Background: Melasma and facial skin aging are multifactorial conditions involving pigmentary, inflammatory, vascular, and dermal remodeling pathways. Combination energy-based device (EBD) protocols are designed to target multiple pathways in a single treatment course. However, real-world data on focused ultrasound and radiofrequency (RF) microneedling combined with exosome delivery, for managing melasma and facial skin aging are limited. Case Presentation: This is a retrospective, single-center case series of four patients aged 50 to 60 years with Fitzpatrick skin phototypes III to IV, presenting with mixed-type melasma, and facial skin aging. During the first session, each patient received dot-mode focused ultrasound (LinearZ) followed 30 minutes later by monopolar RF microneedling (POTENZA) with 1.5 mL of a bacteria-derived extracellular vesicle solution (RexoFace). Patients subsequently received one or two additional RF microneedling sessions at 6-week intervals. Thus, the interval from baseline to the final 4-week post-treatment assessment was approximately 10 weeks for patients receiving two RF sessions and 16 weeks for the patient receiving three RF sessions. Outcomes were assessed descriptively on standardized clinical photographs and images obtained with the Sylton OBSERV 520x imaging platform at baseline and 4 weeks after the final session. All four patients showed investigator-assessed improvement in melasma pigmentation, skin quality, and clinical signs of facial aging. Assessment was unblinded and no validated severity instrument was applied. Mild to moderate erythema with edema followed each RF microneedling session and decreased without intervention within 45 minutes. No serious adverse events, scarring, infection, or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation were recorded during the 4-week observation period. Since the follow-up was limited to 4 weeks after the final session, these observations do not establish medium-term cutaneous safety or durability. Conclusions: In this retrospective four-patient case series, the combined protocol of dot-mode focused ultrasound and monopolar RF microneedling with a bacteria-derived extracellular vesicle solution was associated with visible improvement and was well tolerated over a short observation period.
| Published in | International Journal of Clinical Dermatology (Volume 9, Issue 2) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ijcd.20260902.14 |
| Page(s) | 132-139 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Melasma, Skin Aging, Radiofrequency Microneedling, Extracellular Vesicles, Focused Ultrasound, Fitzpatrick Skin Phototype III-IV, Vietnam, Case Series
S. No. | Patient demographics | Skin condition at baseline | Treatment modality | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
LinearZ | POTENZA × RexoFace (Exosome) | |||
1 | Female, 50 years | Fitzpatrick type IV Mixed type melasma Skin aging (wrinkles and sagging) Overall decline in skin quality parameters | Number of Sessions: 1 Depth: 1.5 mm Mode: Dot Energy: 0.2 J 100 lines per side (melasma area) | Number of Sessions: 2 +Session 1: Tip S-25 combined with 1.5 mL of RexoFace (Renvix Science). Depth: 1.25 - 2.0mm Energy 700 mJ/pulse, 1MHz & 2MHz, monopolar, mid and lower face, 4 passes. +Session 2: Tip CP-21 combined with 1.5 mL of RexoFace (Renvix Science). Depth: 0.5 -2.0mm Energy 200 mJ/pulse, 1 MHz, monopolar, full face, 3 passes. |
2 | Female, 60 years | Fitzpatrick type III Mixed type melasma Skin aging (wrinkles and sagging) Overall decline in skin quality parameters | Number of Sessions: 1 +Depth: 3.0 mm, Mode: Dot, Energy: 0.9 J, 200 lines per side, midface and lower face +Depth: 4.5 mm, Mode: Dot, Energy: 1.1 J, 150 shots per side, lower face. | Number of Sessions: 3 +Session 1: Tip CP-21 combined with 1.5 mL of RexoFace (Renvix Science) Depth: 0.5 - 2.0mm Energy 200 mJ/pulse, 1 MHz, monopolar, mid and lower face, 4 passes. +Session 2: Tip I-25 combined with 1.5 mL of (Renvix Science). Depth: 0.5 - 2.0mm Energy 600 mJ/pulse, 1 MHz &2 MHz, monopolar & bipolar, full face, 3 passes. +Session 3: Tip CP-21 combined with 1.5 mL of (Renvix Science). Depth: 0.5 - 2.0mm Energy 250 mJ/pulse, 1 MHz & 2 MHz, monopolar, full face, 4 passes |
3 | Male, 50 years | Fitzpatrick type IV Mixed type melasma Skin aging Overall decline in skin quality parameters | Number of Sessions: 1 +Depth: 3.0 mm, Mode: Dot, Energy: 0.9 J, 300 lines per side, midface and lower face +Depth: 4.5 mm, Mode: Dot, Energy: 1.1 J, 100 shots per side, lower face | Number of Sessions: 2 +Session 1: Tip S-25 combined with 1.5 mL of (Renvix Science). Depth: 1.25 - 2.5 mm, 1 MHz & 2 MHz, monopolar & bipolar, mid and lower face, 4 passes. Energy 600 mJ/pulse, +Session 2: Tip I-25 combined with 1.5 mL of (Renvix Science). Depth: 0.5 - 2.5mm Energy 500 mJ/pulse, 1 MHz & 2 MHz, monopolar & bipolar, full face, 3 passes. |
4 | Female, 58 years | Fitzpatrick type IV Mixed type melasma Skin aging (wrinkles and sagging) Overall decline in skin quality parameters | Number of Sessions: 1 +Depth: 1.5 mm Mode: Dot Energy: 0.2 J 110 lines per side (melasma area) | Number of Sessions: 2 +Session 1: Tip CP-21 combined with 1.5 mL of (Renvix Science). Depth: 0.5 - 2.0mm Energy 200-300 mJ/pulse, 1 MHz & 2 MHz, monopolar, full face, 3 passes. +Session 2: Tip S-25 combined with 1.5 mL of (Renvix Science). Depth: 1.25 - 2.0mm Energy 600 mJ/pulse, 1 MHz & 2 MHz, monopolar & bipolar, mid and lower face, 4 passes. |
EBD | Energy-based Device |
MHz | Megahertz |
J | Joule |
mJ | Millijoule |
mL | Milliliter |
mm | Millimeter |
RF | Radiofrequency |
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APA Style
Vo, T. N. (2026). Focused Ultrasound Followed by Radiofrequency Microneedling with Bacteria-derived Extracellular Vesicle for Melasma and Skin Aging: A Retrospective Case Series. International Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 9(2), 132-139. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcd.20260902.14
ACS Style
Vo, T. N. Focused Ultrasound Followed by Radiofrequency Microneedling with Bacteria-derived Extracellular Vesicle for Melasma and Skin Aging: A Retrospective Case Series. Int. J. Clin. Dermatol. 2026, 9(2), 132-139. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcd.20260902.14
AMA Style
Vo TN. Focused Ultrasound Followed by Radiofrequency Microneedling with Bacteria-derived Extracellular Vesicle for Melasma and Skin Aging: A Retrospective Case Series. Int J Clin Dermatol. 2026;9(2):132-139. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcd.20260902.14
@article{10.11648/j.ijcd.20260902.14,
author = {Trong Nghia Vo},
title = {Focused Ultrasound Followed by Radiofrequency Microneedling with Bacteria-derived Extracellular Vesicle for Melasma and Skin Aging: A Retrospective Case Series},
journal = {International Journal of Clinical Dermatology},
volume = {9},
number = {2},
pages = {132-139},
doi = {10.11648/j.ijcd.20260902.14},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcd.20260902.14},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijcd.20260902.14},
abstract = {Background: Melasma and facial skin aging are multifactorial conditions involving pigmentary, inflammatory, vascular, and dermal remodeling pathways. Combination energy-based device (EBD) protocols are designed to target multiple pathways in a single treatment course. However, real-world data on focused ultrasound and radiofrequency (RF) microneedling combined with exosome delivery, for managing melasma and facial skin aging are limited. Case Presentation: This is a retrospective, single-center case series of four patients aged 50 to 60 years with Fitzpatrick skin phototypes III to IV, presenting with mixed-type melasma, and facial skin aging. During the first session, each patient received dot-mode focused ultrasound (LinearZ) followed 30 minutes later by monopolar RF microneedling (POTENZA) with 1.5 mL of a bacteria-derived extracellular vesicle solution (RexoFace). Patients subsequently received one or two additional RF microneedling sessions at 6-week intervals. Thus, the interval from baseline to the final 4-week post-treatment assessment was approximately 10 weeks for patients receiving two RF sessions and 16 weeks for the patient receiving three RF sessions. Outcomes were assessed descriptively on standardized clinical photographs and images obtained with the Sylton OBSERV 520x imaging platform at baseline and 4 weeks after the final session. All four patients showed investigator-assessed improvement in melasma pigmentation, skin quality, and clinical signs of facial aging. Assessment was unblinded and no validated severity instrument was applied. Mild to moderate erythema with edema followed each RF microneedling session and decreased without intervention within 45 minutes. No serious adverse events, scarring, infection, or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation were recorded during the 4-week observation period. Since the follow-up was limited to 4 weeks after the final session, these observations do not establish medium-term cutaneous safety or durability. Conclusions: In this retrospective four-patient case series, the combined protocol of dot-mode focused ultrasound and monopolar RF microneedling with a bacteria-derived extracellular vesicle solution was associated with visible improvement and was well tolerated over a short observation period.},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Focused Ultrasound Followed by Radiofrequency Microneedling with Bacteria-derived Extracellular Vesicle for Melasma and Skin Aging: A Retrospective Case Series AU - Trong Nghia Vo Y1 - 2026/10/26 PY - 2026 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcd.20260902.14 DO - 10.11648/j.ijcd.20260902.14 T2 - International Journal of Clinical Dermatology JF - International Journal of Clinical Dermatology JO - International Journal of Clinical Dermatology SP - 132 EP - 139 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2995-1305 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcd.20260902.14 AB - Background: Melasma and facial skin aging are multifactorial conditions involving pigmentary, inflammatory, vascular, and dermal remodeling pathways. Combination energy-based device (EBD) protocols are designed to target multiple pathways in a single treatment course. However, real-world data on focused ultrasound and radiofrequency (RF) microneedling combined with exosome delivery, for managing melasma and facial skin aging are limited. Case Presentation: This is a retrospective, single-center case series of four patients aged 50 to 60 years with Fitzpatrick skin phototypes III to IV, presenting with mixed-type melasma, and facial skin aging. During the first session, each patient received dot-mode focused ultrasound (LinearZ) followed 30 minutes later by monopolar RF microneedling (POTENZA) with 1.5 mL of a bacteria-derived extracellular vesicle solution (RexoFace). Patients subsequently received one or two additional RF microneedling sessions at 6-week intervals. Thus, the interval from baseline to the final 4-week post-treatment assessment was approximately 10 weeks for patients receiving two RF sessions and 16 weeks for the patient receiving three RF sessions. Outcomes were assessed descriptively on standardized clinical photographs and images obtained with the Sylton OBSERV 520x imaging platform at baseline and 4 weeks after the final session. All four patients showed investigator-assessed improvement in melasma pigmentation, skin quality, and clinical signs of facial aging. Assessment was unblinded and no validated severity instrument was applied. Mild to moderate erythema with edema followed each RF microneedling session and decreased without intervention within 45 minutes. No serious adverse events, scarring, infection, or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation were recorded during the 4-week observation period. Since the follow-up was limited to 4 weeks after the final session, these observations do not establish medium-term cutaneous safety or durability. Conclusions: In this retrospective four-patient case series, the combined protocol of dot-mode focused ultrasound and monopolar RF microneedling with a bacteria-derived extracellular vesicle solution was associated with visible improvement and was well tolerated over a short observation period. VL - 9 IS - 2 ER -