Collagen Induction Therapy/Microneedling
Truly beautiful skin is soft, supple, and glowing. Yet with sun damage, acne, wrinkles, fine lines, freckles, and sun spots, a luminous complexion can be difficult to achieve. Collagen Induction Therapy or Microneedling is a technique which aids in getting great skin.
Collagen Induction Therapy/Microneedling is a minimally invasive technique that boosts your skin’s production of collagen and elastin, two of the most important substances in maintaining plump, youthful, glowing skin.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Microneedling involves using a mechanized device called a dermapen to make thousands of miniscule needle punctures in the outermost layers of the skin. By precisely controlling the depth, spacing, frequency, and pattern of these needle pricks, the dermapen stimulates your body to make more collagen in the areas where it needs it the most. Microneedling has been scientifically demonstrated to show improvement in fine lines, freckles and sun spots, scars, burns, pitted and non-pitted acne scars, stretch marks, and large pores.
CAN MICRONEEDLING BE COMBINED WITH OTHER TREATMENTS?
Microneedling can be combined with a liquid treatment on the skin surface– such as growth factors, vitamin C, or platelet rich plasma (PRP)- to further improve skin quality, evenness, and texture. This is highly effective because the skin absorbs more of these growth factors as a result of microneedling treatment. The so-called “vampire facial” as received by Bar Rafaeli and Kim Kardashian, etc is an example of this combination.
HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM A MICRONEEDLING OR DERMAROLLER TREATMENT IN A SPA?
Spa & home needles are shorter and less effective.
In a spa or home-use setting, microneedling devices and dermal rollers have needles that are much shorter than the ones used by a cosmetic physician. A spa or home device will have short, fine needles that are 0.2 mm in depth and can be used two times a week or more. In contrast, medical microneedling performed by a qualified cosmetic physician uses long, fine needles with depths >0.2mm, depending on your concern.
Spa & home needles can hurt your skin and cause scarring.
Microneedling must be done with a device that hits your skin surface at a 90 degree (perpendicular) angle, in order to minimize scraping, scratching, or other trauma that could cause scarring. Inexpensive spa devices often have poor quality needles that are slightly angled or bent and can thus hurt your skin. Similarly, circular devices like dermal rollers don’t hit the skin at a straight 90 degree angle and can be injurious for this reason as well.
A licensed physician or medical professional is required to supervise any procedure that breaks your skin. A vigourous Collagen Induction Therapy/Microneedling session should do this, and thus should be medially supervised.
DOES IT HURT?
Although Microneedling sounds scary (thousands of needles going into your face!), it is actually quite painless. Lidocaine numbing cream can be applied to your face to keep you completely comfortable, and you are wide awake during the procedure. The experience feels similar to a deep facial with a bit of extra vibration. At the end of the procedure, your face will be slightly red and tingly. By the next day, you will be able to return to work and play, with minimal downtime.
Improved skin appearance begins to occur almost immediately and continues for 4 to 6 weeks. For best results, Microneedling can be repeated as frequently as every 6 weeks, or as infrequently as 2-3 times a year, depending on your concerns.
