Secret Pro by Cutera: How CO2 Laser and RF Microneedling Rebuild Firmer, Smoother Skin

Some treatments improve the surface of the skin. Others work deep in the dermis where collagen lives. The Secret Pro by Cutera does both, which is why Dr Yasmin Tayeb was so keen to bring it to Wellface. In a short reel filmed in clinic, she describes it as a way of restoring that "fountain of youth" quality to skin, and she means something specific by that: skin that is tighter, more even in tone, smoother in texture and generally behaving more like it did a decade ago.

The Secret Pro is a single platform that houses two gold standard technologies. One is radiofrequency microneedling. The other is a fractional CO2 laser. Each is a serious treatment in its own right. Used together, or in sequence, they address the skin from the inside out and the outside in at the same time. That combination is what makes it such a versatile choice for concerns that usually need more than one approach, things like open pores, crepey laxity, textural roughness, background redness and the early signs of ageing.

This article walks through how the device actually works, what a session at Wellface involves, the downtime to plan for and who tends to see the best results. If you have been weighing up your options for skin tightening and resurfacing, it should help you understand where the Secret Pro fits.

Two technologies, one platform

The reason Dr Tayeb describes the Secret Pro as having "two gold standard modalities" is that it genuinely does two different jobs using two different physical mechanisms. Understanding the difference helps you see why they complement each other so well.

Radiofrequency microneedling

The first modality is radiofrequency microneedling. A cartridge of very fine needles is inserted into the skin to a set depth, and radiofrequency energy is then delivered through the tips of those needles into the dermis. The needle creates a controlled micro-injury, and the heat from the radiofrequency triggers the body's wound healing response deeper down, where new collagen and elastin are produced.

What matters here is control. The needle depth can be adjusted, and so can the energy level, so the treatment is tailored to the individual. Thinner, more delicate skin around the eyes needs a different setting to thicker skin on the jaw or neck. Because the heat is delivered below the surface rather than across the top of the skin, radiofrequency microneedling can be used safely on a wide range of skin tones and types, including skin that would be considered higher risk for some laser treatments. The result over the following weeks and months is firmer, tighter, better supported skin.

Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing

The second modality is the fractional CO2 laser. This works on the surface and upper layers of the skin. The laser sends out a grid of tiny columns of energy, treating a fraction of the skin at a time while leaving healthy tissue in between to speed up healing. Those columns vaporise damaged surface cells and stimulate a fresh wave of collagen as the skin repairs.

CO2 is the workhorse of laser resurfacing because it is so effective at improving tone, evenness and texture. It softens rough, dull, sun-damaged skin and encourages a smoother, brighter surface to come through. As Dr Tayeb puts it, it improves "the skin tone and the skin quality and the evenness of the skin". Where radiofrequency microneedling builds the scaffolding underneath, the CO2 laser refinishes the surface on top.

Why the combination works so well

Skin ageing does not happen on one level. The surface picks up sun damage, pigment irregularity, fine lines and enlarged pores. Underneath, the collagen and elastin that keep skin firm and springy gradually break down, which is what produces laxity and that softening of the jawline and cheeks over time. Treating only one of those layers leaves the other unaddressed.

That is the logic behind the Secret Pro. The radiofrequency microneedling reaches deep into the dermis to remodel and tighten, while the CO2 laser resurfaces the surface for tone and texture. Dr Tayeb notes in her reel that the two "work beautifully in order to improve skin quality, skin laxity, improve the strength and the tightness of the skin, as well as completely resurfacing and improving the tone of the skin over the top". You are essentially getting two collagen-stimulating treatments that reinforce each other.

The flexibility is a big part of the appeal. The two technologies can be used individually when a patient only needs one, or combined in a single visit for a more comprehensive result. During your consultation the doctor decides what suits your skin, your concerns and how much downtime you can realistically take.

The concerns Secret Pro is best for

Because it works on multiple levels, the Secret Pro suits a broad set of complaints. A few come up again and again in clinic.

Texture and pores respond particularly well. Rough, uneven skin and enlarged pores are largely a surface and upper-dermis issue, and the CO2 laser paired with collagen remodelling can visibly refine both, leaving skin that feels smoother and looks more polished.

Skin laxity and early sagging are where the radiofrequency microneedling earns its place. By heating the dermis and stimulating new collagen, it firms and tightens skin that has started to lose its snap, which is why it is popular for the lower face, jawline and neck as well as for the body.

Redness and background rosacea can improve as skin quality and barrier function are rebuilt, though anyone with active or inflammatory rosacea should be assessed carefully first, because these conditions need a considered, individual plan rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Prevention is the fourth reason people choose it. You do not have to wait for deep lines and obvious sagging before doing anything. Stimulating collagen in your thirties and forties helps maintain firmness and slow the visible pace of ageing, which is exactly the "fountain of youth" thinking Dr Tayeb describes.

The device is also well regarded for scarring, including acne scarring, and for sun damage, so it often does more than the concern that first brought someone through the door.

What a session at Wellface involves

Everything starts with a consultation. Your doctor looks at your skin, discusses what is bothering you and what you would like to change, checks your medical history and confirms whether the Secret Pro is the right choice. This is also when the plan is set: microneedling alone, laser alone, or both, and at what settings.

On the day of treatment, the skin is cleansed and a topical numbing cream is applied and left to work, usually for around half an hour, so the treatment stays comfortable. The radiofrequency microneedling handpiece is passed across the treatment area, delivering the needles and energy at the depth chosen for you. If the CO2 laser is being used as well, that follows, resurfacing the surface. The active treatment time is relatively short, often somewhere in the region of twenty to forty minutes depending on the area and what is being done.

Most people feel some heat and a prickling sensation during treatment, and the skin will feel warm, tight and look flushed afterwards, rather like mild to moderate sunburn. That is entirely expected and settles down over the following days.

Downtime and aftercare

This is a resurfacing treatment, so there is genuine downtime to plan around, more with the CO2 laser than with radiofrequency microneedling on its own. In the first day or two the skin is red, warm and can feel tight, and you may see some swelling. Over the next few days a fine, sandpapery texture develops as the treated surface flakes and the fresh skin underneath comes through. Depending on the intensity of the treatment, the visible social downtime is typically several days to about a week.

Aftercare is straightforward but important. Keep the skin clean and well moisturised with the products your doctor recommends, and resist the urge to pick or exfoliate the flaking skin, which needs to shed on its own. Sun protection is non-negotiable while the skin heals and settles, so a high-factor SPF every day is essential, along with avoiding direct sun and heat such as saunas, hot yoga and vigorous exercise for the first few days. Your Wellface doctor will give you a tailored aftercare plan and will tell you when you can return to your usual skincare, including any active ingredients.

Results build gradually. You will notice smoother, fresher skin once the initial healing is done, but the deeper collagen remodelling continues for weeks to months afterwards, so the firming and tightening keeps improving well after the redness has gone. Some concerns are well managed in a single session, while others do best with a short course spaced several weeks apart. That plan is agreed with you at consultation.

Common questions about Secret Pro

Is the Secret Pro suitable for all skin types?

The radiofrequency microneedling element is well suited to a wide range of skin tones because the energy is delivered below the surface rather than being absorbed by pigment in the skin. The CO2 laser needs more careful assessment on richer skin tones, as any ablative laser carries a higher risk of pigment change in darker skin. This is exactly why a proper consultation matters. Your doctor decides which modalities and settings are safe and effective for your particular skin.

How is it different from Morpheus8 or other resurfacing lasers?

Morpheus8 is also a radiofrequency microneedling device and works on similar principles for deep collagen remodelling. The distinctive thing about the Secret Pro is that it pairs radiofrequency microneedling with a fractional CO2 laser on one platform, so you can address deep laxity and surface resurfacing together. At Wellface we offer a range of skin technologies, and the right one for you depends on your skin and your goals rather than the name of the machine.

Does it hurt?

With numbing cream applied beforehand, most people find it very manageable. You will feel heat and a prickling or scratching sensation during treatment, and the skin will feel hot and tight for a little while afterwards. It is a treatment you feel, but it is not one most patients dread repeating.

How many sessions will I need?

It varies. Some patients see the improvement they want from a single treatment, especially for tone and texture. Others, particularly those treating scarring or more significant laxity, benefit from a short course of sessions spaced a few weeks apart. Your doctor will recommend a realistic plan at your consultation.

When will I see results and how long do they last?

Once the skin has healed, usually within a week or so, you will see fresher, smoother, more even skin. The collagen stimulated by the treatment continues to develop over the following months, so firmness and tightness keep improving. Results are long-lasting but not permanent, because skin continues to age naturally, so many patients choose to maintain their results with occasional top-up treatments.

Book a Secret Pro consultation at Wellface

The Secret Pro is a powerful treatment, and it works best when it is planned properly for your skin by a doctor who understands both the technology and your goals. If open pores, uneven texture, softening around the jawline, background redness or simply the wish to stay ahead of ageing are on your mind, this is a conversation worth having.

Our doctors, led by founder Dr Yasmin Tayeb, see patients at Wellface in Cobham, Esher and Wimbledon. Book a consultation and we will assess your skin, explain what the Secret Pro can realistically achieve for you and design a plan around your skin type, your concerns and the downtime that fits your life.