Those fine wrinkle lines and prominent blemishes on your face are a telltale sign of aging, but there’s no reason to sing the blues. Microneedling, or collagen induction therapy, is a proven means to diminish the appearance of wrinkles, areas of hyperpigmentation, and even scarring. This procedure also helps to tighten the skin and reduce the severity of creases and folds.
We are skin care specialists, and after consulting with you, we will offer suggestions for cosmetic treatment. If wrinkles and uneven skin tone are the major problem, we will likely suggest skin needling as a minimally-invasive treatment option. Below, we offer a bit of information about this popular skin rejuvenation procedure.
Why Create Tiny Channels in the Skin?
It sounds a bit frightening at first, and besides, why would purposeful injury to the skin help to promote an attractive, youthful appearance? Well, the whole idea behind microneedling is to stimulate a response by the body. Controlled channel wound injuries heal quickly, and because so many of them are created, the end result is smoother, tighter skin because of the increase in collagen and other important proteins.
It takes several treatment sessions to produce desirable results. This is because the entire face isn’t needled during a single treatment. However, after about four or five treatments, spaced out over a period of a month or so, the positive results really begin to show.
Performing the Procedure
We will use a handheld instrument known as a SkinPen®. This device is studded with needles made from metal, glass, or a special polymer. The SkinPen® is used to needle the cheeks, areas near the eyes, the corners of the mouth, and near the hairline. This device is fitted with a needle-studded, disposable tip.
A topical anesthetic is applied to the skin surface prior to needling. The entire face can be treated in less than one hour. After a week or so of healing, we repeat the procedure, and this time, some of the skin that wasn’t needled during the first session gets treated. After a few sessions, the entire skin surface has been affected.
There’s little to no downtime after treatment. Noticeable results begin to show soon after the final treatment is completed. Slowly but surely, collagen levels increase, and this tightens and lifts the skin. It also results in less visible wrinkling. Scars and blemishes are also less prominent because some of this hyperpigmented tissue has been replaced by new cells.
The Cosmetic Alternative
Some individuals may feel that a facelift or abrasive resurfacing of the skin is required in order to achieve a more youthful appearance. Microneedling is a minimally-invasive alternative, and the positive results can last for up to a year or more. Visit ProMD Health in Baltimore, Arlington, or Annapolis to learn more about this popular treatment for a variety of skin problems. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!
