Microneedling
Do you have fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, pigmentation, or rosacea? Are you bothered by alopecia (hair loss) or stretch marks on the skin? Were you left with loose skin after weight loss or liposuction treatments? A minimally invasive dermatologic procedure called microneedling can help improve all these problems and enhance your beauty. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of this treatment, what it can do for you, what is involved, how long the results last, and how much it costs.
What is microneedling?
Microneedling is a treatment in which a dermatologist creates multiple tiny puncture wounds in the skin with sterile microneedles. The physical trauma triggers the body's natural healing processes. This encourages the deeper layers of the skin to start regenerating and rebuilding, leading to the creation of new tissue. This, in turn, leads to rejuvenation and helps correct many common skin problems.
Doctors also use microneedling to deposit medications like vitamin C and tretinoin in the deeper layers of the skin. This can improve the effectiveness of treatments for problems like acne scars.
How does it work?
The trauma caused by microneedling devices triggers collagen production, which, along with elastin, is a protein in skin cells that gives it a smooth, firm, plump, and youthful appearance and texture. With aging, there is a decline in the body's ability to make collagen and elastin. This leads to a decrease in skin elasticity and the formation of wrinkles and other skin concerns. Loss of collagen can also occur due to acne scars and stretch marks as well as injuries.
Microneedling helps to replace lost collagen. For this reason, it is also called collagen induction therapy. It is important, however, to understand that microneedling is not a quick fix or magic pill. It can take several months for the effects of the treatment to be noticeable because the body needs time to rebuild the collagen and elastin.
Who should get microneedling?
The ideal candidate for microneedling of the face is a person who is in good general health and has skin concerns that have not responded to less intensive dermatologic treatments like chemical peels. It may also be appropriate for patients who are not quite ready for more invasive treatments like facial plastic surgery to address the common signs of facial aging.
People who have active skin infections or open wounds are not good candidates for these treatments. Also, microneedling is not recommended pregnant women, people with a history of raised scar formation, and those who have recently undergone radiation therapy.
What problems can benefit from microneedling?
Microneedling is most commonly used on the face to correct problems like fine lines and wrinkles, age spots, uneven skin tone, large pores, poor elasticity, acne scars, and stretch marks. It can be combined with other aesthetic treatments like dermal fillers to provide a smoother appearance to the skin.
How to prepare for collagen induction therapy
Your dermatologist will see you in consultation before scheduling a microneedling treatment. At this time, they will obtain detailed health information and examine your skin type to determine if it is appropriate for a microneedling procedure. Some patients are not good candidates for these treatments because they involve the use of needles. This includes people with active acne or skin infections or those prone to developing raised scars (keloids). Choosing an experienced dermatologist ensures that microneedling is only offered to you if you are a good candidate for these treatments. If you are not deemed appropriate, alternative methods of skin rejuvenation such as laser treatments may be possible.
What to expect during microneedling?
One of the most common questions people ask is this - Is microneedling painful? The answer is that everyone has a different pain tolerance. However, the treatments in general are not overly painful. Most patients tolerate them well. Doctors can do several things to minimize discomfort during microneedling, including using numbing cream.
During the procedure, the dermatologist will use a pen-like device to make small pricks in the skin. The wounds are so small that you will not be able to see them after the treatment. Afterwards, you will be observed for a short period of time in the office. The doctor may apply a calming serum to your face to reduce discomfort and redness.
Recovery and aftercare: What is the healing process like?
Most patients can go back to work and normal activities right away. However, if you are self conscious about going out in public with even mild redness or swelling, you may want to take a few days off work. Your skin will be sensitive after the procedure so be sure to use sunscreen when you are outdoors. Also, practice good skin care with products recommended by your dermatologist.
Are there any risks or side effects?
In general, microneedling is a relatively safe and effective skin rejuvenation treatment for fine lines, wrinkles, large pores, and scars when performed by a qualified dermatologist.
The most common side effect patients experience after microneedling is redness in the treatment area where the needles were used. There can also be other side effects like swelling, mild discomfort, bruising, and dryness or flakiness of the skin.
When deeper procedures are performed, bleeding can occur, but this is an unlikely and uncommon reaction. Given that it uses needles, microneedling may not be an appropriate treatment choice for people with bleeding disorders or those on blood thinning medications.
More serious but rare side effects of microneedling include infection, pigment changes, and allergic reactions to medications used during the procedure.
How long does it take to see results? Are they permanent?
As noted, microneedling works by creating microscopic punctures in the skin, thereby triggering the body's natural healing response. The body starts repairing the wounds very quickly, so the treatment offers fairly immediate results. However, there continues to be improvement over time and the final effects are not visible until 4-6 weeks after the treatment when the repair process is completed. The results of microneedling are not permanent. The skin continues to age and over time you will need repeat treatments to maintain the effects of microneedling.
Is a home microneedling device effective?
There are many microneedling devices available for use at home. Using these home rollers is a much less expensive option compared to getting professional microneedling in a dermatologist's office. However, there are some things you should know about home treatments. For safety purposes, they have needles that are much blunter than professional devices. As a result, they do not penetrate the skin to the same degree, and therefore, do not produce the same dramatic effects as professional microneedling. However, home microneedling devices can help to stimulate blood flow and temporarily brighten the complexion. It is worth remembering that many of these devices can be difficult to clean, increasing the risk of skin infections, especially if the needles penetrate the skin and cause injury.
5 things you should know about microneedling
#1 You can supercharge microneedling with a serum such as hyaluronic acid or niacinamide to provide the skin with more hydration.
#2 Studies have shown that microneedling can prompt dormant hair follicles to start growing hair again, making it an effective hair growth treatment in people with alopecia.
#3 By promoting collagen production in the skin, microneedling can reduce cellulite and skin sagging.
#4 You can overdo microneedling. Repeated use of home rollers can lead to broken capillaries and other skin damage. Allow enough time between sessions and be gentle on your skin after the treatments.
#5 The results from microneedling are temporary. However, combining it with other procedures like radiofrequency can help achieve long-term reduction in fine lines and scars and longer-lasting improvement in skin quality.
How much does microneedling cost?
Depending on where you live, the cost of microneedling can range between $100 and $700 per session. Since it is a cosmetic treatment, it is unlikely to be covered by health insurance. Remember that you will need multiple sessions to see results. Therefore, it is a good idea to get a quote for the cumulative treatment before committing to microneedling, so that there are no surprises later on.
Finding a provider for microneedling
The MeTime app makes it easy to find certified and experienced aesthetic providers in your area. You can click and upload pictures and have suggestions sent directly to you. Want to learn more about microneedling and other aesthetic skin rejuvenation procedures? Try the MeTime app now!