Microneedling

Individuals under the age of 18; if you are pregnant or breastfeeding; in theory, there is no danger, however it is better to be safe than sorry; have active acne, hemophilia/bleeding disorders, active scleroderma infection of any type (bacterial, viral, or fungal), hormone replacement therapy, skin cancer, on blood thinner medications, keloid/hypertrophic scarring, sunburn, cardiac disease/abnormalities, raised lesions (moles, warts, etc.); recent tattoos, chemotherapy or radiation; recent chemical peel procedure; telangiectasia/erythema; collagen vascular disease; recent use of some topical medications; uncontrolled diabetes, eczema; psoriasis; dermatitis; rosacea; or vascular lesions (hemangiomas). Individuals should avoid PRF if they have skin diseases (i.e., SLE, porphyria, allergies), cancer and/or ongoing chemotherapy, severe metabolic and systemic disorders, abnormal platelet function (blood disorders, i.e., hemodynamic instability, hypofibrinogenaemia, critical thrombocytopenia), chronic liver pathology, anticoagulation therapy, underlying sepsis, or systemic use of corticosteroids or within two weeks of the procedure.

Alternative treatments options include Microneedling with PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma), Chemical peels,.

Individuals should review medical, surgical, medication, and allergy history with a provider prior to treatment. Prepare for your treatment by reading about Microneedling, schedule your treatment 2 weeks before any special events, wash your skin and remove any makeup, excess oil, and lotions, and relax. Read the pre and post-treatment instructions to prepare yourself and stop any medications prior to your treatment.

Before starting your treatment, your provider will clean your skin and apply a topical anesthetic to numb the area being treated. You may feel a small amount of discomfort during the procedure, but the cream helps to minimize pain.

• Microneedling + Serum: The provider uses a device that has fine surgical microneedles that are approximately 0.1 to 0.25 in diameter to create punctures in the outer layer of the skin (epidermis) to create controlled micro-injuries about 2 mm deep. A serum is applied after the treatment.

• Microneedling + PRF: Your provider will withdraw a vial of blood between 5-15 ml from you and place it into a centrifuge, where the blood is spun at high speeds to isolate the PRF, which activates the release of growth factors that stimulate collagen production and the healing in your tissues. While your blood is spinning in the centrifuge, the microneedling device is used to penetrate the skin about 2 mm deep to create micro-injuries. PRF is applied to the skin during the procedure and after the procedure.

There is minimal pain, but a topical anesthetic is used for your comfort.

Results from Microneedling with or without PRF are seen almost immediately. The best results, however, can take six to eight weeks to appear and may show improvement in texture and tone. That’s when the increased collagen effects become evident, and that is after 3 to 4 sessions.