Are you sick of looking at enlarged pores in the mirror? Do you suffer from hyperpigmentation? Have you noticed your skin starting to sag? You don’t need uncomfortable laser treatments or invasive skin lifts to enhance your appearance. Microneedling is an extremely versatile anti-aging treatment that can be used to improve a wide variety of cosmetic imperfections.
Everything You Need To Know About Microneedling:
1. What Is It?
This is a unique derma roller treatment involving the use of tiny needles to penetrate the skin. It is designed to stimulate your body’s natural collagen production process. This results in a smooth, firm, evenly toned skin. It is commonly used to shrink enlarged pores, treat wrinkles, and reduce the appearance of acne scars, usually on the face.
This treatment is also known as collagen induction therapy and can be used to smooth out and reduce the uneven pigmentation of stretch marks. To learn if collagen induction therapy will help you achieve your aesthetic goals, call Kaniff Cosmetic Medical Center in Sacramento, CA.
2. How Long Does It Take to See Results?
Microneedling when to see results? The initial skin tightening and pore reduction can be seen immediately after treatment. However, you won’t see your final microneedling results until four to six weeks after your anti-aging treatment. Both collagen production and cellular turnover are accelerated, but it still takes your body time to produce new, strong, healthy collagen.
3. Does Treatment Hurt?
It may seem intimidating to have your skin punctured by needles, especially if your face is being treated. But treatment is not painful at all because the needles used are so fine.
More importantly, you won’t feel any discomfort during or after your treatment. We apply a numbing cream well in advance of the treatment. It usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes for the cream to take effect.
4. What Can I Expect During Treatment?
Once the numbing cream has taken effect, it will be removed and your treatment sites will be sterilized with alcohol. Once your skin is cleansed, the SkinPen (dermaroller) is used to cover the entire surface of your skin using small circular motions in continuous lines. Each treatment site is treated once unless a particular area needs extra attention.
5. How Long Does Treatment Last?
A treatment session itself only lasts between 20 and 30 minutes depending on how many areas need to be treated. However, you must wait for the numbing cream to take effect and have your treatment area disinfected.
Expect to spend at least an hour or two from start to finish. This in-office time is extended if you opt for a “vampire facial”, or microneedling with PRP. When you come in for your one-on-one consultation, we will assess the quality of your skin, discuss your aesthetic goals, and give you a better idea of how long you can expect treatment to take.
6. What Is a Vampire Facial?
A vampire facial is a bit of a misnomer because it can be used to treat other parts of your body, too. PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, involves drawing several milliliters of your blood and separating it into its three components – platelet-rich plasma, platelet-poor plasma, and red blood cells – in a centrifuge. The centrifuge process alone will add five to 10 minutes to your expected treatment time. It is used to promote faster, more dramatic results than traditional collagen induction therapy.
7. Am I a Good Candidate for Microneedling?
If you are at least 20 years of age, there is an excellent chance you are a good candidate for collagen induction therapy. Collagen induction therapy is great for any skin type because it encourages your body’s natural cellular turnover process.
8. Who Is Not a Good Candidate for Microneedling?
There are very few reasons you may not be a good candidate. For example, when the needles penetrate the layers of your skin, “micro-injuries” occur. These micro-injuries are necessary for stimulating collagen production. But if you have a fever, active rash, or infection, your body should spend all its energy fighting off your illness. Postpone your collagen induction therapy treatment session until you’re feeling better.
9. What If I’m Pregnant?
Collagen induction therapy is recommended for pregnant women because other skin rejuvenation treatments, like deep chemical peels, are unsafe for pregnant women. For a comprehensive list of skincare treatments you can invest in while pregnant, come in for a consultation. We will also advise you of the types of treatments you should steer clear from.
10. What Are the Best Complementary Treatments?
The best treatments to complement your collagen induction therapy treatment sessions depends on your aesthetic goals. If you’re looking to reduce the appearance of acne scars, stretch marks or scars from traumatic injuries, salicylic acid peels between sessions will help you reach your goal faster.
If you’re using collagen induction therapy for anti-aging purposes, like skin tightening, dermal fillers and neuromodulators are probably your best bet. Dermal fillers refer to injectable hyaluronic acid, or HA. Hyaluronic acid strengthens your body’s collagen and elastin, filling in fine lines and wrinkles, re-contouring your cheeks, enhancing your smile, and tightening your skin. Neuromodulators block electrical impulses sent to your muscles causing them to move. This eliminates fine lines, wrinkles, and moderate-to-severe facial folds caused by muscular hyperactivity.
11. Does It Treat Acne?
Many people think microneedling helps to treat acne because their acne seems to clear up better after treatment. This isn’t quite true. The treatment offers many benefits, including a reduction in pore size. However, it also unclogs your pores so acne medication can seep into your skin and have the opportunity to work.
This treatment doesn’t just make prescription acne creams more effective, though. Unclogged pores allow all types of creams and ointments to soak into your skin more efficiently. This includes everything from anti-aging creams and moisturizers to anti-inflammatory creams. If you currently use skincare products other than soap at home, and you’re currently healthy, collagen induction therapy will take your skincare game to the next level.
12. How Long Do the Results Last?
Microneedling results how long? The results from your first round of treatment will last between four and six weeks after they have finalized. Thus, you should expect to come in for a follow-up treatment eight to 12 weeks after your first treatment. Keep in mind, however, that you may not need to come in so soon. You may find that the results of treatment last longer depending on a number of factors.
13. How Do I Extend the Results of My Treatment?
The best way to extend the results of your collagen induction therapy treatment is to take care of your body and your skin. To prevent premature skin sagging, drink at least eight to 10 cups of water daily depending on your weight, activity level, local climate, and current humidity levels. Your urine should be between translucent and very pale.
You should also get enough nutrients in your diet, whether from vitamin supplements or eating more nutrient-dense foods. Among the most important nutrients for skin health are vitamins K, D, C, A, E, and all B vitamins. For help incorporating more nutrient-dense foods into your diet, seek the help of a licensed nutritionist.
14. Can I Smoke After Treatment?
You should only smoke between treatment sessions if you want to come in more often for treatments. Both the chemicals found in tobacco and alcohol elevate your blood pressure. Alcohol dehydrates you and flushes out all the nutrients from your body. Nicotine, a chemical compound found in tobacco, constricts your blood vessels, making it harder for your body to deliver essential nutrients to your skin.
15. How Many Treatments Will I Need?
To eliminate or drastically reduce the appearance of scars, you will probably need between three and six treatments depending on how deep or thick and discolored your scars are. For cellular turnover and anti-aging rejuvenation, you will probably only need between one and two treatments to achieve your desired microneedling results.
16. Can I Use an At-Home Roller?
We strongly recommend against purchasing a dermal roller for home use. First of all, at-home rollers are considered cosmetic devices and not vetted by the FDA for safety and efficiency. Secondly, even if the needles are sterile, they may become dirty before you start your treatment. Or, your face could be inadequately cleansed before treatment. This could cause an infection.
Third, the needles cannot be adjusted to the thickness of your skin. The needles only penetrate the superficial layer of your skin, which is the layer of dead skin cells. An at-home treatment will not give you the microneedling results you desire because it does not penetrate your skin deeply enough and neither collagen production nor cellular regeneration are effectively stimulated.
17. Am I a Good Candidate for Dermal Fillers?
Whether a dermal filler is right for you depends on why you are seeking cosmetic treatment. In general, the best candidate for dermal filler treatments is in good general health, has realistic expectations about the results, understands what the treatment is used for, and does not want to invest the time or money necessary to undergo an invasive anti-aging procedure. During your initial consultation, we will help you determine if this or another cosmetic treatment, is better suited to help you achieve your aesthetic goals.
18. Where Else Can This Treatment Be Used?
This treatment can be used virtually anywhere there is not an active skin infection. Often, it is used to treat stretch marks on the abdomen, thighs, arms, hips, buttocks, and back. A few treatments spaced roughly a month apart are a good substitute for a neck lift, as well. While the results of a neck lift last between 10 and 15 years, many people prefer a non-invasive treatment over a medical procedure.
Learn More Today
Are you ready to reduce pores, wrinkles, uneven pigmentation, and sagging skin? If you are, microneedling can help. To schedule your initial consultation, contact the dedicated medical professionals at Kaniff Cosmetic Medical Center in Sacramento, CA today. We can’t wait to meet you and help you develop a customized anti-aging or general skin wellness treatment plan that achieves your goals and works within your budget. We are excited to see your microneedling before and after the image.
Dr. Thomas Kaniff, MD, FACS is a double-board certified facial plastic surgeon who has performed over 10,000 facial procedures. He has an in-depth knowledge of how collagen induction therapy works and how it can be used to help you achieve your ideal aesthetic. When only the best will do, put your faith, and looks in the experience you can trust.
