Potenza, CIT, or LaseMD Ultra: Which Is Right for You?
Ardan offers three skin treatments that work below the surface: CIT with SkinPen, Potenza RF microneedling, and LaseMD Ultra. Each works differently, and you don’t have to pick on your own. Your provider will help you choose after a consultation in our medspa.
How do the three compare?
| CIT with SkinPen | Potenza RF microneedling | LaseMD Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Fine needles create tiny channels that start the skin’s natural healing | Ultrafine needles create tiny channels and deliver radiofrequency energy into deeper layers | A non-ablative fractional laser treats the skin in tiny columns and leaves the skin between them untouched |
| Price at Ardan | From $450 | Face and neck, $1,050. Neck only, $650. Body, from $800 | Face, from $750 |
| Appointment | About 45 minutes, plus 30 minutes for numbing | Face and neck, about 90 minutes. Body, from about 60 minutes | A session typically takes about 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the area |
| After your visit | Redness, dryness, and tightness that usually fade within a few days | Redness or swelling for 1 to 2 days, like a mild sunburn | Mild redness, and you can return to regular activities. Skin typically heals in 5 to 7 days |
| Consultation | Complimentary | Call us to set one up | Complimentary |
What is each treatment known for?
- CIT with SkinPen: SkinPen is FDA-cleared to improve the appearance of facial acne scars in adults 22 and older, and the appearance of neck wrinkles for skin types II to IV.
- Potenza: Combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy to support the skin’s own collagen and elastin over time.
- LaseMD Ultra: FDA-cleared to treat benign pigmented spots, such as age spots, sun spots, and freckles.
Which one should I choose?
It depends on your skin, your goals, and your health history. Your provider will recommend a treatment at your consultation and explain what to expect. Bring any questions you have. There are no silly ones.
How many sessions will I need?
CIT with SkinPen is usually a series of treatments about 4 weeks apart, and results build gradually over the months that follow. Potenza results build gradually too, with early changes in tone and texture within a few weeks and more change between 3 and 6 months. The number of Potenza and LaseMD Ultra sessions varies from person to person, and some people notice a change after one LaseMD Ultra session while others need a series. Your plan is set at your consultation.
What does it feel like?
With CIT, a numbing cream goes on first, and most people feel light pressure and a mild buzzing. With Potenza, most people describe a warm, prickling feeling with some pressure, and numbing cream can be applied first. With LaseMD Ultra, you may feel mild to moderate discomfort depending on your settings, and numbing cream can be used.
What are the risks of microneedling and lasers?
- Redness, swelling, and a dry or tight feeling are common at first.
- Microneedling can reactivate cold sores or change skin color in the treated area, and it may not change your scars.
- Rare but serious complications, including burns, scarring, fat loss, and nerve damage, have been reported with radiofrequency microneedling devices. Choose a licensed provider who is trained on the device, and ask how they’ll handle any problem.
- Tell us about active acne, cold sores, keloids, blood thinners, or isotretinoin before you book.
- Your provider will review your health history with you at your consultation.
What should I do after my treatment?
- Stay out of the sun until your skin heals.
- Wear sunscreen every day once your skin has healed.
- Follow the printed prep and aftercare your provider gives you at your consultation.
Can I have a consultation first?
Yes. Laser and CIT consultations are complimentary, and we’ll set up a Potenza consultation when you call. Read more in our first-visit questions.
Call 781-235-7788 or book online.