Dr Gerard Ee consults and performs Secret RF microneedling at The Clifford Clinic, 50 Raffles Place, Singapore.
Secret RF is one of the RF microneedling systems I provide at The Clifford Clinic. I consider it for selected acne-scar, skin-texture and pigment concerns after assessing the skin, previous treatment and the result the patient wants.
The device is one part of the decision. Scar type, active acne, pigmentation history and treatment tolerability also affect the plan. For the wider category, read my RF microneedling guide.
How Secret RF microneedling treats acne scars
Secret RF is a radiofrequency microneedling system for acne scar removal, with adjustable depth and both non-insulated and semi-insulated tips. A course is usually two to four sessions, four to six weeks apart. At my clinic it costs $1,500 per session or $4,800 for four sessions.
Secret RF delivers radiofrequency through a microneedle cartridge, with adjustable treatment depth and energy delivery. Manufacturer information describes both non-insulated and semi-insulated tips. Those configurations distribute energy differently, so the actual tip matters when discussing treatment. [1]
A maximum power figure does not tell you what energy a particular area receives or predict the clinical result. The cartridge, settings, treatment pattern and skin being treated need to be considered together.
Which acne scars suit microneedle RF
I use the consultation to separate scar texture from flat marks, active lesions and other skin concerns. Brown marks and other pigment conditions need their own diagnosis first. See the pigmentation guide. Where the diagnosis supports it, Secret RF can form part of a melasma or pigment plan alongside other treatment. RF may also be part of a plan for selected depressed scars, uneven texture or visible pores, but each goal needs realistic expectations.
Where acne remains active, I assess it alongside the scars. A combined treatment plan for a selected patient is different from assuming fractional microneedling is suitable over every inflamed lesion. The acne treatment guide explains how ongoing breakouts are assessed.
When scars are tethered, a release procedure may be important. Deep narrow pits and raised scars also need their own approach. The acne scar guide explains why a single resurfacing device does not address every scar.
RF treatment for active acne and acne scars together
Secret RF is a scar treatment first, but I also use it as an add-on for a specific group: patients whose acne is not yet controlled and whose skin texture is rough. In those patients it is added to the medical acne plan, not used instead of it. The acne itself is treated with the options set out on the acne treatment page. Secret RF for active acne is $1,500 per session before GST ($1,635 with 9% GST). The number of sessions is agreed at consultation once the acne plan is in place.
Secret RF for melasma and pigment
Melasma sits in the dermis as well as at the surface, and that deeper component is a large part of why it returns once creams and oral treatment stop. RF microneedling delivers energy at a selected dermal depth, which is why it is used both to treat melasma and to hold the result once the pigment has settled.
In a retrospective series of patients treated with radiofrequency microneedling, most of them with skin that pigments readily, melasma severity scores fell over the treatment course. That included the group using nothing alongside treatment except sunscreen. [3]
Recurrence was addressed separately in a split-face study. Melasma was first brought under control with conventional treatment, after which one side continued with monthly microneedling radiofrequency. The side that continued held its improvement, while the untreated side drifted back towards where it began. [4]
Some patients see a visible difference after the first session. Others need the full course before the change is obvious, and I would rather set that expectation than promise the faster version.
Melasma is a relapsing condition, so the plan matters as much as the device. Diagnosis, sun protection and medical treatment stay part of it, and energy delivered into pigment-prone skin can worsen pigment if the assessment or the settings are wrong. I set out the expected course, and the point at which we review it, before starting.
If brown patches are your main concern, start with the pigmentation treatment guide, then we can discuss where Secret RF fits alongside the rest of the plan.
Secret RF or Infini for acne scars?
I provide both devices. I often consider insulated Infini when deeper remodelling of settled scars is the priority, particularly in skin prone to pigmentation. Secret RF remains an option for selected scar and texture plans.
This describes how I select treatments in practice, rather than a conclusion that one device is best for every skin type. Read my comparison of Secret RF versus Infini for acne scars for the role of scar type, needle design and pigment history in that choice.
What a microneedle RF session for acne scars involves
We agree on the treatment area and expected recovery before proceeding. Bring your current medicines and recent procedure history, including isotretinoin, previous energy treatments and any unusual healing reactions.
After skin preparation and topical anaesthetic where appropriate, the handpiece is applied to the selected areas. Depth and energy can be adjusted across the treatment field. An appointment includes preparation and aftercare as well as the treatment itself.
Follow the aftercare instructions for cleansing, moisturising, sun protection and restarting active skincare. Avoid picking temporary roughness or crusting. Tell the clinic if symptoms worsen rather than settle.
Recovery and number of sessions after radiofrequency scar treatment
Temporary redness, swelling, tenderness, pinpoint bleeding and crusting can occur. Recovery varies with the area, settings and individual response. A short appointment does not guarantee that visible changes will settle the same day.
I usually discuss 2–4 sessions for acne scars, commonly spaced around four to six weeks apart. The plan is adjusted to recovery and response, rather than completing a fixed number despite poor tolerance or limited benefit.
Remodelling continues after treatment. Similar lighting and consistent photographs make the change easier to assess than comparing the face from day to day.
Risks of RF microneedling for acne scars
The relevant risks include burns, pigmentation changes, infection and scarring. RF microneedling also has reported risks of fat loss and nerve injury with certain uses. [2] Sensitive or darker skin is not automatically excluded, but “suitable for all skin types” is not a guarantee for an individual patient.
Current skin disease, unusual scarring, medical conditions, pregnancy or breastfeeding, implants and medicines may affect suitability. These are reviewed before treatment rather than decided from an online checklist.
Contact the clinic promptly for worsening pain, blistering, discharge, spreading redness or persistent changes in sensation or contour.
Microneedle RF acne scar treatment price in Singapore
Full-face Secret RF for acne scars is S$1,635 per session including 9% GST (S$1,500 before GST), usually over 2–4 sessions. The RF microneedling guide sets out the fee and the course arithmetic in full, alongside the Infini quotation position. The same per-session fee applies when Secret RF is used as an add-on for active acne.
That figure is a treatment fee per session, not a package price or a guarantee of the number of sessions needed. Before booking, ask for the complete quotation and confirm whether consultation, anaesthetic, medicines and aftercare are included or charged separately. Any additional procedure needs its own explanation and price.
For clinic service information, see Secret RF at The Clifford Clinic.
RF treatment for acne scars, common questions
Does the needle type matter?
Yes. Non-insulated and semi-insulated configurations affect energy distribution. The discussion should concern the cartridge and protocol actually used rather than assume the brand name describes one fixed treatment. [1]
Can Secret RF remove acne scars completely?
Complete removal cannot be promised. Improvement depends on the scar pattern and the full treatment plan, and some scars need another technique.
Can it be combined with other procedures?
Sometimes. Each additional treatment needs a purpose, and timing should reflect recovery and the overall plan. Adding more procedures to one visit does not automatically improve the outcome.
Is this the same as Secret RF treatment for eye bags?
This page concerns fractional microneedling. The separate cannula-based eyelid application described on this site is a different procedure with its own assessment and risks. Read the non-surgical eye-bag treatment guide for that discussion.
Book a consultation with Dr Gerard Ee
Dr Gerard Ee consults and performs Secret RF microneedling at The Clifford Clinic, 50 Raffles Place, Singapore. Consultations are by appointment. Message the clinic on WhatsApp, or call 6532 2048.
Sources
Show the 4 references
- Cutera. Secret RF product brochure: cartridge configurations and device features.
- FDA. RF microneedling safety communication, 15 October 2025.
- Kim HB, Lee SY, Um JY, et al. Clinical effects and safety of radiofrequency microneedling for the management of melasma: a retrospective study. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. 2026;8:ojag143. PubMed 42582527.
- Han HJ, Kim JC, Park YJ, Kang HY. Targeting the dermis for melasma maintenance treatment. Scientific Reports. 2024;14:949. PubMed 38200171.
Dr Gerard Ee is the Medical Director of The Clifford Clinic, where these treatments are provided commercially. This information supports an individual consultation. Outcomes and risks vary.
