Have you ever considered Microneedling but just hearing the name made you worried about what was entailed? Are you confused about which are the most effective treatments to address fine lines and wrinkles when looking for options to surgical procedures? Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by some of the names in general of advanced skin treatments available today wondering which is best for you?
These are common questions I hear nearly every day as a medical aesthetician providing the latest and most advanced services to address some of the first and most disappointing effects of aging: facial lines and wrinkles. If you, like many others, have questions like these, take a moment to really learn the facts about one of the most highly effective treatments that is at the top of almost every list for its dramatic results. You might be surprised (and possibly be put at ease) when you learn that the actual treatment is relatively fast, has a big impact and healing time may be less than you think.
Microneedling is a treatment that uses ultra thin, short needles gathered together at the tip of a hand held device that rapidly stamps small sections of the skin's surface at a time creating tiny open channels that can actually close up, or heal within as little as a few hours. Skin is prepped with a topical numbing gel to make the procedure comfortable. The intention is to only penetrate the skin about 1-2 mm deep to stimulate a reaction. When skin suffers minor injury, such as the tiny openings created by microneedling that are literally as “thin as hair”, an immediate response from the brain is to repair the injury as quickly as possible. Clinical studies reveal a denser, stronger structure of skin tissue made up from higher than normal amounts of fiber, elastin and collagen which are produced within the injured tissue making the skin more resilient, smoother and more even textured after recovery than before. Skin that has repaired itself after injury is fortified much like the excess amounts of calcium found in healed bones which can be detected on x-rays where there were previous fractures. This concept also weighs in similarly to the way that muscle mass is increased when muscle tissue is placed under stress and suffers from slight tears after workouts. Post treatment downtime is usually about one to two days and the most common reaction is a slight reddening, similar to a mild sun or wind burn combined with minimal swelling.
Many people think that Microneedling is a brand new concept and wonder if there are enough proven results to support its claims. Microneedling has actually been around for a long time and was first used in the US in 1995 in Philadelphia by Dr. Desmond Fernandes to address wrinkles and scars with hypodermic needles whilst he simultaneously also developed a type of tiny needle stamp intended to stimulate collagen production. The very first recorded use of microneedling, however, dates back to 1905 by a German Dermatologist named Ernst Kromayer. His tools then were various sized small surgical drills that were actually dental burs. With these, he treated scars, birthmarks and hyperpigmentation. Many sophisticated tools and devices have since developed over the decades since these first inventions in an effort to effectively perfect ways to stimulate the skin and in turn force the body to repair itself from superficial skin injury. This concept of forced tissue repair that Microneedling causes is essentially holistic in nature and is responsible for a very natural looking end result of skin restructuring or remodeling. The process of this treatment delivers a more subtle, yet very desirable result and is ideal for those wanting alternatives to injectables and surgeries. It is, in my opinion, the most impressive result when one is seeking a softer, more youthful looking improvement.
Microneedling is excellent for helping to treat uneven pigmentation by breaking up the concentrated melanocytes and expediting the mitosis of cells. This produces a more rapid turnover of hyperpigmented cells that really helps to brighten the complexion and add a luminous glow. And microneedling can have dramatic results with acne scarring as well by softening hardened hypertrophic scars with added collagen production. Collagen is a softer, more spongy structure within the skin and really gives a nice plump and fullness to the face's contour.
Like any other advanced skin care treatments available that are administered by a licensed professional, microneedling is technique dependent and both downtime and post-procedural results vary according to the skills of the provider and the tools that are used. There are many types of microneedling devices and proper ways to use them. A full skin and health evaluation rules out contraindications that can affect optimum results.
Treatments are more effective with repeat sessions usually spaced about four weeks apart. The best part is that results continue to improve in treated areas for weeks and even months afterwards in terms of collagen production and elastin for tighter, firmer skin.
If you are interested to learn more, feel free to call us with your questions. In person consultations for a full skin evaluation are complementary and are the best starting point to see if you are a candidate. Reach us 561-757-5814. Or find us at Impruv-U.com. to view our licensed facility. Also visit our podcast, “Impruv-U with Christina Davies” on spotify, apple podcast, or wherever you enjoy your podcasts to learn about many other services we provide.
Christina Davies is a licensed medical aesthetician, a medical micropigmentation artist and the owner of Impruv-U Medspa in Boca Raton, FL.