Microneedling, or collagen induction therapy, uses a powered pen like device with 36 fine-gauge needles at the end. These needles vibrate in and out of the skin, up to three millimeters deep, causing the skin to produce more collagen.
The depth the needles penetrate and the speed at which they move is adjustable. Your dermatologist will determine those factors based on the treatment surface area and skin type.
What can I expect during the procedure?
First you will put a numbing cream over the entire area to make the procedure more comfortable.
A sufficient amount of hyaluronic acid gel or Platelet Rich Plasma is applied on the treatment area surface to facilitate the gliding of the device.
Your dermatologist will then begin the microneedling process by rolling the device over the treatment area making a few passes in all directions over each section.
The total time this takes will vary on the size of the surface area and the type of skin being treated. Thicker skin may take a few more passes to achieve the best results.
Pinpoint bleeding will occur (nothing crazy, don’t let that freak you out), so after the procedure, cold/wet gaze will be used to clean the surface area.
You can expect the skin to stay slightly pink anywhere from three days to one week after microneedling. Nothing to worry about as it is very easy to cover up with make up, which can be used as early as two days following the procedure.
Expect a rough and vibrating sensation during the procedure but very little pain.
What are the benefits of microneedling?
The goal of microneedling is to produce more collagen in the skin to rejuvenate it and in some cases get rid of scars.
Skin rejuvenation
This is becoming the most popular way to get rid of wrinkles and create a smooth complexion.
Microneedling can also be used to get rid of stretch marks on the stomach, hips or thighs.
Clearing acne and surgical scars
The needles of the device can reach deep scar tissue without the heat production of a laser treatment.
Microneedling can be used on a small surface area when treating a small scar because unlike laser treatments, there is no fear of discoloration.
When will I see results?
The ideal results are best seen after the third treatment at intervals of two to four weeks apart. However, some patients will opt to only have microneedling done once or twice a year to maintain their cosmetic outcomes.
It takes a little time for the collagen to be produced and remodeled, but this lag time varies for each patient.
I’ve seen at home microneedling kits on Instagram, do those do the same thing?
There have been many at home microneedling kits circulating social media. The bottom line is, they are not safe! And moreover, you are not going to get the results that you will achieve with an in-office microneedling treatment by using one of those at home.
There are a few problems with them. 1) There is not a good way to clean these devices at home, so spreading infections you didn’t even know you had is very common. 2) There is no way to sharpen/interchange the needles. Needles dull after just 1 treatment. In-office treatments require the needles to be changed with each treatment to achieve the desired results.
Bottom Line: skip the at-home microneedling and contact Legacy Dermatology Group to make an in-office appointment.
If you are craving a smooth complexion with little to no down time, Consult Dr. Legacy about how microneedling can work for you!
Margosian, Emily. “The Many Uses of Microneedling”. Dermatology World, September 2018: 44-49. Print.
