Secret Pro Explained: CO2 Laser and RF Microneedling for Firmer, Smoother Skin

Every so often a device comes along that genuinely changes how we approach skin at the clinic, and the Secret Pro is one of them. Our team came back from the Cutera conference full of enthusiasm about it, and for good reason. Rather than asking you to choose between resurfacing the surface of the skin and remodelling the deeper layers, this platform does both, often in the same appointment.

We sometimes describe it as a foundation for keeping skin looking youthful, and that phrase is doing more work than it might first appear. Ageing shows up on the surface as rough texture, enlarged pores and dullness, but the real story is happening underneath, where collagen and elastin gradually thin out. Treat only the surface and you polish something that is quietly losing its structure. The Secret Pro is designed to address both at once.

This article walks through what the Secret Pro actually is, how the two technologies work, what a treatment feels like from start to finish, the downtime to expect and who tends to see the best results. If you have been reading about CO2 laser or radiofrequency microneedling and feeling a little lost in the jargon, this should make things clearer.

What the Secret Pro actually is

The Secret Pro is a device made by Cutera, an established name in aesthetic technology. What makes it unusual is that it brings two clinically proven treatments together on a single platform: a fractional CO2 laser for skin resurfacing, and radiofrequency microneedling for deeper dermal remodelling. In practice that means one machine can work on the top layer of skin and the structural layers beneath it, and your practitioner can dial in the right combination for your face and your concerns.

Because the two modalities can be used separately or stacked in the same session, the treatment is genuinely adjustable. A light resurfacing pass for someone who wants a refresh with minimal fuss is a very different appointment from a deeper, combined protocol for more established texture and laxity. That flexibility is part of why we were keen to bring it into the clinic.

It is worth saying plainly that this is a medical device, and the results depend enormously on the judgement of the person holding it. Settings, depths, the number of passes and how the two technologies are combined all need tailoring. That is exactly the kind of decision a doctor-led clinic exists to make well.

How the two technologies work together

The cleverness of the Secret Pro lies in treating two different layers of the skin with two different tools, then letting the natural healing response do the rest.

Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing

The CO2 laser works on the surface and just below it. It delivers energy in a fractional pattern, meaning it creates tiny, controlled columns of treated skin while leaving the areas around them intact. Those untouched zones act as a reservoir of healthy tissue that speeds up recovery. As the skin repairs itself, it sheds tired, sun-damaged and uneven cells and replaces them with fresher skin. This is what improves rough texture, refines the look of pores and brings back some of the light-reflecting quality that makes skin look healthy.

Radiofrequency microneedling

The second technology goes deeper. Fine needles create microchannels in the skin and deliver radiofrequency energy at a controlled depth, producing gentle heat within the dermis. That heat is the trigger. The body responds by laying down new collagen and elastin and tightening the existing framework, which is what firms and remodels the skin over the following weeks and months. Because the energy is delivered below the surface rather than across it, RF microneedling is generally considered suitable for a wide range of skin tones, which is not always the case with laser treatments on their own.

Put the two together and you are working the surface and the structure at the same time. The laser refreshes what you can see today; the microneedling builds what you will see over the next few months. That combination is the reason the Secret Pro can tackle both the appearance and the underlying causes of ageing skin rather than just one or the other.

The concerns it targets best

The most common reasons people ask us about the Secret Pro are texture and pores, and it addresses both directly. Resurfacing smooths the uneven, slightly grainy feel that builds up with age and sun exposure, while the collagen response helps skin sit more tautly, which in turn makes pores look smaller and less noticeable. Skin tends to look more even and reflect light more kindly.

It is also a strong choice for prevention and early maintenance. Collagen production slows steadily from our late twenties onward, and by the time skin looks visibly lax, a great deal of that scaffolding has already gone. Stimulating collagen before the changes become entrenched is a sensible long-term strategy, which is why we talk about the Secret Pro as something to fold into your routine rather than a one-off rescue mission. Fine lines, dullness, sun damage and certain types of scarring also respond well, and treatment is not limited to the face.

What it is not is a substitute for a facelift or for volume loss. If skin has lost significant support or descended, resurfacing and remodelling will improve quality and firmness but will not lift in the way surgery or, in some cases, injectable treatments can. A consultation is the point at which we work out whether the Secret Pro alone is right for you or whether it sits best alongside something else.

What a session involves

An appointment begins with an assessment of your skin and a conversation about what you want to change. Numbing cream is applied first and left to take effect, so the treatment itself is comfortable for most people. Depending on the area being treated and the intensity chosen, the active part of the session usually takes somewhere in the region of fifteen to forty-five minutes.

During the CO2 resurfacing you may feel warmth and a prickling sensation. The RF microneedling feels like a series of small pressure points with heat behind them. Neither is what most people would call painful once the numbing has done its job, though sensation varies from person to person and with the depth of treatment. Your practitioner will talk you through each stage as they go.

Afterwards the skin is usually pink or red, rather like mild to moderate sunburn, and can feel hot and tight for a while. This settles, and you will be sent home with clear aftercare instructions and, where appropriate, products to support healing.

Planning your downtime

Downtime is the part people most want to understand, and it is honestly one of the more variable aspects, because it depends on how intensely you are treated. A lighter, more superficial session might leave you with a few days of redness and some flaking. A deeper, combined protocol can mean anywhere from around three days to a week or more of visible recovery, during which you might see redness, mild swelling, and some crusting or peeling as the surface renews itself.

Our usual advice is to plan the treatment around your diary rather than the other way round. Many people schedule it before a quieter stretch or a long weekend so the most obvious phase passes at home. Protecting the skin from the sun during recovery is essential, keeping it clean and well moisturised as directed matters, and it is best to avoid heavy make-up, vigorous exercise and heat, such as saunas, until your skin has calmed down. We will give you specific guidance based on the depth of your treatment.

Results and how they build

Some improvement in surface texture is often visible fairly soon after the initial redness fades, as the resurfaced skin reveals a smoother, brighter layer. The more meaningful changes, the firmness and remodelling that come from new collagen, arrive gradually. Collagen takes time to form, so the skin continues to improve over roughly three to four months following treatment.

How many sessions you need depends on your starting point and your goals. Some concerns respond well to a single treatment, while more established texture or laxity tends to benefit from a short course spaced out over time. Because collagen naturally continues to decline as we age, most people find that occasional maintenance sessions help hold on to their results, which is another reason we frame this as an ongoing part of skin care rather than a single event.

Common questions about the Secret Pro

Is the Secret Pro suitable for all skin tones?

The radiofrequency microneedling component is generally considered appropriate for a broad range of skin tones, because the energy is delivered beneath the surface rather than being absorbed by pigment in the way some lasers are. That said, the CO2 laser element needs careful assessment on darker skin, and this is precisely why a proper consultation and a tailored plan matter. Your practitioner will advise on the safest approach for you.

How is this different from ordinary microneedling?

Standard microneedling creates tiny channels in the skin to prompt a healing response, which is effective but works largely on the surface and upper layers. The Secret Pro adds radiofrequency energy to the needling, delivering controlled heat deep into the dermis for a stronger collagen-stimulating effect, and pairs it with CO2 laser resurfacing on the surface. It is a considerably more powerful, medical-grade treatment.

Does it hurt?

Numbing cream is applied before treatment, so most people find it very manageable. You will feel warmth and some pressure, and deeper settings are more noticeable, but the topical anaesthetic makes a significant difference. Afterwards the skin feels hot and tight, similar to sunburn, which eases over the following hours and days.

When can I wear make-up again?

This depends on the intensity of your session. After lighter treatments you may be able to return to make-up within a day or two, whereas deeper resurfacing usually requires waiting until the surface has finished peeling and the skin has settled. We will give you a clear timeline at your appointment based on exactly what was done.

Can it be combined with other treatments?

Yes, and often it should be. Depending on your concerns, the Secret Pro may sit alongside injectable treatments, skin boosters or a considered skincare regime as part of a fuller plan. The right combination is something we work out together, so that each treatment does the job it is best suited to.

Book a consultation at Wellface

The best way to find out whether the Secret Pro is right for your skin is to have it looked at properly. At a consultation one of our doctors will assess your skin, listen to what is bothering you, and be honest about what this treatment can and cannot do, including how it might work alongside anything else. If you would like to explore CO2 laser and RF microneedling with the Secret Pro, our doctors would be glad to see you at Wellface in Cobham, Esher or Wimbledon. Get in touch to arrange a time that suits you.