Secret RF
The Secret RF handpiece is stamped across the skin in overlapping placements. The needles are insulated so the heat is released at the tip, deeper down.
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Secret RF vs Morpheus8
Secret RF and Morpheus8 are different RF microneedling systems. Both are radiofrequency microneedling: fine needles enter the skin and deliver heat below the surface. Morpheus8 depth options vary with the applicator and treatment area. Compare the exact applicator, proposed depth, energy and treatment goal rather than assuming a greater maximum depth gives a better result.
At a glance
| The difference | Secret RF | Morpheus8 |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment type | RF microneedling | RF microneedling |
| Treatment depth | Manufacturer describes adjustable depths of 0.5–3.5 mm | Varies with the applicator and whether the face or body is treated |
| Compare the total cost | Ask for Secret RF pricing for the full planned course and exact treatment area, including numbing. | Ask for Morpheus8 pricing for the same area and concern, including follow-up and any planned maintenance. |
Morpheus8
The Morpheus8 tip up close. The gold pins are what carry the radiofrequency energy below the surface — the needles are the delivery route, not the treatment itself.
Side by side
The differences that matter
The fine print
Secret RF
Secret RF is made by Ilooda and distributed by Cutera; clinic pages routinely name the distributor as the manufacturer. Morpheus8 is made by InMode, and is the Fractora platform with deeper, insulated needles under a new name.
The clearance documents cited here use general procedural wording. Secret RF was cleared in June 2017 (K170325), with Ilooda's Fraxis Duo as its predicate, and its wording reads: "SECRET RF is intended for use in dermatologic and general surgical procedures for electro-coagulation and hemostasis." Morpheus8 was cleared in December 2019 as "the InMode System with the Morpheus8 (Fractora) Applicators" (K192695), and from July 2023 (K231790) the wording covers procedures "where coagulation/contraction of soft tissue or hemostasis is needed." Neither mentions wrinkles, acne scars or laxity.
Generic wording of this kind is normal across this category. A few competing devices do carry a real cosmetic indication for facial wrinkles, so if a clinic tells you a device is "FDA cleared for wrinkles," it is fair to ask which device and which handpiece. Ask the clinician to explain the intended use and the evidence for your treatment. The point is only that "FDA cleared" is not a claim about results.
Compare the total cost
Secret RF
Ask for Secret RF pricing for the full planned course and exact treatment area, including numbing.
Morpheus8
Ask for Morpheus8 pricing for the same area and concern, including follow-up and any planned maintenance.
Common questions
Questions Patients Ask
Is Secret RF the same as Morpheus8?
Not the same machine, but the same class of treatment: bipolar radiofrequency delivered through microneedles. They differ in frequency, maximum power, depth range and tip options. Neither has a cosmetic indication in its FDA clearance.
Which one goes deeper?
Morpheus8. Secret RF's cleared range is 0.5 to 3.5 mm. Morpheus8's manufacturer labelling goes to 7 mm on the 24- and 40-pin tips, and 7.0 mm is the deepest figure in any of its FDA summaries. Deeper is not automatically better — it is a different treatment. Unwanted fat loss is a reported complication of RF microneedling, and the mechanism is thought to be depth- and energy-dependent, but no published study has identified the depth or energy at which it happens.
Are Secret RF, Secret Pro and Secret Duo the same thing?
No, and this trips up a lot of clinic pages. Ilooda sells four different "Secret" products in the US — Secret RF, Secret Pro, Secret MAX and Secret Duo — each with its own FDA clearance. Secret Duo is a laser, not a radiofrequency device. If a clinic says "Secret," ask which one they have.
Is either cleared for acne scars?
No. Both are cleared for electrocoagulation and hemostasis, and Morpheus8 also for coagulation or contraction of soft tissue. Acne scars are the best-evidenced use of this class of device, but that use is off-label for both — which is legal and routine.
Which is better in darker skin?
There is no head-to-head answer. Morpheus8 carries a labelled limit — above 62 mJ per pin, use is restricted to Fitzpatrick I to IV. Secret RF's clearance says nothing about skin type in either direction. What the literature does support is that lower energy, lower density and fewer passes matter more than the brand.
Are there any studies on Secret RF?
None specific to the device were found in PubMed. That is not unusual in this category — most of these brands have no device-named published trial, and the studies clinics cite were run on other machines.
How many sessions will I need?
Morpheus8's manufacturer labelling says 1 to 6 treatments, generally 3 to 5, every 3 to 6 weeks. No comparable figure appears in the Secret RF clearance. Published trial protocols across the class cluster around three sessions, but almost no study has compared one session against three head to head.
What safety warning matters for these treatments?
RF microneedling can cause burns, scarring, fat loss and nerve injury. Ask a licensed medical professional about risks and alternatives; these devices should not be used at home.