This minimally invasive skin rejuvenation treatment has also been referred to as “skin-needling” or “Collagen Induction Therapy” in recent years. If you follow us on Instagram or Facebook you know microneedling is one of our favorite treatments to offer clients (and for a good reason)! It offers so many great benefits to the skin. After the age of 20, on average we lose 1% of our collagen production a year. That is where microneedling can help!
Microneedling is just as it sounds. Tiny needles are used to create “micro-injuries” in the skin in order to stimulate the bodies natural wound healing process. The device used is an electronic device that houses a sterile cartridge filled with fine gage needles that move at an extremely high rate of speed. The boost in collagen and elastin created by this “controlled injury” offers an immediate improvement in fine lines and wrinkles, skin texture, acne scarring, firmness and pigmentation, pore size, and sun damage just to name a few!
Microneedling not only boosts your bodies own collagen and elastin but it also allows for better product penetration. We spend a good amount of money on our skin care. (Why wouldn’t we want to get the most out of them)?! Products like Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid are able to better absorb and penetrate deeper into the skin. These two products are pivotal when targeting hyperpigmentation, scarring, and maintaining collagen production as we age.
Below are a few pointers and what to expect before and after your Microneedling procedure.
Before Microneedling
Most people are eligible to receive this treatment barring a few conditions. If patients have a weakened immune system or previous issues with wound healing we would not recommend this treatment. No active lesions or infections can be present in the area the day of treatment. Patients currently receiving acne treatments like Accutane (isotretinoin) should wait 6 months before considering microneedling. We encourage our clients to stay out of the sun and wear SPF when they are planning to be outside. If you have any concerns we are always available to chat whether we think microneedling would be a beneficial treatment for you!
During Microneedling
Having “needling” in the name can sound scary (who likes needles?), but microneedling is a virtually pain-free procedure. Upon your arrival, we apply a topical numbing agent to the areas being treated. Most people feel little to no pain and some even fall asleep! There are many areas that can be treated but most popularly we treat the face, neck, and décolletage.
There is a variety of serums that we can used in conjunction during your treatment to boost your desired results including, but not limited to, brightening, firming, and/or hydration. You can call the office to discuss which would be the best add-on for you! Some of these options include a medical grade skin care product applied to the face during the procedure and others include drawing the patients blood for added healing properties (our favorite).
After Microneedling
Most clients with experience a sunburn-like feeling and appearance following the procedure that can continue into the next 24-48 hours. Peeling can occur (this is a good thing)! This means cell turnover is happening. We encourage patients to maintain hydration and not to pick at sloughing skin. Clients can resume their regular skincare routine 5-7 days following the procedure. Avoid excessive sun exposure for 2 weeks following your procedure. SPF is so important to maintain your new glowing skin! Microneedling reaches its peak result 2-4 weeks following treatment. Collagen production continues to improve even into the 4 week post procedure mark.
We recommend 3-6 treatments a year dependent upon target. Scar reduction will most likely require 3-6 treatments. If you’re looking to simply boost collagen production, 3 treatments is a good starting point.
In Conclusion
There are not many people who will not benefit from microneedling in some way. The price versus results is unmatched. When pairing microneedling with laser treatments and medical grade skin care you really see a huge change in your skin. The radio frequency can penetrate even deeper into the skin and improve those deep wrinkles we tend to develop as we age and the medical grade skin care will target skin at the cellular level (we will dig into these further another day)! Give us a call. We would love to discuss your concerns and get you started on a journey to a more radiant and youthful appearance. We look forward to treating you!
All our Best,
The Staff at AZ Med Spa 48