Microneedling 101
It’s no secret I’m obsessed with microneedling… I just can’t get enough of it! I have no scientific backing to this theory, but somehow I think that microneedling stimulates endorphins because afterwards I always feel SO GOOD about my skin!
I have a lot of clients who have never heard of microneedling before, so I’m here to drop some facts and answer frequently asked questions!
What the heck is microneedling?
Microneedling is a procedure during which a motorized device with teeny tiny needles is used to create a controlled injury to the skin. The small needle plate on the device stamps about 1 million tiny little channels into the skin. Not only does the body respond to this controlled injury by producing collagen and elastin, but these channels create an opportunity to get serums and products deeper into the skin!
The device used for microneedling at Even Esthetics™ is the SkinPen. This FDA cleared device allows me to precisely adjust the depth of the needles to ensure my clients get the best possible results. For example, the delicate skin of the under eye requires a different depth than the thicker skin of the cheeks. The SkinPen allows me to control the exact depth so I can customize a treatment for each client.
Because your result is based on your own body’s response to the mechanical injury, microneedling is 100% natural! My clients love knowing that they have an all-natural option to keep their skin looking its best.
Who can benefit from microneedling?
Anyone with skin! Microneedling is appropriate for clients aged 18 and older. It has not been safety tested in pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Here are some ways microneedling can improve your skin:
-Improve the appearance of scars, including acne scars
-Improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
-Diminish the size of pores
- Improve skin discoloration and dullness
- Improve texture of thin/loose/crepey skin
- Gives an overall youthful rejuvenation
I love utilizing microneedling to improve any sort of scar, because not only are we improving that one area, but you are getting the benefit over your entire face! My favorite area to microneedle is under the eyes. I’ve seen such an improvement in my own under eye area thanks to microneedling, that I get so excited to see my clients get the same benefit! Another great benefit of microneedling is that it can really promote a more even skin tone by breaking up those dark spots on your skin and allowing your glowing, even complexion to shine through! The best part is that with microneedling, you can get ALL of these benefits- you may start the treatment thinking of only improving acne scarring, but the benefits are so numerous that I know this treatment will WOW you.
I saw a device on Amazon, can’t I just do it at home?
Nope. NOOOO. No ma’am. I mean, you totally can but it won’t givce you even close to the same result! Think about it- those at home dermal rollers don’t have the ability to change depths and can’t possibly provide the same number of channels as a mechanical pen. Plus, without numbing cream proper medical microneedling is pretty uncomfortable. Chances are, your Amazon microneedling device is not getting deep enough to trigger the appropriate response to build collagen. With medical microneedling, we change the depth to ensure appropriate treatment for each different area of the face. That is not possible with a home device, so you are probably going too shallow in some areas and too deep in others. The last reason I don’t love at-home microneedling devices is for infection control. These devices are puncturing your skin, and home devices are not sterile. Plus, with repeated use you increase the possibility of allowing the bacteria from your skin to multiply on the device, then you introduce it under the skin… gross! So my opinion on this is that you should definitely go to a trained professional with a proper device if you want to have medical microneedling.
Is it going to hurt?
Nope! All of my clients are quite comfortable during their treatment. I apply a strong medical numbing cream to your face prior to the procedure and build in plenty of time to make sure it works. You may feel a bit of vibration, but you shouldn’t have any pain during your treatment! I’ve even had clients fall asleep while I microneedle them.
How long will it take?
The appointment itself takes about 75 minutes. This includes plenty of time for you to numb! Typically full results from the procedure are visible after 4-6 weeks, but often clients begin to see an improvement within a week or so.
How much downtime is involved?
Downtime from microneedling varies depending upon a few factors but in general most people’s skin returns to normal within 5 days. The day of and day after microneedling, your skin can look like a mild to moderate sunburn. Some clients get small areas of peeling during the healing process. It is also possible to get a condition called “purging” after microneedling. Purging causes tiny little white bumps on the skin, like mini pimples. This is from bacteria and dead skin cells that are already collecting under the skin surface, but the microneedling stimulates the skin to push it all out. Overall the healing process is quite comfortable for the majority of clients and some even return to work the same day.
Is there anything I can do to enhance my results?
Yes! Because microneedling creates open channels to deeper layers of the skin, it is a great opportunity to utilize products so they can get into those channels and deeper into the skin. It is very important that the products you use after microneedling are safety tested to go that deep. At Even Esthetics™, we offer 2 different products to enhance your results:
· Alastin Skin Nectar $195
This product is designed for microneedling and will boost your results! Nectar works by helping to clear out the old, broken strands of collagen and elastin which makes room for the new strands which will be stimulated from the microneedling procedure. This product will also improve your healing time and is soothing for your post-procedure skin. Skin Nectar should ideally be started 2 weeks before your first microneedling session, and then continued for 2 weeks after each microneedling session. One bottle is typically enough product to complete your series of 3 sessions!
· ZO Advanced Serums $75
ZO offers concentrated serums of some of their most powerful products to help enhance your microneedling results. My personal favorite is the ZO Brightening Serum, which has really made a difference in my dark spots and discolorations. Another popular sereum is the ZO Firming Serum Advanced which helps to firm the skin and improve texture together with microneedling. These serums are applied immediately after your procedure and then you take the bottle home to continue applying for 2 weeks after.
What does PRF have to do with microneedling?
PRF (platelet rich fibrin) comes from a blood sample taken from your arm and then spun down in a machine which uses gravity to separate the red blood cells from the plasma and platelets. This creates a rose-gold liquid that is full of your own growth factors, white blood cells, platelets, and even some stem cells. When applied onto the skin before and immediately after microneedling, this powerful serum will enhance your results and even decrease your downtime! If you want to read more about microneedling with PRF, check out this blog. If you want to learn more about PRF injections under the eye, read this!
How often should I be treated? How long will the results last?
When starting microneedling, I always recommend a series of 3 treatments. This is because the treatments act as building blocks with your results getting better each time! Ideally, you will have your treatments spaced about 4-6 weeks apart, but sometimes clients choose to space them out further.
Since microneedling is a regenerative treatment, the changes to your skin will be permanent! But since your skin will continue to age with time, I usually recommend repeating the series once per year. Some of my clients return more frequently, though, because they love the improvement!
If you’d like to get started with a microneedling package, click here to book an appointment.
