Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, might be the hottest new skin care trend right now, and for good reason! Microneedling has been called "the next big thing" in anti-aging skincare procedures and continues to pick up notoriety. Microneedlng is a minimally-invasive treatment and is an effective way to stimulate the body’s natural healing process to reverse many signs of aging.
Although microneedling home devices are available, this treatment should be performed by a medical professional to maximize results and reduce the risk of infection, damage to the skin, and scarring. At GoodMedizen in Seattle, we offer microneedling treatments in our line of natural, effective cosmetic procedures.
What is Microneedling?
In a microneedling session, a medical device with fine, shallow needles, is used to make thousands of tiny, invisible "punctures" in the surface of the skin. These "punctures" trigger an immune response from the body which helps to increase cell turnover, stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, and many other skin rejuvenating benefits. The increased collagen production that is stimulated by microneedling can help fill in fine lines, plump the skin, and create a more youthful appearance.
Benefits of Microneedling
Microneedling is a powerful procedure to slow and reverse the signs of aging. It helps to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, It can help prevent new lines and wrinkles from forming, but also diminish existing signs of age. With the regeneration power of microneedling, people often see noticeable results in only 4 sessions.
In just 4 monthly sessions, we typically see a noticeable reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, especially "crows feet" and lines on the forehead, we also see lightening of hyperpigmentation and age spot, improved skin tone, and the beginning of deeper lines filling in. These results are greatly improved with combining with weekly nanoneedling treatments and/or cosmetic acupuncture.
With microneedling, there is little to no downtime. You will have some redness for about 24 hours. Microneedling is typically comfortable enough to not require anesthetic, but we do offer it if desired. There can be a slight "sunburn" type feeling immediately after the treatment - our after treatment mask helps this quite a bit - and it typically only lasts a few hours.
Microneedling for Acne Scars & Surgical Scars
Microneedling can be very effective for patients with acne scars. There is research that has been published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that has shown microneedling therapy producing remarkable improvement in the visibility of scarring. Researchers in a study published in Dermatologic Surgery compared fractional laser treatments to microneedling for effectiveness in resolving scars. Both treatments were found to be effective and comparable, but microneedling has fewer side effects, and less downtime. For treatment of scarring, longer needles are often used, so treatment should be only be performed by a skilled medical professional.
How does it work, and how many treatments are needed?
Our professional grade microneedling device uses needles at a depth ranging from .5mm to 2.5mm. The device oscilates at 18,000 rpm to rapidly puncture the skin to create microtrauma that stimulates the immune system, and the the production of collagen and elastin. It also increases the skin's ability to absorb nutrients by 3000%!! Because of this, we utilize stem cells, and other topical treatments during these sessions. The number of treatments you will need can vary, but generally a series of four, six, or 12 microneedling treatments, scheduled four weeks apart, produce the desired results. For deeper lines and wrinkles, scarring, or sagging skin, combining microneedling with nanoneedling and/or cosmetic acupuncture is recommended - those treatments can be done up to three times per week.
What to Expect In a Microneedling Session
Microneedling is a virtually painless procedure, performed in sessions typically lasting 45 minutes. We will begin with 20-30 minutes of Bio-Light Therapy where you will rest on a bio-mat with medical grade LED light therapy on your face and decolletage. If anesthetic cream is desired, it will be applied at this time. After 20-30 minutes, we will cleanse of the anesthetic, if it was applied, and begin the microneedling procedure. We will use a hyaluronic gel as a lubricant for the device which will smoothly glide over your skin in specifc patterns to create the desired "microtrauma" on the skin suface. Some spot treatments might also be done with deeper microneedling and specific serums - such as for melasma and scarring. After the procedure we will do a stem cell infusion, and then you will rest with a custom mask that is infused with nutrients chosen for your specifc needs.
After the procedure you will have some redness, and your skin will feel like a sunburn. This redness and discomfort is typically gone within 12-24 hours, and often sooner. Aftercare is simple - you'll leave your face alone the rest of that day, no products (except for a mineral based sunscreen if you will be outside), and then you can return to your normal routine the next day.
Results from the treatment become visible gradually. Full healing from the treatment takes 4 weeks, which is why we only do the procedure at that interval. Nano-needling in between visits can help healing to occur more quickly and completely. The natural growth of collagen stimulated by the microneedling treatment continues in the weeks (and months!) following your sessions.
Your Downtown Seattle Facial Rejuvenation Experts at GoodMedizen will work with you to create the perfect skincare plan to achieve your desired results! Call us today, or book online, for a free consultation to see what we can achieve together!
Call us today (206)402-3813 for your free consultation!
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