Pores widen with declining collagen and elastin, not sebum alone. Needle RF remodels the dermis — with published clinical evidence.
Hello. This is Dr. Lee Yumin of MeSOnBom Clinic.
Pore treatment has moved beyond simply reducing enlarged pores toward considering collagen regeneration and skin structure together.
Even so, I often hear in clinic: "I've had lasers and kept up my care, but over time the pores seem to widen again."
Pores are not a matter of sebum alone. They are a skin change influenced by several factors together — declining firmness, reduced collagen, repeated inflammation.
So treatment that considers the environment within the skin, not only the surface, has become important.
In this column I want to explain the causes of recurring pore concerns and how Sylfirm X is used from the standpoint of skin regeneration.
Because collagen and elastin, which support the skin, have declined and firmness has fallen — not because of sebum alone.
Many people believe that reducing sebum production will improve the pores.
But pores are more closely tied to structural change within the skin than to the surface.
As collagen and elastin in the dermis decline, the force that had been drawing the area around each pore tight is released.
Add repeated acne inflammation or ageing, and pores gradually appear wider and deeper.
So pore treatment can only hold if it goes beyond surface stimulation to address the structure and regeneration within the skin.
It delivers radiofrequency directly into the dermis through fine needles, remodelling aged tissue and regenerating collagen to reduce pore size.
Sylfirm X is a needle RF device that delivers RF directly into the dermis using fine needles.
Rather than stimulating the surface alone, it remodels aged tissue and regenerates collagen to reduce the pores.
This approach is supported by published clinical research.
A study by Cho SI and colleagues published in Dermatologic Surgery in 2012 treated 30 patients with acne scars and enlarged pores using fractional radiofrequency microneedling, and found improvement in pores and scars in more than 70% of patients.
Skin roughness and dermal density also improved, which the researchers attributed to regeneration of the dermal matrix.
This shows how pore treatment has developed beyond smoothing the surface toward addressing structure and regeneration within the skin.
Accordingly, it matters to diagnose the cause of the pores and the condition of the skin accurately, then build a treatment plan suited to the individual.
Reference: Cho SI, Chung BY, Choi MG, et al. Evaluation of the Clinical Efficacy of Fractional Radiofrequency Microneedle Treatment in Acne Scars and Large Facial Pores. Dermatologic Surgery. 2012;38(7 Pt 1):1017-1024.
Sylfirm X supports two modes (CW and PW), applying energy differently according to each person's concern.
Being able to select different modes within one device according to skin condition and treatment aim is one of its characteristics.
Skin thickness, the form of the pores and the degree of firmness loss are analysed together, and the needle depth and energy intensity adjusted precisely for each person.
The cause of enlarged pores differs from person to person.
Treatment for someone in their twenties whose main cause is excessive sebum should differ from treatment for someone in their thirties or forties with accompanying loss of firmness.
Even with the same device, the depth and mode can be adjusted at the practitioner's judgement.
Building a combined plan that also takes acne scars, skin texture and redness into account is the key to a satisfying result.
Q. How painful is Sylfirm X, and what is the downtime?
A. It varies by individual, but anaesthetic cream is applied beforehand so discomfort is relatively low. Some redness can follow, but it usually settles within a few hours to a day, so the return to daily life is quick.
Q. How many sessions are usually recommended for pore reduction?
A. It depends on skin condition, but for collagen remodelling we usually recommend three or more sessions at intervals of three to four weeks.
Q. Is there anything to be careful about afterwards?
A. Because the dermal environment is being improved, drinking enough water and using moisturiser and sunscreen are very important.
Written by Dr. Lee Yumin, MeSOnBom Clinic
Our medical team will advise you based on your skin condition.
