What is Microneedling?
Microneedling is a form of collagen induction therapy. Introduced in the 1990's for the treatment of scars, stretch marks, and skin laxity, microneedling has become an effective skin rejuvenation treatment for all skin types. Tiny microneedles are punctured into numbed and cleansed skin. This stimulates our body's repair response and floods the area with key nutrients, including collagen and elastin, to strengthen and heal the skin, leaving you with healthy, glowing, and smooth skin.
Benefits of Microneedling?
Microneedling regenerates healthy skin and boosts collagen and elastin. It works well for the following conditions:
- Reduce the appearance of scars, including acne scars
- Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Reduce pore size
- Reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation, dark spots, or brown spots
- Smooth uneven skin tone
- Improve skin elasticity
- Reduce the appearance of stretch marks
- Promote hair growth in people with alopecia
What to Expect
When you arrive for your appointment, we'll discuss your goals, then develop a treatment plan to meet your needs. We want you to feel comfortable and excited about your procedure. Let us know any concerns you have, so we can address them.
The Procedure
The procedure takes about an hour- 30 minutes to numb and 30 minutes for the procedure. Using stem cell cytokines and growth factors, we microneedle the treatment area and apply a recovery mask. After the procedure, we'll review the home care instructions with you. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask.
Recovery
Recovery takes 4-7 days. Day 1 expect a sunburned appearance. Day 2 expect a slight pinkish-bronzed appearance. Day 3 your skin is typically back to normal. If you have any questions along the healing process, please reach out to us.
Results
After your healing is complete, compare your before pictures to your afters! Most clients see glowing results with just the first microneedling session. It may take three or more sessions to achieve your desired results. You're going to love looking at your reflection again!
Pre-Treatment Care
Schedule your consultation. We'll work with you to identify if microneedling is right for you and your needs. The following are contraindications to receiving microneedling:
- Pregnancy or Breastfeeding
- Allergy to lidocaine.
- Inflamed skin with open lesions
- Accutane use within the last 6 months
- Chemotherapy or radiation within the last 6 months
- Immune system disorders under active treatment
- Active cold sores or herpes simplex
Avoid the sun and wind for a week prior to the procedure as your skin can't be sun burned or wind burned. Come to your appointment with clean skin- no make-up or active skincare. No facials or waxing within a week of the procedure. Bring a hat to avoid the sun of the way home!
Post-Treatment Care
General
- Immediately after your treatment, you will look and feel like you have a moderate sunburn
- Skin may feel warm and tighter than usual
- 1 day Post-Treatment: Redness and transient edema, skin begins to turn to a condition similar to before treatment.
- 3 days - 1 week Post-Treatment: Brighter skin tone and significant reduction in sebum secretion in oily skin types.
- 1 month Post-Treatment: Improvement of fine wrinkles and skin laxity.
- 1-6 months Post-Treatment: Continuous improvement of fine wrinkles, pores size, scars and skin laxity.
- Common expected skin reactions include erythema (redness), edema (swelling), transient pin-point bleeding, and very slight discomfort after treatment. Pin-point bleeding should stop within minutes after application, discomfort within a few hours and erythema and edema gradually diminishes to normal in 1 to 3 days.
- Crusting begins to appear 1 – 2 days after treatment and sloughs off in 3 – 5 days.
- Other less common skin reactions include petechia which fade in a few days or bruising (purpura) which can take up to a week to disappear.
- Other skin reactions include irritation, itching, and burning sensation. These typically subside in a few hours to 1 day, but may get aggravated with heat or sweating.
After Treatment
- CLEAN – Use a soothing cleanser or face wash with lukewarm water to cleanse the face and gently pat dry the treated skin until it heals.
- Always make sure that your hands are clean when touching the treated area.
- HYDRATE – Use a gentle moisturizer or healing ointment on the treatment area until skin heals.
- MAKEUP – Can be applied 2 days after the treatment.
- Clean makeup brushes prior to using.
- PROTECT – At 24 hours after the procedure, you should apply a broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen with a SPF 50+, AT ALL TIMES when you will be outside.
- Use a physical sunscreen (Zinc/Titanium Dioxide) daily. Do not use chemical sunscreens (oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate).
- Reapply often→ In addition to reducing your future risk of skin cancer, sunscreens also reduce wrinkles and slow the aging process.
What to Avoid
To ensure the proper healing environment, be certain to observe the following:
- For at least 48 hours post treatment, do NOT use any Alpha Hydroxy Acids, Beta Hydroxy Acid, Retinol (Vitamin A), Vitamin C (in a low pH formula) or anything perceived as ‘active’ (exfoliative) skincare.
- Avoid intentional and direct sunlight for 3-5days. No tanning beds.
- Do not go swimming for at least 24 hours post-treatment.
- No exercising or strenuous activity or hot showers (saunas, hot tubs, etc) for the first 24 hours post-treatment. Sweating and gym environments are harmful, rife with bacteria, and may cause adverse reactions. The heat from hot showers can cause blistering and hyperpigmentation.
- For the next 2 weeks, avoid facial, laser, and waxing treatments. It's a good rule of thumb to wait 2 weeks before doing any other procedures to the area being treated to allow your skin time to heal.
