With aging comes many changes in our appearance, from lines and wrinkles to rougher-looking skin. Microneedling Is one of the safest and most effective ways to treat these types of changes, thanks to its minimally invasive nature and collagen-promoting effects. Here at Mac Med Spa in Milford, MA, we offer this revitalizing therapy as a treatment for not only the usual signs of aging but also discolored skin, stretch marks, scars, and many other conditions.
Beneficial at just about every age, this therapy can be used as both a corrective and preventative form of treatment and can help you keep your skin looking vibrant and healthy. So if you’re considering this therapy for the first time, here’s how the process works and how long you can expect the results to last.
How Long Do Microneedling Results Last?
The results of this treatment typically last at least six months for most patients, though this can vary based on different factors. Collagen, which gives healthy skin its smooth appearance, decreases with age, though microneedling counters this by stimulating collagen production in the skin. Those who are younger may be able to naturally maintain these collagen levels long after they’ve received treatment, whereas older patients may not produce collagen quite as easily and might need touch-ups more frequently.
Also, the type of skin condition you have is going to play a role in how long the effects last as well. Some conditions, like acne scars, may not require additional treatments because this therapy can break down scar tissue and replace it with new healthy skin cells, leading to permanent improvements. Other issues, such as lines and wrinkles, may need ongoing maintenance treatments multiple times per year.
What Is Microneedling?
Microneedling is a type of therapy that involves the use of small gauge needles to prick the skin, which causes small microscopic wounds in its upper layer. Although these tiny wounds are temporary and quickly heal after treatment, the process itself can jumpstart the skin’s natural healing mechanisms, which often leads to improvements in certain skin conditions.
With the aging process, our bodies gradually produce less elastin and collagen as we get older. Both of these proteins are vital for skin health, and without them, our skin can become loose, less vibrant looking, and with prominent lines and wrinkles around the eyes, on the forehead, and elsewhere on the face. This therapy can stimulate the skin into producing higher levels of these proteins, which often leads to noticeable improvements with some conditions and with healthier, fuller-looking skin.
What Are the Benefits?
The many benefits of this therapy can’t be understated, as it’s been proven to be a highly effective therapy that can help your skin in more ways than one. Here are just some of the many benefits that are offered by this treatment:
- Smooths the skin
- Tightens sagging skin
- Reduces discoloration
- Stimulates blood vessels
- Removes dead skin cells
- Reduces wrinkles and lines
- Increases collagen and elastin
What Happens During Treatment?
The needling process takes place in our clinic in a comfortable environment where we’ll have you either sit or lie down, depending on how long we think the session will last and what areas of your face require treatment. While the needles themselves are very small and will normally only produce a pinprick sensation, we will apply a numbing gel to the areas we’ll be treating to ensure you’re comfortable.
We’ll then begin to treat the skin. We’ll go back and forth with a handheld device while rolling it gently across your skin, and while some sessions may take as long as two hours, most are finished in less than 20 minutes.
What Should I Do After My Appointment?
Once your therapy session is over, you’ll want to take care of your skin, and be gentle with it while it’s healing, though you can still go about your daily activities with a few precautions. We’ll give you some at-home instructions which will typically include the following recommendations:
Avoid Sun Exposure
Your skin will be more sensitive for the first few weeks after treatment, so you should apply sunscreen regularly and avoid excessive sunlight.
Keep Your Hands Clean
To ensure that you don’t infect the micro-wounds made by this treatment while they’re healing, make sure to always wash your hands before touching your face.
No Strenuous Activities
Any activities that will cause you to sweat profusely, such as heavy exercise or saunas, should be avoided because they can open up the pores in your face while the skin is still healing.
Sleep On Your Back
Putting pressure on your face while the skin is healing can lead to unsatisfactory results, so you should sleep on your back for the first few days after treatment and avoid sleeping on your sides or stomach.
Don’t Use Facial Products
You should also avoid using exfoliants, retinol or retinoid products, and both alpha and beta hydroxy acids. While your skin is in a sensitive state, it’s best to let it heal and not apply anything that may aggravate it.
Take a Makeup Break
To allow your pores to shrink and skin to heal, you should also avoid makeup on the day of treatment and for at least 24 hours after your therapy session.
How Soon Will I Experience Results?
After your appointment with us, you may notice some results within the first week or so, as the skin can become more plump and radiant. However, it normally takes at least a month before the full benefits are noticed and may even take as long as six months to see improvements with some conditions.
The initial results are often because of superficial swelling that can make the skin look fuller, as well as dilated blood vessels, which can brighten the skin. Long-term effects, on the other hand, occur after collagen and elastin are stimulated in the skin, and because your body may continue to produce these proteins at high levels for many months after treatment, more and more benefits may be noticed over time.
What Are the Advantages Over Other Treatments?
Microneedling offers all of the following advantages over other types of skin rejuvenation treatments:
Less Expensive
This therapy can be more affordable and even more effective than many other treatments that cost more.
Minimally Invasive
Only tiny needles are used, and there is no cutting, filling, or changing the structures of your face the way surgical procedures do.
Long-Lasting Results
Many of the benefits of this therapy last for years and improvements with conditions like acne scars are normally permanent.
More Natural
This therapy relies on your body’s natural immune response to produce collagen and elastin and uses no chemicals or other unnatural solutions.
Faster Recovery
Unlike lasers or chemical peels, the recovery process with this treatment normally only lasts about a week, and you can still carry out most activities as you normally would.
Who Shouldn’t Get This Treatment?
While this therapy can be beneficial for adults of all ages and different conditions, it’s not for everyone. If you have any of the following conditions, we’ll want to know about this to determine if this treatment is right for you:
- Skin infections
- Keloid scarring
- Active Acne
- Skin hypersensitivity
- Bleeding disorders
- Allergies to anesthetics
We’ll also want to know about any medications you’re taking before we start treatment, especially blood thinners, as these can lead to excessive bleeding or bruising after the therapy session. If you are taking these types of medications, you may need to speak to your prescribing doctor to see if you’ll be able to safely stop taking them prior to your therapy session with us.
How Safe Is Microneedling?
Because the results of this therapy come naturally through the process of healing, it’s considered to be very safe with few risks. Unlike surgical procedures, the recovery period is short, and this is mainly because it’s a much gentler, minimally invasive option. This therapy can also be a safer choice for those with darker skin colors, as it doesn’t cause hyperpigmentation of the skin the way other types of treatments sometimes do.
Schedule With Us Today
Whether you’re looking to prevent future issues from developing or already have acne scars, sagging skin, wrinkles, or another condition, microneedling is a safe and effective treatment that may be just what you need. To see if this treatment can help you, contact us today at Mac Med Spa in Milford, MA, so we can schedule your initial consultation and answer any questions you might have.