO₂ laser for acne scars:
- Both treatments gave similar improvements in skin texture.
- RF microneedling caused less redness and downtime, though some patients found it more uncomfortable during the procedure.
Morpheus8 key facts:
- Penetrates up to 4 mm deep (or 8 mm for body areas)
- Tips available for face, eyes, and larger body zones
- FDA-cleared for remodelling fat and skin
- Commonly used for jawline sculpting, neck tightening, and cellulite reduction
- What Is Laser Resurfacing with MOXI (1927 nm Thulium Laser)?
The MOXI laser is a modern skin resurfacing treatment that uses a gentle, non-ablative type of laser energy (called 1927 nm thulium) to improve early signs of sun damage, uneven skin tone, fine lines, and pigmentation. It works by creating tiny, controlled injuries just below the surface of the skin, triggering the body’s natural healing process and encouraging collagen production—without damaging the top layer of skin. This makes it safe for all skin types and ideal for people who want results with little to no downtime.
How it works:
- Uses a 1927 nm thulium laser to create controlled micro-injuries in the outer skin layers.
- This stimulates new cell turnover and collagen formation, improving tone, texture, and brightness.
- It targets water in the skin, not pigment, making it safer than traditional lasers.
What it treats:
- Uneven skin tone and texture
- Sun damage
- Early fine lines
- Mild pigmentation issues (sun spots, freckles)
- Preventative aging (“prejuvenation”)
MOXI is often chosen by younger patients or those with busy lifestyles who want visible improvement without downtime or discomfort. It can also be paired with BBL or RF microneedling for deeper rejuvenation.
Scientific results:
Scientific research supports MOXI’s effectiveness. One major study found that after just two treatments, patients saw up to a 50% reduction in pigmentation and sunspots, with improvements lasting for months. Another study showed that 82% of people noticed moderate to significant improvements after one month, and most maintained those results at three months. In patients with conditions like melasma or post-inflammatory pigmentation, MOXI led to visible brightening of the skin without serious side effects.
Other studies have shown that it can be helpful for acne scarring, pigmented birthmarks, and even conditions like Riehl’s melanosis (a stubborn form of skin discoloration). When combined with other treatments like BBL HERO (a form of intense pulsed light), MOXI can enhance results further, especially for sun-induced pigmentation.
Across all studies, side effects were minimal—usually just some redness or swelling that resolved within a couple of days. No serious complications were reported. As a result, dermatologists and aesthetic practitioners often recommend MOXI as a preventative or maintenance treatment, particularly for people in their 20s to 40s looking to maintain healthy, glowing skin.
In short, MOXI is a clinically backed, low-downtime laser that delivers clear, visible improvements in skin tone and texture—making it a popular choice for those seeking gentle but effective skin rejuvenation.
- What Is BroadBand Light (BBL) Therapy?
BBL is a next-generation version of IPL (intense pulsed light). It uses broad-spectrum light to target unwanted pigment, redness, and other signs of sun damage.
How it works:
- BBL sends pulses of light into the skin, targeting:
- Melanin (for brown spots)
- Red blood vessels (for flushing and redness)
- Water (for heating the skin to stimulate collagen)
What it treats:
- Sun damage and pigmentation
- Rosacea and redness
- Uneven skin tone
- Early signs of aging
- Acne (with a specific blue light filter)
Scientific results:
A landmark Stanford University study (Chang et al., J. Invest. Dermatol. 2013) found that BBL treatments can restore the gene expression profile of aged human skin to resemble young skin. In this study, skin samples from older patients treated with regular BBL had 1,293 genes “rejuvenated” to more youthful expression levels, including key regulators of longevity. The authors concluded BBL induces functional changes that go beyond cosmetic improvement, essentially “turning back the clock” at a molecular level.
In a long-term retrospective study, patients who received at least yearly BBL maintenance for 5–11 years appeared noticeably younger than their actual age, with blinded evaluators estimating them on average 9 years younger than baseline after the treatment series. Histologically, BBL has been associated with increased dermal collagen and elastin fibres at 3–6 months post-treatment in some studies. Sciton markets this regimen as Forever Young BBL™, based on the idea that regular light therapy keeps skin genes and structure in a more youthful state.
Side Effects and Recovery: What to Expect
| Treatment | Recovery Time | Common Side Effects | Safe for All Skin Tones? |
| Morpheus8 RF Microneedling | 1–3 days | Redness, swelling, pinpoint crusting | ✔ Yes |
| MOXI/1927nm Laser | 1–2 days | Mild redness, dry/flaky texture (MENDS) | ✔ Yes |
| BBL | 0–2 days | Redness, temporary darkening of pigment | ▲ Up to type IV with caution |
Morpheus8 can be more uncomfortable during treatment (due to the combination of needles and heat), but we can offer numbing cream or nerve blocks for comfort.
Which Treatment Is Best for You?
It depends on your skin goals, skin type, and how much downtime you can tolerate. Here’s a quick guide:
| Concern | Recommended Treatment |
| Mild to moderate skin sagging | Morpheus8 |
| Acne and acne scarring | Morpheus8 (safe for all skin tones) |
| Uneven texture and early aging | MOXI and/or Morpheus8 |
| Sun damage, brown spots, redness | BBL +/- MOXI |
| Preventative skin maintenance | BBL +/- MOXI +/- Morpheus8 |
| Darker skin tones (types V–VI) | Morpheus8 or MOXI |
Because these technologies overlap in indications, the best choice depends on the specific concern, skin type, and downtime tolerance:
Skin Laxity (Tightening):
RF microneedling (Morpheus8) has an edge in mild-to-moderate laxity, as it can deliver energy deeper to contract dermis and even subdermal fat. Morpheus8 is often used for jawline tightening, neck skin, and crepey body areas, which non-ablative lasers can’t reach effectively. Lasers mainly tighten by superficial collagen shrinkage; for example, an ablative laser peel can firm fine lines but won’t lift jowls. BBL has only a subtle tightening effect through dermal heating; newer BBL Hero protocols claim some skin firming but less than RF.
Wrinkles and Texture:
Both fractional lasers and RF microneedling improve fine lines and texture by collagen remodelling. Ablative lasers (CO₂, Er:YAG) are very effective for deep wrinkles (often 50–80% improvement in one session), while RF microneedling may require multiple sessions for similar results but with gentler recovery. Non-ablative fractional lasers (MOXI) might need 3–4 sessions for significant wrinkle reduction. Morpheus8 and MOXI together can even be combined (in separate sessions) for maximal collagen induction.
Acne Scarring:
Studies indicate both fractional CO₂ and RF microneedling are equally effective for acne scars. Ablative laser might show results faster (more aggressive one-time treatment), whereas RF is a bit gentler per session but can reach scars at depth and is colourblind (safe for more skin tones). RF microneedling may also help active acne simultaneously by reducing sebaceous activity. For darker skin (IV–VI), RF microneedling is often preferred over laser to minimise PIH risk.
Pigmentation (sun spots, melasma):
BBL/IPL and fractional lasers excel at pigmentation. BBL is great for diffuse sun damage (it causes dark spots to flake off after targeting melanin), and is the go-to for erythema/flushing since it targets blood vessels too. MOXI (1927 nm laser) can treat superficial pigmentation and precancerous spots. RF microneedling is not a primary pigment treatment, though it can give some improvement in post-acne PIH or mild dyschromia through skin renewal and may be effective in melasma that is recalcitrant to other treatments, particularly if combined with tranexamic acid. If pigment issues are prominent, a laser or light therapy is usually indicated either alone or in combination, with Morpheus8 selected for specific cases.
Scarring (non-acne):
For surgical or traumatic scars, both fractional lasers and RF have shown benefit by remodelling scar collagen. If a scar is thick or tethered, RF needling (which physically breaks some scar fibres and delivers heat) can be very useful. Again, skin type plays a role in choosing the modality.
All Skin Types vs Specific:
Morpheus8’s and MOXI main advantage is treating all skin types (I–VI) safely. Ablative lasers (e.g. CO2/erbium) and BBL need more caution as skin gets darker; they are excellent for types I–III, and with adjusted settings can treat IV safely in many cases (especially non-ablative or using longer wavelengths like 1064 nm). For type V–VI, RF microneedling is often the safest choice for resurfacing and tightening although some practitioners use ablative lasers for type VI skin accepting the risk of altered pigmentation.
Combination Approaches:
These are not mutually exclusive. Patients often undergo an initial course of RF microneedling for deep collagen induction, tightening and pore size reduction. The treatment is then followed by BBL for pigmentation and redness, and MOXI/1927nm laser for skin resurfacing and additional reduction in visible pigmentation and wrinkles.
Conclusion
Fractional RF microneedling (Morpheus8) and laser/light therapies (MOXI/1927nm laser, BBL) are complementary tools in aesthetic dermatology. RF microneedling offers versatile tissue remodelling (even into fat) with relatively minimal downtime and is safe for all skin tones. It excels in tightening and scar reduction, and newer iterations like Morpheus8 Body push into body contouring. Non-ablative (e.g. MOXI/1927nm) laser skin resurfacing remains the gold standard for dramatic resurfacing results in younger patients, especially for mild-moderate textural rejuvenation, fine lines/wrinkles and pigment correction. BBL stands out as first line therapy for pigmentation and redness and as a maintenance photo-rejuvenation therapy to keep skin youthful and treat diffuse photodamage with virtually no downtime, backed by strong scientific evidence.
Summary Table
| Treatment | Best For | Downtime |
| Morpheus8 RF Microneedling | Skin tightening, acne, scarring, all skin types | 1–3 days |
| MOXI (Laser) | Uneven tone, texture, mild pigment, early aging | 1–2 days |
| BBL (Light Therapy) | Redness, sun damage, pigment, skin maintenance | 0–2 days |
In practice, the choice isn’t “either/or” – many patients benefit from a combined approach. For instance, a patient might do BBL for brown spots and redness, Morpheus8 for tightening and acne scars, and non-ablative fractional 1927nm (MOXI) laser for a skin resurfacing and wrinkle reduction – each technology addressing different layers. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons assess individual needs (severity of aging, scarring, skin type, tolerance for downtime) to craft a treatment plan. Thanks to ongoing innovations and studies, we now have high-quality evidence guiding these choices, ensuring treatments are both effective and scientifically validated for safety and results
Combination Treatments
- BBL + MOXI: for pigmentation and brightening
- Morpheus8 + BBL: for tightening, acne scars, and tone
- MOXI + Morpheus8: for resurfacing and deeper dermal remodelling
Treatments are often done in stages over several months to allow skin to recover and respond optimally.
At Sloane Clinic, we tailor each plan to your skin type, goals, and lifestyle—using the latest evidence to guide every decision.
Next Steps
If you want to explore modern, evidence-based skin health, anti-ageing and regenerative treatments, we invite you to schedule a consultation at Sloane Clinic in Harley Street, Central London.
Call us today or book a consultation to begin your personalised assessment and treatment journey.
Sources:
- Hendricks AJ et al. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022 – Morpheus8 fractional RF review
- Hamadani F et al. Aesthet Surg J. 2025 – RF microneedling for acne/scars vs laser
- Petersen ES et al. Lasers Surg Med. 2023 – CO₂ laser vs RF microneedling split-face
- Chang ALS et al. J Invest Dermatol. 2013 – Sciton BBL gene expression study
- Bitter P Jr. et al. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2013 – Long-term BBL maintenance (press coverage by Sciton)
- Vingan et al. Lasers Surg Med. 2023 – Efficacy of fractionated 1927nm laser
- Brauer et al. J Drugs Dermatol. 2014 – 1927nm laser for facial photopigmentation
- Li et al. Frontiers Surg. 2023 – Efficacy and safety of 1927nm laser on asin skin
- Kim et al. Lasers Surg Med. 2021 – 1927nm laser and Riehl’s Melanosis
- InMode Clinical Bulletin – Morpheus8 Body cellulite treatment (Ugonabo 2023)
- InMode Press – Morpheus8 Body FDA clearance news
- North Atlanta Derm. – RF Microneedling vs Fraxel overview (educational)
- Dr. Brunner, 2024 – Morpheus8 vs Laser treatments blog (practice perspective, citing RF depth and downtime)
- Additional PubMed-indexed and manufacturer sources as cited above.
