Unlocking Radiant Skin: A Guide to Morpheus and Topical Exosomes

It seemed everywhere I turned in 2023 I was reading, hearing and being asked about microneedling with radiofrequency (RF). From Kim Kardashian posting about its tightening effects on her abdomen to comedians joking about how they look post treatment, Morpehus8 has been a hot topic. 

There are so many devices that offer microneedling  + RF…Profound, Vivace, SecretRF, Genius…the list goes on. 

However, after careful consideration and testing by our derm team, Dr. Welsh and Dr. He decided to bring on Morpheus8 (aka Morpheus), the gold standard of them all because: 

• Morpheus8 stands apart as it allows us to target various, specific depths of the skin depending on the patient’s concern with customized treatments:
• We can stimulate collagen growth and repair damaged collagen strands, resulting in a firmer, tighter and more smooth appearance. This extends to many concerns we are looking to improve: fine lines, acne scarring, and deeper lift.
• Morpheus also allows us to treat all skin types. For deeper skin tones, our providers are able to temper the energy while still delivering strong results.
• Its versatile body tip is effective for treating crepiness in areas like the arms, thighs, knees and abdomen.

Why Should We Care? 

As early as 25-30 our ability to produce new collagen slows, which in turn leads to fine lines, wrinkles and overall aging skin. It can be frustrating to see those pesky upper lip lines start to set in or feel as if our faces are slowly downturning. We all want to age gracefully and sometimes we need a little boost to help us along. 

We are so lucky to be living in a time where the world of non-invasive technology is improving at such a fast rate! There is less and less need to go the surgery route: insert, Morpheus. These newer technologies are revolutionizing the way we think about skin rejuvenation and anti-aging. 

This sounds great right? Yes! 

Importance of Post Care

But the care after these procedures is just as important as the treatment itself. After a collagen-stimulating treatment it’s imperative we take care of and encourage the new healthy collagen growth we’ve just triggered. Whether we like it or not, our body is going to continually age forward. 

It’s likely you use topical or have heard of growth factors and peptides. Both are ingredients we heavily lean on in our anti-aging regimens. 

However, there have been some exciting recent advancements in topical research, namely exosomes! Maintaining treatments has now been made even easier with these tiny vesicles found in platelets which house regenerative properties. (Our full pre/post care library can be found online here.) 

What is Exosome Therapy?

Exosomes in topical skincare is a fascinating recent development that harnesses the power of platelets. Platelets are our body's first responders at a time of injury so scientists isolated specific vesicles from platelets called exosomes. 

What they found  was that these exosomes can have amazing regenerative effects for the skin. The exosomes are loaded with growth factors and antioxidants that address the appearance of wrinkles, dullness, brown spots, and redness! 

Are Exosomes Stem Cells?

No exosomes are not stem cells. Exosomes cannot self-replicate and in this setting can only affect the cosmetic appearance by carrying and delivering information that promotes tissue repair. We love Plated specifically because they have a patented process to gently retrieve the exosomes without destroying the composition that may be done in a typical centrifuge process. You can be assured that these exosomes are in their most ideal form! 

Now let's talk about what makes Morpheus so unique… 

How does Morpheus work scientifically? 

Morpheus utilizes bipolar radiofrequency and microneedling in one device! Previously we had to choose between one or the other with patients but now this combined treatment is even more effective. The needles can be dialed superficial or deep depending on the skin type and reason for treatment. Shorter needle depth will address surface concerns, deep needle depth can help with fat and laxity concerns. The customization component makes Morpheus great for many reasons: visible signs of aging, scar tissue, diminishing signs of stretch marks, and unwanted, stubborn fat deposits on the face or body.

What areas can I treat with Morpheus?

Morpheus is versatile and can treat any areas showing signs of aging. Face and neck are our most popular areas for many reasons, these include improving the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, acne scarring, and submental fullness. We can also extend Morpheus to the body to improve stubborn crepiness. Common body areas we treat include arms, abdomen, and knees. 

How many treatments do I need?

Morpheus is most effective when performed in a series of three. Results from each treatment ‘stack’ on each other as more collagen is produced and the neocollagenesis pathway is completed. More significant corrections should be discussed with a provider as more treatments may be needed. Your provider will also discuss a maintenance plan after your series is completed. 

I’m scared to do Morpheus, I hear it dissolves fat!

Morpheus does not automatically destroy fat. This is a common misunderstanding.  We only use deeper settings when our goal is fat removal. Otherwise, Morpheus treatments are performed at a shallower depth and won’t impact our fat pads. This is excellent news considering the fat in our face is often what gives us that youthful bounce (and frequently what we’re trying to replicate with hyaluronic fillers.)

Is Morpheus Safe?

Yes, Morpheus is very safe when administered by a well-trained provider. Just as with every device we bring into our clinic, our dermatologists, PA-C and RN team have all participated in extensive training with Morpheus. Before every treatment, we review your goals, areas of concern, assess progress since your last visit to ensure that day’s service is highly customized. We’ve never believed in a one-size-fits all philosophy at BACD.

Are Morpheus Results Permanent?

The results of Morpheus8 are not permanent, but they are long-lasting. Morpheus stimulates your body's natural collagen production, which typically improves over time and lasts for many months. However, the natural aging process will continue, and maintenance treatments are encouraged to sustain and enhance the results. The frequency of maintenance treatments varies and will be discussed during your series. 

Which is better, Morpheus or Ulthera?

We love both Morpheus and Ultherapy (Ulthera)! Morpheus is creating a physical injury to the skin and therefore has more downtime than Ulthera but can be a better choice for those with acne scars, festoons, textural changes, stretch marks, etc. 

We still love Ulthera for a deeper lift so many of our patients will alternate between Morpheus and Ulthera treatments. Please always seek out a consultation so we can more accurately guide you! 

Microneedling with Exosomes

After microneedling, Morpheus, or any treatment that causes harm to the epidermis it is great to have a topical that helps repair that barrier. As previously mentioned, Plated Calm is a speci fic topical that calms the skin, reduces recovery time, and enhances post procedure outcomes.

Morpheus and exosome technology are truly changing the field of noninvasive skincare. When used on their own we can create change but we see truly transformative results when combined. Check out a patient that I treated below, this is the results after only two Morpheus treatments. She is scheduled for a third but treatment we wanted to highlight her significant progress midway through! 

This patient’s main concern were festoons that have been troublesome for many years. She did not want to go the surgical route so Dr. Welsh suggested she try Morpheus8. We dedicated a smaller tip to her upper and lower eyelids and the results speak for themselves. She used Plated Calm after both procedures and is maintaining results with the Plated Daily formulation. She is thrilled that Morpheus has become a part of her treatment plan. 

If you're curious if Morpheus may be the right fit for you, please reach out to schedule a consultation with our skilled team,  we look forward to achieving your skin goals!