Vivace vs. SkinPen: What's the Difference and Why We Choose Vivace in Chillicothe

If you've been researching microneedling in Chillicothe, you've probably come across two names: Vivace and SkinPen (or microneedling pen). Both are well-known in the medical aesthetics world. Both treat skin texture, fine lines, and scarring. And both are offered by practices right here in the area.

So what's the difference — and does it matter which one you choose?

The short answer: yes, it matters. The devices work on fundamentally different principles, and the distinction has real implications for what you can expect from your results. At New Image Laser Skin Center in Chillicothe, we offer Vivace RF microneedling, and we want to explain clearly why, in a way that helps you make an informed decision no matter where you choose to go.

What Microneedling Actually Does

Before comparing devices, it helps to understand what microneedling is actually doing to your skin.

Every microneedling treatment creates controlled micro-injuries in the skin using a cluster of ultra-fine needles. These tiny punctures trigger the skin's natural wound-healing response, stimulating the production of new collagen and elastin, the structural proteins responsible for smooth, firm, youthful-looking skin. The result, over a series of treatments, is visibly improved texture, reduced pore appearance, smoother fine lines, and more even skin tone.

That's what all microneedling devices have in common. Where they significantly diverge is in what happens beyond the needle.

SkinPen: Standard Microneedling

SkinPen, and other microneedling pens, create precise, controlled micro-channels in the skin. That's the entire mechanism. The needles puncture, the body responds, collagen is stimulated. SkinPen is good at that core function.

What SkinPen doesn't do: it doesn't deliver any additional energy to the skin. There's no heat, no radiofrequency, no secondary mechanism beyond the physical channel creation. The device creates the injury; your body does the rest.

For clients addressing mild texture issues, fine lines, or early acne scarring, microneedling pens can produce meaningful results. But there's a ceiling to what purely mechanical microneedling can accomplish, particularly when it comes to skin laxity and deeper collagen remodeling.

Vivace: Radiofrequency Microneedling

Vivace, made by Aesthetics Biomedical, is a different category of device. It's not standard microneedling — it's RF microneedling, meaning it combines two clinically distinct mechanisms in one treatment.

Here's what sets it apart: the Vivace's 36 gold-tipped needles deliver radiofrequency energy directly into the dermis at the point of insertion. The needles don't just puncture the skin as a microneedling pen does, they transmit controlled heat energy into the tissue simultaneously. That heat does something microneedling alone cannot: it causes existing collagen fibers to contract immediately, while simultaneously signaling the deeper layers of skin to produce new collagen and elastin over the following weeks.

The result is a treatment that works on two levels at once:

Mechanical — the micro-channels trigger the surface-level wound-healing response, improving texture, pore size, and surface scarring.

Thermal — the RF energy contracts existing collagen and drives deeper remodeling in the dermis, improving skin firmness and laxity in a way that standard microneedling cannot replicate.

This dual mechanism is why Vivace is particularly effective for clients concerned not just with skin texture, but with early sagging, loss of firmness, fine lines around the eyes and mouth, and the early signs of jowling, concerns that a standard microneedling device like SkinPen simply isn't designed to address.

Vivace also includes LED light therapy as part of the treatment protocol, which supports the healing process and can reduce post-treatment redness.

The PRP Upgrade: A Third Mechanism

At New Image Laser Skin Center in Chillicothe, we offer Vivace in combination with PRP, platelet-rich plasma, for clients seeking the most comprehensive collagen-rebuilding results available.

PRP is derived from a small draw of your own blood, spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets and growth factors, and then injected into targeted areas during the Vivace treatment. The micro-channels created by the needles allow the PRP to penetrate deeply into the skin, where the growth factors amplify and accelerate the collagen response the RF energy is already driving.

The combination of microneedling, RF energy, and PRP means three clinically distinct mechanisms - mechanical, thermal, and biological - working simultaneously on the same tissue. It is not possible to achieve this outcome with a standard microneedling device.

PRP with Vivace RF Microneedling is available as a standalone service and is also included on our membership pick list, making it an option members can access at a significant discount.

Why New Image Chooses Vivace

After more than 15 years serving clients in Chillicothe, we chose Vivace because it gives our providers more to work with.

Standard microneedling is a legitimate treatment. But the RF component in Vivace allows us to address a broader range of concerns, particularly skin tightening and deeper collagen loss, that our clients bring to their consultations. When someone comes in asking about texture and pores, SkinPen and Vivace might both be appropriate. But when that same client also mentions their skin feeling less firm than it used to, or notices sagging along the jawline, or has more significant acne scarring, Vivace is simply the better clinical tool.

The PRP combination makes that equation even clearer. A Vivace + PRP session at New Image offers three distinct mechanisms of collagen stimulation in a single appointment. That's not something a standard microneedling device can match.

We also believe in offering the most comprehensive care within a single visit. For clients who are already taking time out of their day to come in, we want that appointment to work as hard as possible for their results.

Is Vivace Right for You?

Vivace at New Image Laser Skin Center in Chillicothe may be a strong fit if you're dealing with any of the following:

• Uneven skin texture or enlarged pores

• Fine lines and early wrinkles, including around the eyes and mouth

• Mild to moderate skin laxity or loss of firmness

• Acne scarring or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

• A desire to proactively maintain skin quality before more advanced treatments are needed

If you want to discuss whether Vivace, Vivace + PRP, or a different treatment in our lineup is the right match for your skin goals, schedule a consultation. Our team will look at your skin, ask about your concerns, and give you an honest recommendation, not a sales pitch.

📞 Call us at (740) 774-7444

📍 192 S. Paint Street, Chillicothe, Ohio 45601

New Image Laser Skin Center has served clients across Chillicothe and Ross County for over 15 years, specializing in laser treatments, injectables, body contouring, and medical-grade skincare.