All about microneedling

Would you like to increase your collagen production by over 400% in one treatment? Microneedling is the answer!

A spotless, flawless complexion is everyone’s no. 1 beauty wish, so it’s no wonder there’s such a wide range of facials available, and new techniques are emerging very often. But in the sea of options, it’s hard to know what treatments actually work and which don’t.

The microneedling procedure, however, is something everyone agrees works: dermatologists, estheticians, and satisfied patients.

Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, treats a number of skin issues. It’s a minimally invasive treatment and results can be slow, but they are definitely worth it. If you’re dealing with a skin imperfection you want fixed, chances are this is the treatment you need.

We’re answering all your questions about microneedling.

What Is Microneedling?

A skin treatment used for improving the appearance of the skin, improving its texture and treating imperfections.It’s become a staple in the beauty industry as a very effective, yet minimally invasive and virtually painless treatment that can be used in most areas of the skin:

• Face
• Scalp
• Body

As the name suggests, it’s a form of skin needling that implies controlled puncturing and affliction of micro-traumas to the skin in order to trigger its regeneration. It’s often called collagen induction therapy, as this is the primary mechanism that leads to an improvement in skin structure.

What Issues Can Microneedling Treat?

This is a multipurpose treatment that combines several beneficial mechanisms to battle:

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• General loss of elasticity (sagging skin)
• Dull skin
• Acne scars
• Other forms of scarring on the face and body
• Stretch marks
• Enlarged pores
• Sun damage and burns
• Hyperpigmentation
• Hair loss

Who Is a Candidate for Microneedling?

Anyone dealing with any issues microneedling is known to improve and is safe for, and who doesn’t fall in the category of any of the contraindications listed below.

Who Isn’t a Candidate for Microneedling?

Contraindications for the treatment are:

• Active acne
• Lip herpes or other local skin infection
• Moderate/severe chronic skin diseases like eczema and psoriasis
• Blood clotting or bleeding disorders
• Ongoing blood-thinning medication therapy
• Proneness to keloid scarring
• Ongoing cancer therapy

ABOUT THE MICRONEEDLING TREATMENT

How Is Microneedling Done?

The treatment implies puncturing the skin in countless tiny dot incisions, reaching live skin cells in the dermis layer of the skin. Either a roller or a pen with a tip covered in thin needles is moved over the treated area, pressing the needles against the skin and puncturing it. At Adore we only use the skin pen which is a superior treatment and combine it with our a frequency and red light therapy for best results. Additionally, safety is our number one priority here. Every micro needling procedure is done with an individual sterilized single use needle cartridge head. Once your procedure is finished the cartridge head is properly disposed of following good medical practices.

These micro-injuries heal into new, improved skin, gradually diminishing the targeted skin issues, and improving the overall state of the treated area.

Okay, And How Exactly Does This Work?
When the skin is injured, the body starts a regeneration process which patches up the injured spot with healthy new skin.

The production of collagen, a protein considered the main building block of the skin, and elastin, which ensures skin elasticity, is triggered. These components are sent to the channels made in the skin, forming new fibers. The skin needling has to be repeated several times to achieve the so-called collagen remodeling, but collagen production can be increased by up to400%.

With the rise in the amount of these components the body itself generates in the skin, more fibers are generated, the structure of the skin is improved, and as a result, so is its appearance.

For an extra effect, nourishing serums which can be specifically formulated to target the skin issue at hand are injected. This form of serum application is much more efficient than the basic topical one, since the substances penetrate the skin rather than staying on its surface. We also follow up the procedure with a nourishing collagen infused vitamin facemask and light therapy to ensure that your skin is going to be its healthiest possible. The light therapy is also very important as it will actually kill any possible bacteria and help your skin heal better, faster and produce more collagen.

At Adore we use a customized formulation of serums that include stem cells, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and healthy nutraceutical skin vitamins. Additionally we provide every patient a supercharged skin healing Mocktail and collagen supplement before the procedure to ensure that your skin is going to be absolutely glowing and producing as much collagen as possible after your treatment! Cheers to that!

What’s the Treatment Like?

Here are the steps of a microneedling treatment.

The process is very similar regardless of whether you’re getting a microneedling facial i.e. micro needling face, or the area treated is the scalp or scarring on some other part of the body.

Step 1 – Consults and Assessment

Your licensed and certified Adore Med Spa Technician will inspect the area to assess the severity of the skin issue and tell you what results you can expect and how many treatments you’ll need. They will ask you some questions about your medical history to make sure the treatment is safe for you.

Step 2 – Cleaning

The area that will be treated is cleaned with a gentle cleaner that won’t irritate the skin. Since the skin will be broken, the area needs to be clean of any makeup or product residues and sebum, to prevent infection.

Step 3 – Numbing

An anesthetic numbing formula in the form of a gel or cream is applied onto the area. It will numb the skin and make the treatment painless. It’s left to sit for a certain time, depending on the thickness and sensitivity of the area treated.

When the skin is numb, it’s time for the actual microneedling to start.

Your tech will apply either a hyaluronic acid serum or another similar formula onto the area. They will go back and forth over it with either a dermapen. The micro-injuries will cause the skin to turn red, and there might be some pinpoint bleeding – this is totally normal.

The skin needling takes 10-20 minutes, depending on the size of the area treated. It might take longer for the scalp if there’s hair on it.

Step 5 – Cleaning

The treated area is cleaned of the serum residues and blood.

Step 6 – Mask + Light Therapy

Finally, your tech will apply either a soothing collagen mask or some sort of skin vitamin serum onto the area, to calm it down, nourish it, or for some other specific effect. In the case of the microneedling facial, they will also finish your treatment area with light therapy to promote faster healing, collagen production and prevent bacterial infections.

NOTE
The microneedling treatment can be, and often is, combined with some other treatments like BB glow. There’s also a special type of microneedling called radiofrequency (RF) microneedling, which is done with a different device and in a slightly different way. Those Who have Botox or facial fillers can also enjoy this wonderful treatment. We just ask that you wait at least two weeks after you have received urine facial injections to ensure that you have the best results.

Does Microneedling Hurt?

Microneedling face or body isn’t really painful, since numbing is used to eliminate the pain. Some areas might be more uncomfortable than others, though, depending on the thickness and the sensitivity of the skin. The pins that puncture the skin are very thin, but the longer they are, the more discomfort they may cause. If you feel actual pain at any moment, tell your tech and have them readjust the needle length. Additionally we offer a secondary numbing cream that is medically supervised and is considered prescription strength. We can always offer this as an option. Our number one goal is to ensure you have a pleasant and enjoyable procedure experience.

How Many Sessions Will I Need?

Although a single session will most like give an improvement, the best results are achieved with 3-6 sessions, depending on the severity of the skin issue. Additionally some people who desire to have amazing, great skin 25/7 tend to get monthly or biweekly microneedling facials. They are absolutely amazing for creating useful, glowing skin before a big event, or just look in your best each day. Collagen remodeling, which is what brings about the improvement in skin texture, is achieved over time and with several sessions. Most clients get a significant improvement within 3 sessions, but some cases require even more treatments.

How Long Does the Microneedling Treatment Take?

An average session lasts up to 30 minutes, but numbing may prolong it if it requires 30+ minutes.

MICRONEEDLING PREPARATIONS

How Do I Prepare for the Microneedling Treatment?

You should avoid certain things before the treatment and between sessions to make sure your skin isn’t compromised:

• Avoid Accutane for 6 months before the treatment.
• Avoid laser/IPL treatments for at least 2 weeks before the treatment.
• Don’t sunburn skin at least 2 weeks before the treatment.
• Don’t take blood-thinning meds like ibuprofen or aspirin at least 1 week before the treatment – you’ll bleed more and you might bruise.
• Don’t wax the area or use hair removal creams for 5-7 days before the treatment.
• Don’t use retinol, acids, mechanical and chemical exfoliation, topical antibiotics, and similar harsh products on the area for 5-7 days before the treatment – these thin out the skin and make it more sensitive
• Don’t shave the area on the day of the treatment.
• Don’t take anti-inflammatory meds at least 3 days before the treatment – these can interfere with your natural inflammatory process as a response to the skin needling.

MICRONEEDLING AFTERCARE

Are There Any Aftercare Tips I’ll Need to Follow?

After each microneedling session, you’ll need to pay some special attention to the treated area to make sure it heals properly and comfortably, and to prevent infection:

• Don’t put ice or any cold compress onto the area.
• Don’t pick at, scratch, or rub the area.
• Don’t touch the area with unclean fingers or any other unsterile surface for as long as possible to prevent infection.
• For at least 48 hours, don’t put any makeup on your face. After that, try not to use makeup brushes, or at least wash them before each use.
• For at least 48 hours, try to avoid sweating, so no working out, no hot showers, jacuzzis, saunas or steam baths.
• For 3 days, wash your face with a mild cleanser (your esthetician will probably prescribe a specific one) and warm water. Dry gently by tapping.
• Use the hydrating products your tech prescribes according to the schedule they determine. These will soothe skin and aid healing, but also maximize the results of the treatment.
• Wear a hat or SPF in the days and weeks after the procedure for as long as possible.
• Take your recommended skin vitamins and supplements for at least one months after. Often times it is recommended to take a collagen supplement, a Branch Chain Amino Acids supplement, and a multivitamin to promote skin health.

MICRONEEDLING HEALING

Is There Any Serious Downtime?

Not really. You can go back to your day right away, as long as you don’t mind a little redness. Often times you look more glowing than actually read immediately after the procedure.

How Long Does the Skin Need to Heal After Microneedling?

The micro-injuries will close up within 7 days after each session, but to make sure the skin is totally healed, further sessions should be booked at least 3 weeks apart, ideally 4-6 weeks.

What Can I Expect During Healing?

The skin will start turning red as soon as halfway through the session, and the healing process starts virtually right afterwards. Here’s what you can expect in the week after the procedure:

Redness

Your skin will be red for several hours after the procedure, and it will gradually fade to a pink, and finally subside. Redness is expected for about a day for the microneedling facial, but it can last up to 7 days on different areas of the body.

Tenderness

Some tenderness is expected in the hours after the procedure.

Heat

Most clients report their skin feels hot in the days after the procedure.

Tightness, Dryness and Skin Dehydration

In the days after the treatment, your skin will feel tight and dry, much like a sunburn. You can relieve this discomfort with prescribed moisturizers.

Possible Swelling

You may notice some minor swelling in the treated area, but it should subside within a day or two.

Possible Bruising

Minor bruising may emerge, but it will go away within 5-7 days.

When Can I Expect an Improvement?

It’s important to understand that the effects of microneedling don’t happen overnight. Collagen remodeling takes time, and the best results are achieved within a few months and with several sessions.

That said, you will notice your skin looking bright and radiant a few days after the treatment. But different effects show up at different times.Skin tightening happens almost immediately.

Diminishing scars takes the most time. Some improvement will happen quite soon, but the final result takes patience.

How Long Will the Effects Last?
This depends on what you want to achieve. Brightening, tightening and anti-aging effects can last anywhere from 4 months to a year, but can be maintained perpetually with additional sessions. Scalp microneedling also needs to be maintained.

Scar reduction can be permanent. Hooray!

The average price of a single microneedling session is around $400, but it can vary from $400, to as much as $600 per session. At Adore we offer Microneedling for around $299 per session and it can be combined with other excellent services.

MICRONEEDLING – MAIN TAKEAWAYS

Microneedling, or collagen induction therapy, is an efficient way to treat a wide range of skin issues, from the effect of aging, to scars on the face and body, and even thinning hair. The treatment implies skin needling to trigger the skin’s natural healing through collagen remodeling. It’s a minimally invasive, quite safe treatment (if done right), but it takes several sessions and a few months to give the best results.