Micro-needling is a procedure used to rejuvenate the skin by improving the appearance of stretch marks, wrinkles, scars, and fine lines. It is a nonsurgical procedure that can be performed in in an office with minimal to zero downtime. The device used in this treatment produces micro injuries to the top layers of the skin. The body subsequently reacts to these injuries by placing the areas of the skin with elastin and collagen which develops enhanced skin firmness and texture. With this process old skin is replaced by new skin resulting in a younger and healthier complexion. In many cases patients require multiple treatments to achieve optimum benefits.
The Treatment
Micro-needling can be performed safely on various areas of the body, including the arms, face, legs, neck, back, and abdomen. An individual procedure takes about 15 to 30 minutes depending on the size of the area covered. Elastin and collagen produce over a period of several weeks after the procedure is finished, but patients may notice an immediate glow to their skin after the procedure. Patients having facial rejuvenation treatments may require 2 to 3 sessions. Those addressing deep wrinkles, stretch marks, and scars may require 6 to 8 sessions.
Benefits of the Procedure
As the skin naturally repairs itself, it creates a thicker dermis layer while softening the appearance of wrinkles. The procedure can also improve skin tone and texture and lesson the size of pores, stretch marks, and scars. The procedure is beneficial for repairing skin damaged by excessive exposure to the sun.
The Recovery
After the procedure it is advisable to avoid the following for a couple of days:
* Excessive number of hot showers, saunas, and spies
* Direct exposure to UV light
* Swimming in a pool containing chlorine
* Applying large dosages of active topicals (Hydroquinone, Retin-A)
* Additional skin treatments (i.e., micro-dermabrasion, fillers, Botox, IPL, peels)
Some patients experience no pain with a micro-needling procedure. With others, the feeling may be equated to sandpaper wiped over the skin. In an effort to minimize sensitivity, the medical professional administering the procedure may apply topical numbing medication to be skin. After treatment the skin will have a reddish appearance which may last for a few days.