Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42522676›Full record

Trial reportAnnals of medicine2026

Short-term efficacy and safety of 5MHz fractional microneedle radiofrequency for facial rejuvenation: a prospective study.

Houhuang Qiu, Xixin Wu, Yutong Wu, Jialu Xu, Yunkai Zhu, Jingchun Chen, Xi Chen, Ping Zhong, Fangfang Wang, Qiusheng Lin and 2 more

Abstract readClinical Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Annals of medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Houhuang QiuMedical Cosmetic Center, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.ORCID 0009-0005-0647-7058
Xixin WuMedical Cosmetic Center, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Yutong WuMedical Cosmetic Center, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Jialu XuMedical Cosmetic Center, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Yunkai ZhuMedical Cosmetic Center, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Jingchun ChenMedical Cosmetic Center, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Xi ChenMedical Cosmetic Center, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Ping ZhongMedical Cosmetic Center, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Fangfang WangMedical Cosmetic Center, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Qiusheng LinMedical Cosmetic Center, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Fei LiMedical Cosmetic Center, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.ORCID 0000-0001-7019-8989
Tianhua XuMedical Cosmetic Center, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFacial aging is a multifactorial process driven by both intrinsic senescence and extrinsic environmental factors. Although fractional microneedle radiofrequency (FMR) is widely used for facial rejuvenation, clinical evidence on 5 MHz FMR remains limited. This prospective study evaluated the efficacy and safety of 5 MHz FMR.

methodsTwenty participants with facial aging underwent a single full-face 5 MHz FMR treatment. Assessments were performed at baseline and on days 1, 4, 7, 14, and 28 using the MC750 and VISIA systems. Primary outcomes included skin physiological parameters, VISIA absolute parameters, and physician global assessment (PGA). Secondary outcomes included adverse events and patient satisfaction.

resultsSkin hydration showed a transient early decline followed by gradual recovery, whereas melanin remained stable and hemoglobin exhibited a brief early increase before returning toward baseline. Skin elasticity improved significantly at V2 and remained elevated at V5-V6. VISIA analysis demonstrated transient early increases in most parameters, whereas wrinkle scores showed sustained improvement during follow-up. Greater baseline wrinkle severity was associated with greater wrinkle improvement, while subgroup analyses showed no significant differences across Fitzpatrick skin types or age groups. PGA scores progressively improved throughout follow-up. Treatment was well tolerated, with only transient erythema and burning sensations. No serious adverse events, including post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, were observed, and 85% of participants reported being satisfied or very satisfied.

conclusionsThis prospective study provides preliminary evidence that 5 MHz FMR may offer safe and effective short-term improvement in facial aging-related features, particularly wrinkles and skin elasticity. The treatment was associated with rapid recovery, limited irritation, and a low incidence of pigment-related adverse events.

Indexed as

Cosmetic TechniquesRadiofrequency TherapyRejuvenationSkin AgingAdultAgedFaceFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeedlesPatient SatisfactionPercutaneous Collagen InductionProspective StudiesTreatment Outcome5MHzFacial rejuvenationfractional microneedle radiofrequencyskin elasticitywrinkles

Identifiers

PMID42522676
PMCPMC13421117

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.