Microneedling

Microneedling is a skin treatment that involves an electric skin needling device that contains 12 very fine needles. The device is used to break down old scar tissue and facilitate kin cell generation, which creates new layers of elastin and collagen fiber. This new growth leads to improved blood flow in the skin and creates fuller brighter looking skin.

The needling device slides along the skin to penetrate the upper layers of the skin to a depth of 2mm to create very tiny needle wounds. The wounds signal your skin to respond to these tiny wounds by producing collagen and elastin fibers. This results in fuller brighter looking skin and reduces the appearance of scars, fine lines, and wrinkles.

Microneedling is extremely safe. There are no negative side effects. In fact, there have been over some quarter-million procedures performed worldwide and none have ever seen negative side effects. Of course, It goes without saying that you should have this procedure performed by a certified and trained provider even though risks and side effects are virtually non-existent. Additionally, microneedling can be performed on all skin types and colors without risk or post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation. Microneedling is not suitable for anyone using Accutane within the last 3 months or anyone who currently has open wounds, cuts, abrasions, has undergone radiation skin treatment within the last year, is suffering from any skin infection, condition, or herpes simplex in the area of concern, are pregnant or breast feeding, or has any history of keloid or hypertrophic scars or poor wound healing.

Microneedling is ideal for people who have skin irregularities they want to diminish, such as mild to moderate acne scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, sagging skin, poor skin texture, large pore size, stretch marks, rosacea, melasma, UV damage, and hyperpigmentation.

Microneedling is not considered to be a painful procedure, but your provider will still apply numbing cream to the area to be treated to maximize comfort. The sensation is usually described as a slight vibration and a massage with a tingling sensation.

Your entire microneedling appointment will take about 1 hour for a face treatment. If you do microneedling on a smaller or larger body part, the procedure time will vary. You will need to spend some time before the procedure with the topical numbing agent on your skin and then the procedure itself will take about 30 minutes.

Microneedling recommendations vary depending on the condition of your skin, but we normally recommend about 3 to 6 sessions for maximum results. We advise letting your skin heal for 4 to 6 weeks between sessions before undergoing an additional microneedling session.

New tissue formation can continue for up to a year after a session. Once you achieve desired results, we recommend maintenance sessions once or twice a year.

Although microneedling is typically performed on the face, it can be performed on any area that needs to be repaired. Areas with stretch marks or acne scars, such as the legs, chest, back, and butt, are all able to be treated with microneedling. A few sessions of microneedling can make a huge difference in the appearance of imperfections on these areas.

You should expect to see erythema and edema to the treated area in the next day or 2 after your treatment. Tiny pinpoint sized scabs will appear 24-72 hours after your treatment and may remain for 3-7 days following. You should not itch, touch, or exfoliate the scabs in any manner, as they will fall off eventually on their own when they are ready. You should avoid working out, hot showers, massages, and sun exposure to the area treated for 48 hours after your procedure. You should not apply makeup on your skin for 12 hours after your treatment or shave for 1-2 days after your treatment. You may apply emollient creams to alleviate dry, tight, or itchy sensation, and you should apply an SPF of 30 or higher to protect the treated area from sun exposure. Avoid sun exposure as best as possible since this could cause hyperpigmentation.

It normally takes a few treatments to see maximum results, but you may notice an improvement in your skin’s appearance after a single treatment. Your skin should continue to produce new cells long after your treatments for up to one year. Once you reach maximum results, we recommend 1-3 maintenance treatments per year.

If you are free from any of the indications listed above, there is no preparation necessary for microneedling other than hydrating yourself well before and after the procedure to promote healing of your skin.

First, your provider will thoroughly cleanse the area to be treated with a topical cleanser. Then a topical numbing agent is applied to your skin for 10 to 15 minutes before your treatment. When the treatment begins, a serum will be applied to your skin to help the needling device gently glide over your skin. The needling itself typically feels like a slight vibration, and almost like a massage with tingling on your skin. During the collagen induction process, the tiny needles in the device will penetrate through your skin. You can expect your skin to bleed lightly for a few seconds. The mini-punctures will trigger the production of your very own growth factors that eventually result in collagen production. You can expect your microneedling treatment to take about one-hour total. Your skin will be red for less than an hour for darker skin tones and several days for lighter, more sensitive skin. Your provider will give you any post-procedure instructions to follow after your treatment.

The cost of microneedling depends on many factors. To find out your individual cost, please contact us to schedule a consultation for a personalized treatment plan and cost.