Medical microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat different skin conditions, such as fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, scars, stretch marks, acne scars, texture and enlarged pores. General firming and smoothing of the skin is accomplished as well.
A topical numbing agent is applied to the face right before, and then during the procedure, a skin-pen device is used to perform the treatment. The needles are very fine, creating micro-punctures that trigger the skins wound-healing response, which then stimulates collagen production. This remodels the scar tissue, while keeping the overall structure of the skin.
The microneedling device used is SkinPen® by Bellus Medical, which is the first to be cleared by the FDA for acne scarring.
This is a great procedure for so many patients because it requires very little downtime, it can be performed at any time of the year and is appropriate for all skin types.
Preparation before the procedure is easy, just avoid sun exposure and retinoids one day prior to your appointment.
The Microneedling Process
Microneedling works by using tiny needles to create a “controlled injury” to the tissue. This will stimulate collagen (which increases by 400%) and growth factors, as well as further groundwork to remodel the tissue in the treated areas. The surface of your skin will thicken and tighten in response to the changes within the tissue. This means that we are using your body’s own amazing healing processes to help with the inevitable results of aging, acne and other injuries or deformities. These processes and results peak at 30 days, but your skin will actually continue to heal up to 300 days after your treatment.
On the day of your procedure, we will numb your skin with a topical anesthetic. You will feel minimal discomfort as the pen glides over the treatment area. Depending on the size of the area being treated, the procedure will take less than an hour.
Side effects of microneedling include mild tenderness and redness (similar to a sunburn) the day of treatment. Generally, most patients’ skin will appear normal the morning after, especially at one day post-op. The first day after the procedure, you should avoid sunscreen and makeup, as well as sweating (such as exercise and saunas, etc), sun exposure and you may experience flaking of the skin for the first few days.
Overall, this is an easy recovery that will be well worth the results of the treatment!
Skincare After Microneedling
We recommend the SkinFuse System, which is actually produced by Bellus Medical SkinPen©. This skincare line does not include any ingredients that will increase inflammation or irritate the skin during the crucial healing process! It has been shown to greatly enhance the healing process and improve the results of the treatment by increasing collagen production by 433% (among many other factors) compared to microneedling alone.
The SkinFuse© System skincare line includes the following products:
- Purify Cleanser for Gental Cleansing.
- Rescue Calming Complex to Soothe the Skin.
- Fortify Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid to help with wrinkles, discoloration, inflammation and restoring moisture barriers.
- Reclaim Hydrating Support for Moisturizing.
- Shield Zinc Oxide SPF 30 Sunscreen to protect newly rejuvenated skin.
- Additionally, the Surge Collagen Boost is available for maintaining skin remodeling with high potency Vitamins A and C, which is applied once a week. These vitamins assist with collagen remodeling and antioxidant protection in time-release formulation.
