What Is Microneedling: Benefits, Results, and Side Effects

Can you get healthier-looking skin and your natural glow back without plastic surgery? Yes! The cosmetic industry works tirelessly to come up with new procedures meant to improve skin health without the use of a scalpel. Microneedling is an increasingly popular cosmetic procedure that can help patients reduce the appearance of wrinkles and rejuvenate their skin using a medical-grade microneedling device. How does microneedling work, and is it actually effective? Let's see!

What is microneedling therapy?

Also known as collagen induction therapy, microneedling therapy has been created to improve the aspect of facial wrinkles and reduce the appearance of facial scars. A multi-purpose treatment, microneedling uses sharp, tiny needles to create minor injuries to several layers of skin to enable the body's healing mechanism.

How can intentional trauma to the skin lead to skin rejuvenation? Our organism's healing process involves a boost of collagen production in the treated areas. In other words, all the pinpricks resulting from the procedure encourage the skin to increase the production of collagen. Collagen is one of the main compounds responsible for our youthful appearance and improved skin texture.

The loss of collagen is a natural result of age or various injuries. Lower collagen levels are often to blame for loose skin, wrinkles, and other skin issues. Microneedling is a minimally invasive procedure that can help patients combat skin laxity by encouraging the skin to create more tissue and activate collagen synthesis.

Is microneedling effective?

Yes, the procedure has proved to be effective for healthy adults who want to improve their skin texture and treat certain skin concerns. Both studies and testimonials support the effectiveness of microneedling, an in-office treatment recommended for people with all skin types. 

Among the benefits of microneedling, you'll find:

• fewer fine lines and wrinkles
• reduced appearance of acne scars
• improved aspect of surgical scars
• lighter dark spots
• uniform skin tone
• smaller pores
• plumper skin
• tighter skin
• improved absorption of skincare products

The microneedling treatment has been successfully used for patients with acne scarring, but its scar reduction effects can also be used to treat stretch marks. Furthermore, professional microneedling has also been used in certain anti-aging procedures, such as eyelid surgery and sun spots. New studies show that skin microneedling might also work for hair growth. However, if you're looking for hair removal, there are also great options for that.

Is microneedling effective?

Microneedling is considered to be a safe cosmetic procedure for adults of all ages in good health. It is recommended for various skin conditions that haven't responded to other types of treatments. However, it can also be considered an anti-aging procedure and the last frontier before cosmetic surgery. You can undergo microneedling if you want to combat uneven skin tone, age spots, deep wrinkles, large pores,  facial acne scars, or other types of scars.

Before scheduling your microneedling treatment sessions, you should discuss the option with a professional dermatologist and take into consideration your medical history. People who have a history of keloid scars or are suffering from active acne are not good candidates for microneedling. The same applies to people with active oral herpes or fungal infections. 

Patients with a history of oral herpes can undergo microneedling, but they should talk about their skin condition with their board-certified dermatologist, who can prescribe an antiviral medication before the procedure. Microneedling may encourage the appearance of new cold sores. Moreover, microneedling is not a good option for pregnant women, people who have undergone radiation therapy recently, or people suffering from psoriasis or eczema.

Does microneedling hurt?

The dermatologist performing the procedure applies a topical anesthetic to reduce the pain to a minimum. Topical anesthesia is usually applied to your skin one hour before the actual treatment. The procedure lasts about 30 minutes, depending on the treated area and the purpose of the treatment session. 

Your doctor will be using a professional microneedling device called a dermaroller to create microscopic channels in the deeper layers of the skin. While the small pricks made under the skin are not visible and will not leave any scars, they are enough to cause the body to enter its defense mode and activate an increase in collagen to heal the trauma.

The dermaroller doesn't exactly look comfortable, but it is definitely not as terrifying as it looks. Microneedling is not an uncomfortable treatment. Patients may report minimum discomfort, pressure, or even a little friction as the device moves across the skin, especially in the areas with more sensitive skin, such as the forehead. The numbing cream will do its job and keep the pain minimal and the patient comfortable.

Are there any side effects I should be aware of?

If the procedure is performed by a professional dermatologist, side effects are rare. Microneedling is an easy and fast procedure, and patients enjoy a quick recovery. Nevertheless, the downtime may vary from a couple of hours to a few days. Minor skin irritation and redness may be expected immediately after the procedure, but they should resolve on their own in a few days.

In rare cases, microneedling has been associated with more severe side effects, such as peeling, burning pain, bleeding, inflammation, and infection, but most of the time, they are a consequence of microneedling done at home with a store-bought roller device.

Unlike professional microneedling, microneedling done at home does not penetrate the deeper layers of skin nor help with hyperpigmentation, scarring, or wrinkles. The only benefit of microneedling performed on your own is better absorption of skincare products.

When can I expect to see the results?

The response to treatment is not the same for everybody. It usually varies because the skin needs a bit of time to organize collagen fibres and grow new skin tissue. Cellular renewal does not happen overnight. Patients need to wait several months to see the full results of microneedling. However, the first signs of skin texture improvement can be noticed within a week from the first treatment session. More drastic results follow in the month to come when the collagen production kicks in and new elastin makes an appearance.

The speed with which you'll be able to notice the results depends on why you are undergoing microneedling and the number of treatment sessions necessary to help you achieve your goal. If you need microneedling to combat fine lines, one session may be enough, and the results can develop in a month or two. The procedure needs time to gradually reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve skin texture. 

If microneedling is used to treat acne or burn scars, patients may need four to six treatments, scheduled four to six weeks apart, and the results may need six months to a year to reach their full potential. Maintenance microneedling is often necessary to keep the progress up and help prevent further skin issues.

The Best Microneedling Treatment in Tampa

Prime Aesthetica is the top med spa in Tampa Bay, we offer a wide range of treatments including microneedling. Our professionals have decades of experience and utilize the latest in technology to deliver unmatched results. If you're in the Tampa area, contact us today to discuss your goals and how we can help you achieve them. Our experts are happy to help guide you through the options to obtain the results you desire.