Microneedling
Microneedling, what is it
Microneedling uses a FDA approved medical grade device with very fine sterile needles to create thousands of controlled micro channels in the skin. Each one is small enough to close quickly on its own, but together they register as an injury your body wants to repair. That repair process is the entire point. It brings collagen and elastin production back online in skin that had largely stopped producing meaningful amounts of either.
Because the effect comes from your own healing response rather than from a product sitting in the skin, results build gradually. Most people notice their skin looking smoother and more even within a few weeks of the first session, but the more substantial changes in texture and scarring show up over a series of treatments spaced about a month apart.
Depth is adjustable, which is what makes the treatment so flexible. A shallower pass suits fine lines and general dullness. Deeper settings are appropriate for acne scarring and more established texture. We set the depth to your skin and to the concern we are treating, not to a default.
What It Treats and What to Expect
Microneedling is a reasonable option for acne scarring, enlarged pores, uneven texture, early fine lines, stretch marks, redness, collagen stimulation, hyperpigmentation and general dullness. It is safe across all skin types and tones, which is not true of every resurfacing treatment, and that makes it a useful starting point for patients who have been told other options are not a good fit for them.
Before your session we apply a topical numbing cream and give it time to work, which keeps the treatment comfortable for most people. The pass itself takes about twenty to thirty minutes for full face, neck, and décolleté. You will leave looking flushed, something close to a moderate sunburn, and that settles substantially within twenty four to forty eight hours.
Aftercare
We go through aftercare in depth at your consultation and again before you leave, so you will not be guessing about any of it. In general it means no actives for three to five days, no makeup for the first twelve to twenty four hours, and diligent sun protection for at least the first seventy two hours while the skin is repairing. Keep the rest of your routine clean and simple through that window. We will also set a plan for when to come back, usually about four weeks out.
Smoother texture, softer scarring, and better tone built from your own collagen response across a short series of sessions.
