Do you think you could benefit from facial rejuvenation? Are you not quite ready to commit to a facelift? If this sounds like you, microneedling may be able to help. At Advanced Aesthetics Las Vegas in Las Vegas, NV, our mission is to help our clients achieve their ideal aesthetic without pain or downtime. Today, we answer some of our most frequently asked questions about this revolutionary facial rejuvenation treatment, including how soon you can expect to see the results.
16 FAQ About Microneedling Answered
1. What Is Microneedling?
Microneedling, also known as microneedling or collagen induction therapy, is a non-surgical skin rejuvenation treatment that promotes your body’s natural collagen production and cellular turnover through your body’s wound healing processes. During treatment, an FDA-approved handheld device, known as a SkinPen, is rolled over the treatment site in a smooth circular motion.
The SkinPen features several tiny needles that puncture your skin rapidly. This creates microscopic channels within your skin. While it may sound intimidating, the needles are so fine that you will not feel any pain during treatment. If you have an aversion to needles, a topical anesthetic will be applied to the treatment site so you don’t feel anything at all.
2. How Long Does Micro needling Take?
The entire treatment takes only about half an hour to complete. However, the duration of your treatment will vary on a case-by-case basis. If you’re treating a smaller area, like your hands, treatment won’t take long at all.
Contrastingly, if your buttocks, back, chest or legs need several passes of treatment, your session will take significantly longer. During your initial consultation, we will assess the current health of your skin and aesthetic goals to give you a better idea of how long you can expect your treatment to take.
3. When Will I See the Results of Treatment?
Many of our clients are surprised to discover you can see initial results immediately after treatment. As soon as the deepest layers of your skin are penetrated by the needles, “micro-wounds” are created. This triggers your body’s wound healing processes to heal your micro wounds immediately. However, the most dramatic results will not be visible until four to six weeks after treatment. It takes roughly this long for your body to create new, strong, healthy collagen.
During your initial consultation, we will advise you of when you can expect to see results based on the results you are trying to achieve. For treating burn scars, you may need to wait between six months and a year to achieve your desired results. For cellular turnover and tissue rejuvenation, you can see results in as little as two weeks.
4. How Much Will Treatment Cost?
The cost of your micro needling treatment depends on several factors, including the number of areas being treated, the size of the area or areas being treated and if there are any add-ons associated with your treatment. During your initial consultation, we will assess your aesthetic goals and the current health of your skin to provide you with an accurate quote of how much your treatment will cost.
5. Am I a Good Candidate for This Treatment?
The best candidate for collagen induction therapy is anyone who has not used isotretinoin (Accutane) in the past three months, does not have any open wounds, abrasions or cuts, has not had radiation skin treatment within the past 12 months and is not suffering from an active skin infection, herpes simplex at the treatment site or other skin condition. The best candidate also is neither pregnant nor nursing and does not have a history of hypertrophic or keloid scars or poor wound healing.
Unlike many other laser treatments for skin rejuvenation, microneedling is safe for all skin types and tones because the treatment does not damage the epidermis. It is safe for treating sensitive or fragile areas, such as the back of the hands, skin on the neck and around the eyes. When performed by a professional, the risk of hyperpigmentation is mitigated.
6. What Should I Avoid After Treatment?
After treatment, you should avoid any skin care product with acidic active ingredients, retinol or AHAs (glycolic acid). You should avoid these products for two to three days. You should also wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 35 to avoid sun damage.
For the first 72 hours after treatment, reapply sunscreen every four to six hours. Clothing does not offer adequate protection from the sun. Do your best to avoid being outdoors between 10 AM and 2 PM for the first three days after treatment.
7. How Do I Care for My Skin After Treatment?
Besides applying sunscreen regularly, there are not a lot of special skin care steps you need to take. If you’re using collagen induction therapy to treat acne scars, use a gentle cleanser to clean your face every night and morning for 72 hours after treatment. Makeup, lotion and other skin care products can be used as normal after treatment.
Prescription antibiotics are unnecessary because the micro wounds close so quickly after treatment. However, you may be prescribed a prescription emollient. If you are, take it as instructed.
8. What Downtime Is Associated With Treatment?
There is no downtime associated with collagen induction therapy. However, you will need to take care to avoid sun damage for the first three days after treatment. A little hyaluronic acid will go a long way in ensuring there is no inflammation after treatment. You should also limit your makeup to mineral makeup the day of treatment.
9. What Can I Expect During Treatment?
During treatment, we will cleanse your skin with alcohol and numb it with a collagen-stimulating product, skin lightener or vitamin C serum. The SkinPen, featuring a dozen tiny needles, creates micro wounds at the correct speed to penetrate your skin at the proper depth. These needles are completely customizable, so they will penetrate your skin at the proper depth regardless of how thick or thin your skin is.
One of the most compelling benefits of treatment is it makes the absorption of skin care products more effective. Thus, hyaluronic acid or a vitamin C serum is often used to hydrate, heal and rejuvenate the skin after treatment.
10. What Conditions Can Collagen Induction Therapy Treat?
Collagen induction therapy is most often used to treat mild-to-moderate acne scarring and burn scars, improve the texture of the skin, minimize pores, treat stretch marks, lift and tighten sagging skin and eliminate fine lines and moderate-to-severe wrinkles.
11. How Does Treatment Work?
The needles of the SkinPen penetrate the upper layers of your skin up to a depth of 2 millimeters. The resulting micro wounds trigger your body’s wound healing response and collagen and elastin are produced. Elastin is a type of fiber that is essential to the health and beauty of your skin. It is a major component of cellular turnover, which helps to reduce ruddiness and hyperpigmentation.
Collagen is a special type of protein that is responsible for keeping your skin lifted, taut and plump. Therefore, when collagen production is stimulated, cheeks can be re-contoured without the need for an invasive medical procedure. Fine lines and wrinkles can be filled in due to the increased volume in the area.
12. Is Microneedling Something I Can Try at Home?
It is not advisable to buy a dermal roller to use at home. There are several reasons for this, but the most significant is the risk of infection. Without a professional sterilizing the treatment site, there is a significant risk that impurities on your skin may remain and get into the micro wounds. Even worse, there is a risk that the needles used for treatment were not properly sterilized.
Moreover, there is no way to get a prescription topical anesthetic to ensure your comfort during treatment. At-home dermal rollers are considered cosmetic devices rather than medical devices. They are not regulated by the FDA for safety and efficacy and do not penetrate the skin as deeply as the SkinPen. Thus, you will not get the results you want, even if your technique is perfect.
13. What Will I Look Like After Treatment?
Immediately after treatment, you will notice that your skin looks smoother and more radiant. After a month, you will notice that your skin is significantly tighter.
14. How Many Treatments Will I Need?
The current condition of your skin, as well as what condition you are trying to treat, determines how many treatments you will need to achieve your ideal aesthetic. For moderate acne scars, you will probably need between three and four treatments. For moderate-to-severe burn scars and stretch marks, you will need approximately five treatments. To treat wrinkles and other signs of aging, you should only need between one and two treatments per year to maintain your youthful appearance.
15. How Often Can I Receive Treatment?
You can receive treatment every four to six weeks. It can take three treatments for collagen induction to be most effective. If you have never received collagen induction therapy before, you can expect to achieve your ideal aesthetic within four to six months of your first treatment. This accounts for the three treatments you will need, the waiting period between treatments and how long it takes for the final results to appear after the final treatment.
Keep in mind, however, that even if your final results aren’t visible after the first treatment, you will see a noticeable improvement. After your first treatment, we strongly recommend that you schedule your next treatment so you don’t forget. In the case of anti-aging treatments, once you’ve achieved your ideal aesthetic, we recommend scheduling your next appointment for six months later. At that point, we can assess the health and quality of your skin. You may find that you only need one treatment per year.
16. What Are the Benefits of Collagen Induction Therapy?
There are several benefits of collagen induction therapy. One of the most significant benefits is it drastically improves the efficacy of skin care products such as moisturizers, prescription acne ointments and anti-aging creams. It is also more affordable than a facelift and does not involve any downtime, recovery, pain or discomfort.
Learn How to Achieve Your Ideal Aesthetic Today
If you’re not quite ready for a facelift or you’re looking to extend the results of a facelift, microneedling could be the ideal aesthetic solution for you. To schedule your initial consultation, contact the professional aesthetic experts at Advanced Aesthetics Las Vegas in Las Vegas, NV today. Whether you’re looking to tighten and lift your skin, reduce wrinkles and scars, regenerate tissue or you have another aesthetic goal, we can develop the perfect skin rejuvenation plan for your unique needs.
