by Susan Isom

A buzz word in aesthetics is “Medical Micro-Needling,” also known as collagen induction therapy. This procedure has had a surge in popularity over the past couple of years and is far more effective than at-home rollers. It’s considered effective in treating minor scarring related to acne, wounds and aging.

What is Medical Micro-Needling?

Medical micro-needling is a handheld medical device covered with micro needles that when passed across the surface of the skin break the underlining epidermis. The micro-needles cause multiple microscopic puncture wounds to the dermis, causing only minute injury. During this period, the damaged obtained stimulates your skin to start to repair and signal growth factors that initiate its own healing mechanism’s to produce new collagen and elastin. Received in sessions, micro needling will continue to build collagen and elastin to the area(s) receiving treatment. 

Medical Micro-Needling over other Resurfacing Treatments 

Medical micro-needling is an ideal treatment for those individuals who are seeking less invasive treatments like laser, yet very similar to laser. Unlike some treatments, micro-needling is even ideal during the summer months. Some of the benefits of choosing micro-needling over other treatments is the procedure does not cause skin damage and has no risk of permanent skin discoloration. Above all, it is one of the safest methods available and the most affordable as well. 

Medical micro-needling is also one of the few skin treatments that is suitable for all skin types, and can be used to treat the fragile skin around the eyes, mouth and on the neck.

What is involved?

Total prep and procedure time is about two hours. The skin is cleansed then a topical analgesic cream that is applied to the area being treated. This helps to make the procedure more comfortable. 

The micro-needling process can begin once the cream has taken effect (about 30 minutes). The hand-held device gauges the needle size ranging from 1.0 mm to 3.0 mm. The size of needles used depends on the condition being treated. 

The very fine needles are passed across the skin, piercing the top layer of the skin creating small area of wounds causing dermic bleeding. Don’t be alarmed. Pinpoint bleeding is needed because it shows the breakdown of the skin and releases Interleukins (responsible for reduced inflammation and more rapid healing of damaged skin) which in return causes the skin to go into overdrive trying to repair and plump the areas that have been damaged during the treatment process. 

The healing process is very rapid and the holes created during the needling usually close within 30 minutes. 

What happens afterward? 

Immediately after the treatment, the patient can look as though they have a moderate sunburn and their skin may feel warm and tighter than usual. The redness, warmth and tightness will start to subside over the next one to three hours and will normally recover within the same day. Some patients may have swelling and slight redness the following day, but this can be easily covered with make-up. Following the treatment, the patient will be given a post care kit to use for three days. The patient can see changes in the appearance of his or her skin in as little as two weeks. The treatment will continue to work over the next few months. While this is not a quick fix, a series of treatments (normally five) will provide the best results.

Before considering cosmetic surgery for anti-aging and other concerns, learn more about Medical Micro-Needling and talk to your doctor/aesthetician to see if this is the right option for your skin.