Sylfirm X: Tried & Tested at R·MEDY
Everything you need to Know About Sylfirm X Before Booking Your Session at R·Medy in Burnaby
Working from home, for most of us, means spending an inordinate amount of time showing our faces in video conferences on Teams or Zoom. And, to be honest, I’m tired of looking at my tired face. And then there’s the selfies. Woke up like this? No thanks. (Particularly when you’re in your 40s.) My desire to improve my appearance—and not just for the camera—led me down an internet rabbit hole of endless treatments, skin creams, injections (there’s a thing called vampire facial!), and countless other procedures you can undergo in the pursuit of looking youthful.
With so many women (and men!) facing the realities of less-than-perfect skin and the unwillingness to go under the knife, it’s no surprise the growing demand for in-office skin treatments that promise to smooth skin, define jawlines, help with uneven pigmentation, and improve all matter of imperfections and signs of aging.
Luckily there are treatments that combine technologies like radiofrequency and microneedling to improve skin texture, laxity, tone, and plumpness. That’s where Sylfirm X, the latest FDA approved medical aesthetic device, comes in. And it has taken the internet by storm. A quick keyword search turns up countless videos and before-and-after photos of Sylfirm X believers across social media. I was eager to try it out and see if it lived up to the hype.
It's important to note that the success of any treatment or device depends on the skill of the medical practitioner, so choose your clinic wisely. In Vancouver, there are several clinics that offer the treatment and I did plenty of research before deciding to book a session at R·MEDY Aesthetic Centre in Burnaby.
Read on to learn more about Sylfirm X and my personal experience trying it out for the first time.
What Makes Sylfirm X Unique
What sets Sylfirm X apart is its use of radio-frequency (RF) microneedling, which delivers RF into the skin via microneedles, producing controlled micro-injuries that stimulate the body's natural wound healing and collagen production. With eight different modes and the widest depth range of 0.3-4.0mm among other microneedling RF systems, Sylfirm X can be customized to treat different conditions and areas.
Sylfirm X claims to be less painful than other RF microneedling devices, such as Morpheus 8, because it uses non-coated needles. According to doctors, this allows the needles to emit RF from their full length, rather than just the coated tips, resulting in less pain. This method of energy delivery is also more efficient, as it requires only one pass of the device and delivers energy to all layers of tissue simultaneously. Unlike pressurized devices, which emit a snap similar to a staple gun, the Sylfirm X handpiece taps the energy into the skin for a smoother delivery.
Sylfirm X Treatment at R·MEDY
Friday 10am - I arrived for my treatment at R·MEDY’s Burnaby location, which opened in 2022 and is now celebrating its one-year anniversary with several offers and promotions. The space is very modern and bright, with plenty of comfortable lounge chairs to relax in while you wait. I was welcomed with a tray of juice, cookies, crackers, and bottled water. Then I was then taken to a consultation room where the procedure was thoroughly explained again, including how to manage post-treatment result expectations.
10:15am - After having a series of photos of my face taken, I was led to the treatment room where I was given a shot of morphine and grovol, which would help with discomfort and help ease nerves. In addition, a numbing cream was applied on my face and neck. Since I don’t do well with pain, I was more than happy to take what was recommended to decrease any pain.
11am - Some 15 minutes after the shot, I was feeling very relaxed and sleepy, and 45 minutes later I was so drowsy I could barely keep my eyes open. It was showtime!
12pm - The aesthetician started to work on my cheeks, pausing every few minutes to check in on how I was doing. “Actually, not bad at all,” was my answer every time, relieved that this wasn’t turning out to be the painful experience I expected. Truth be told, the areas where the sensation was most intense were around my hairline and around my mouth and chin. Even the neck, which I thought would be most painful, was only mildly uncomfortable.
During my treatment, my aesthetician adjusted the settings to address multiple issues on my face and neck, including mild pigmentation, large pores, fine lines around my eyes and forehead, and sun damage around my nose.
Post Sylfirm X - Downtime & Care
Immediately after the treatment, my face was a bit red and slightly swollen. But mostly it looked like I might have been in the sun without sunscreen for a bit too long.
The next 24 hours - I was not to wash my face with anything other than water, not use and creams, lotions or makeups for a full day. Instead, I was given two lotions: the first a clear gel to use in case my skin felt overheated (luckily, it did not); and the other a hydrating cream to combat dry skin.
Days 2-3 - The following day my face looked only slightly sunburned and the swelling was all but gone. I was back to normal on the third day and it wasn’t until the fifth day when my skin started to feel very dry and flaky. By that time, I could use my own hydrating lotions and creams, as needed.
Day 7 - A full week after the treatment I started to break out, which the aesthetician at R·MEDY had said was a common side effect. To help with that, I was given some oral anti-acne medication, and that helped.
A Word About Pain
To say that Sylfirm X is painless would be a lie. Getting this treatment is by no means a “relaxing” proposition. But the morphine and the numbing cream go a long way to make the 30 minutes or so that it takes to do the face and neck relatively pain-free. I’d describe the feeling of the needles pricking your skin as simply unpleasant—much like getting bitten by a bug—than actual pain. If you had laser hair removal or tattoos done, you’ll probably be able to handle Sylfirm X just fine.
Sylfirm X Results
I was recommended anywhere from three to four sessions performed four to six weeks apart. But just two weeks after my first session, I could see more even skin tone and slight fading of some freckles around my nose and cheeks. The lines around my eyes also looked slightly smoother.
As for building new collagen, that doesn’t happen overnight. Indeed, I was informed it takes anywhere from four to 12 weeks.
So, would I do another Sylfirm X Session?
Yes, yes I would! My main concern before booking the treatment at R·MEDY was, “Given how big of a wuss I am, will I be able to deal with the pain?” And the answer again is, yes, I was able to deal with the mild discomfort. But most of all, I am pretty happy with the results from just one session so can imagine that if I did at least three sessions, the results will be that much better.
More about the clinic
Founded in 2021 by Dr. Martin Braun, R·MEDY provides innovative resources for optimal health and body confidence. The clinic values an enhanced patient experience and focuses on providing quality services and expert care through a highly personalized and customizable approach. Opened in 2022, the clinic is celebrating its one-year anniversary at the location in Burnaby. You can learn more about R·MEDY on the website.
Address - RMEDY
6050 Silver Dr, Burnaby
rmedyaesthetics.com
(604) 416-4816
