What is Microneedling?
Microneedling (sometimes also referred to as ‘Skin Needling’ or ‘Collagen Induction Therapy’ is a rejuvenating skin treatment
that involves repeatedly puncturing the skin with tiny, sterile needles. The ‘trauma’ caused by the tiny needles stimulates the body’s natural healing process – this results in an increased production of both collagen and elastin. The tiny needles create puncture wounds or micro-channels through which we are able to apply targeted serums to further enhance the skin.
Does it hurt?
It sounds painful doesn’t it? And, yes, the microneedling pen we use creates 2200 micro-channels per second! However, rather than thinking of these as individual needle injuries; imagine more so a tiny pin prick. The pen device we use has adjustable needle depths and speeds. At times, a depth of 0.25mm is all that is needed. When addressing specific concerns we will needle a little deeper but, in these situations, anaesthetic cream will be applied beforehand. We never needle the face to a greater depth than 1.5mm.
How soon will I see results?
Visibly rejuvenated skin can generally be seen just 6-8 days following a procedure, with results further improving over time (as the collagen levels increase). As a one off treatment you may expect to see a plumper, smoother, more glowing complexion within this timeframe. A course of treatments is usually recommended to achieve optimal results (and when addressing particular concerns) however, improvement is usually noticeable after just one treatment.
What can Microneedling treat?
Many concerns ….. is the short and simple answer!
But to elaborate…. we treat a vast number of clients, regularly, who love the collagen boost achieved through microneedling. They simply want to maintain glowing, plumper, smoother skin and/or they want a softening of their fine lines and wrinkles.
On the other hand, we see many clients who use microneedling to treat/alleviate a specific skin concern such as sun damage/hyperpigmentation, rosacea, enlarged pores, scarring, acne scarring, stretch marks and alopecia/hair regeneration.
Is Microneedling safe?
Yes. We are not injecting anything into the skin, so allergic reactions and side-effects are unlikely to occur. The procedure is minimally invasive, which means that there is virtually no downtime and the healing process is quick. Aftercare is also very simple. We treat in a clinical setting and maintain a ‘clean/asceptic’ workspace. Our Aesthetic Practitioners are highly qualified to a minimum of NVQ3 prior to training in Aesthetic Microneedling. Skin concerns which require a more ‘aggressive’ approach (where needling exceeds the 1.5mm depth) are performed by myself – Registered Aesthetic Nurse & Independent Nurse Prescriber.
How long does the treatment take and is there any downtime?
Total treatment time is 30 minutes, depending on the size of the area and there is little to no downtime. You can expect some redness and warmth to the skin after your session, and dryness may be experienced for a few days post-treatment.
Are there any contraindications/reasons why I wouldn’t be able to have treatment?
Relative contraindications include; keloid or raised scarring; history of eczema, psoriasis and other chronic conditions; history of actinic (solar) keratosis; history of Herpes Simplex infections; history of diabetes; presence of raised moles, warts or any raised lesions on targeted area.
Please note that many of the above are often still treatable following consultation and medical guidance.
Absolute contraindications include; scleroderma, collagen vascular diseases or cardiac abnormalities; blood clotting problems; active bacterial or fungal infection; immunosuppression; scars less than 6 months old.
What does Aesthetic Nurse Steph say?
Personally, I need to 100% believe in the treatment or product I offer before passing it on to you! Rest assured – if I say it works – it does.
Simply put – microneedling creates a ‘controlled injury’ to your skin and this stimulates collagen production – your skin ‘thinks’ it needs to repair. The scientifically proven serums used during treatment are an added bonus!
