Microneedling is one of the most effective aesthetic treatments for textural and pigmentation skin concerns, even for issues such as sun damage. Microneedling benefits can develop quickly and last for several months. Learn more about these benefits and what you can expect from this treatment before you schedule your first appointment at MacMed Spa in Milford, MA.
How Soon Will You See Microneedling Benefits?
In general, microneedling benefits can appear as soon as a few hours after your treatment. Immediately after the appointment, your skin will maintain a radiant flush as blood flow increases beneath the skin’s surface. The results of this treatment will gradually appear over several days and weeks, particularly if you continue to have touch-up appointments.
After One to Three Days
After one to three days, your skin may go back to looking like it did before your treatment. However, during this stage, many internal factors are increasing cellular renewal and turnover within the subdermal layers of your skin. Although not visible to the naked eye, this is a very important stage since your skin is turning over new skin cells and increasing the production of rejuvenating resources that will reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and scars.
After One Week
After one week, you may notice early visible results, particularly for concerns such as enlarged pores, acne scars, and pigmentation concerns. These initial results will generally improve your overall skin tone and complexion, which will make you appear to have healthier, younger, and more radiant skin.
After Four to Six Weeks
About four to six weeks after your first treatment, you will generally notice the optimal effects of your microneedling results. The reason it will take so many weeks to achieve optimal results is that it will take about one month for new collagen to mature in the skin. If you are correcting textual concerns, mature collagen is the key to improving the texture of your skin. Likewise, your skin renews once a month, so it will take about this long to improve pigmentation concerns as well.
Can You See Results After One Treatment?
Many people can see significant results after as little as one microneedling treatment. For people who have mild concerns such as post-acne marks or fine lines, one treatment can reverse visible skin concerns. However, even though you can see results after a single treatment, most people will require several treatments to achieve optimal results.
How Many Treatments Will You Need?
Patients who have moderate to severe concerns may need a series of three to six treatments to achieve optimal results. Usually, your treatments are spaced about four to six weeks apart. Certain patients may need to have as many as 10 treatments to reverse the signs of visible aging, acne scarring, stretch marks, and other skin concerns. Ultimately, the number of treatments you need will depend on the severity of your skin condition, your age, and even your genetics.
Younger people tend to have an easier time producing faster results because the natural regenerative abilities of their bodies are primed to turn over new skin cells and increase collagen production. Mature people, on the other hand, must restart collagen production completely, which is why it will take longer for mature people to attain optimal results.
Will You Need Touch-Up Treatments?
Typically, you will need touch-up appointments a few times a year to maintain high collagen production in the skin and continually renew the pigment of your complexion. Touch-up treatments may be scheduled as often as every three to six months, depending on your specific skin concerns and your age.
What Are Microneedling Benefits?
The benefits of microneedling are very extensive. This treatment is one of the most versatile aesthetic treatments available since it can address textural and pigmentation concerns without harming the skin. The main treatment benefits of microneedling include:
Reduce Age-Related Concerns
Age-related concerns can include fine lines, wrinkles, and skin laxity. Each of these age-related concerns is caused by natural collagen depletion, which typically starts around age 30. When there is less collagen and elastin in your skin, your skin will become thinner, less voluminous, and less supple. Because this treatment induces the production of collagen, it can be used to smooth away visible lines in wrinkles, while also restoring the volume of the skin.
Correct Scarring Concerns
Many people use this treatment to address scarring concerns, particularly acne scarring. This treatment can be very effective for shallow acne scars, such as boxcars and rolling scars. This is because the microneedling process will use needles that are about two millimeters deep, which is the ideal depth for smoothing the appearance of scars left over from acne. Scars from injuries or surgical sites can also be significantly reduced with this treatment.
Stretch marks may be a cause for concern for some patients, but fortunately, a series of microneedling treatments can virtually erase stretch marks. Stretch marks occur on many areas of the body, specifically areas where the skin has stretched too quickly without adequate collagen. By increasing collagen production in the skin and turning over new skin cells, stretch marks on the abdomen, thighs, underarms, and breasts can all visibly improve.
Smooth Textural Concerns
Aside from scarring, fine lines, and wrinkles, you may have other textural concerns, such as enlarged pores or rough skin texture. Textural concerns can be addressed by simultaneously increasing collagen to tighten the appearance of pores, while also turning over new skin cells to get rid of a rough or dry skin surface. Improving textual skin concerns can visibly improve all aspects of your skin.
Improve Pigmentation Concerns
Pigmentation concerns such as melasma, dark spots, blemishes, sun damage, and post-acne marks can be very troublesome. If you’ve used at-home brightening skincare products with very little success, a treatment such as microneedling may be the key to finally erasing your pigmentation concerns. Because the treatment will turn over new skin cells, your pigmentation concerns will gradually fade as you have multiple treatments.
What Is This Treatment Like?
This treatment is very comfortable and will usually only take 30 to 60 minutes. If you’re treating both the face and areas of your body, your appointments may take longer than an hour.
The process for this treatment will start with cleansing your skin to remove dirt and makeup, followed by the application of a topical numbing cream to keep your skin comfortable during the treatment. After the handheld microneedling device has been used, your treatment will usually be sealed with healing and hydrating serums.
Preparation
The key to microneedling is the creation of micro-injuries in the upper layers of the skin that stimulate the body’s natural regenerative response. However, because of this treatment process, it’s important to stop the use of any blood-thinning medications and supplements you may be taking daily. You should discontinue the use of aspirin, Ibuprofen, ginkgo, vitamin E, and other blood-thinning medications about one week before your treatment.
Additionally, you should stop the consumption of alcohol or tobacco products at least 24 to 48 hours before your treatment, since both alcohol and tobacco can interfere with the healing of your body. Alcohol in particular can cause blood thinning.
Aftercare
After your treatment, it’s important to keep your skin sterile and protected, especially during the first few hours after your appointment. This is why you will not be able to wear any cosmetics for at least 12 to 24 hours, and why you will need to avoid harsh skin care products, hot water, and chlorine for several days. You should not use retinol, exfoliating cleansers, or certain acids on the skin until your skin has mostly recovered from the treatment.
Are You a Good Candidate?
Because microneedling can be customized to suit the needs of your skin type, skin texture, and skin concerns, it’s generally a good option for most people. However, people who have a bleeding disorder, women who are pregnant, and people with certain skin conditions may not be able to use this treatment. The best way to determine if you are eligible for this treatment is to schedule a consultation.
Enjoy Astounding Microneedling Benefits Today
Microneedling benefits can completely transform your skin. Whether you are primarily concerned with textual challenges such as scarring or you want to reduce the appearance of sun damage, microneedling can be the key to a beautiful complexion. If you think this treatment is right for you, contact MacMed Spa in Milford, MA to schedule a consultation.