Among skin rejuvenation therapies, microneedling has proven to be highly effective at treating many issues, including scars, sagging skin, fine lines, and wrinkles. At The Dermatology, Laser & Vein Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, we offer this therapy with experienced care in a comfortable setting. Not only is it safe because of its all-natural approach, but the effects can last quite some time before retreatments are needed, and some cosmetic issues can even be completely corrected with it.
How Long Does Microneedling Last?
The results from this therapy typically last for at least four to six weeks, though many patients experience longer-lasting or permanent improvements after just a few treatment sessions. However, this depends on what issues we’ll be treating, as well as your age, skin type, and other factors.
Some issues require regular maintenance treatments, such as wrinkles, lines, and sagging skin, which can all be caused by the natural collagen decline that occurs with older age. Other issues, such as surgical scars or discolored skin, normally don’t return once they’re treated and improvements are seen.
How Does Microneedling Work?
As a minimally invasive and all-natural treatment, microneedling boosts your body’s healing response by creating tiny, superficial wounds in the skin. This stimulates collagen and elastin production, which are two important proteins that help to give the skin its elastic, healthy-looking texture. Without this elasticity, fine lines, wrinkles, stretch marks, and loose skin, can all occur as a result.
This therapy can also address many issues where skin damage has occurred, such as hyperpigmentation and scars. Hyperpigmentation is a darkening or discoloration of the skin, and scars often form because of fibrosis, all of which can be minimized or eliminated with this therapy. By both repairing the skin and stimulating the production of elastin and collagen, many issues can be corrected and then maintained with regular treatments.
Microneedling Before & After Results
What’s the Best Age to Get Started with Microneedling?
Microneedling can be effective for adults at just about any age. However, younger patients are at a slight advantage when it comes to the preventative benefits that can be gained with regularly scheduled treatments.
20s and 30s
If you’re in your 30s or younger, then you may not have many skin issues yet and still have plenty of time to prevent new issues from occurring. You can therefore start treatments at any time, and while you may start them to correct a specific issue, you can continue to receive treatments multiple times per year to take advantage of the preventative benefits.
40s and Older
If you’ve already passed your 30s, then you’re most likely experiencing some of the signs of aging already, such as lines, wrinkles, or sagging skin. Although it may be too late for you to prevent these issues, this therapy is still likely to be effective at correcting them. You can also still prevent many other imperfections from developing since collagen levels continue to decline every year with older age.
What Can I Expect During My First Microneedling Appointment?
Consultation
The first step during your appointment is the initial consultation, which is an opportunity for you to discuss your reasons for wanting this therapy and to show us what issues you’d like to correct. We’ll also review any medications you’re currently taking or health conditions you might have to ensure that this treatment is the right approach for you.
Treatment
The Microneedling treatment process, which normally takes less than 30 minutes, involves the use of a microneedling pen, which uses tiny needles to penetrate the skin. We’ll apply a topical anesthetic beforehand, and then we’ll treat the skin by gently gliding the pen over the treatment areas.
We may adjust the depth of the needles during this process to target different layers of the skin, though we’ll only go a few millimeters beneath the surface, as this is where many collagen and elastin fibers are found.
How Soon Will I See Microneedling Results?
Within a week after your Microneedling treatment session, the microscopic wounds we made will heal, and while it can take months for significant improvements to be seen, some patients notice their first improvements directly after this healing phase. Brighter skin is often one of the first noticeable improvements, which typically occurs when the skin has started to replace dead skin cells with fresh, healthy ones.
Issues like lines, wrinkles, and scars often require more than one treatment session before significant results are seen, though this can vary from patient to patient. Everybody’s bodies respond differently to this treatment, as some patients are younger and their bodies produce collagen more easily. Those who are older or who have more long-standing issues often take longer to see the results.
What Are the Benefits of Microneedling?
Improves Skin Texture
By promoting both collagen and elastin production, this therapy can cause otherwise rough-looking skin to become softer, more uniformly colored, and more responsive. Hyperpigmentation, which is a darkening of the skin, often responds very well to this treatment.
Minimizes Scarring
Scarring, whether it’s from acne or other causes, is usually the result of a thickening of the skin known as fibrosis. Although this normally occurs after damage, it can often be improved or completely reversed with this therapy.
Reduces Fine Lines
Lines in the skin can occur for many different reasons, though declining collagen levels are the most common cause. This therapy, which is also known as collagen induction therapy, is known for stimulating collagen production in the skin, which normally helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines.
Diminishes Wrinkles
Similar to lines, wrinkles are normally caused by a gradual decline in collagen levels as we get older. By encouraging your body to produce more of this vital protein, wrinkles are often minimized, as the skin becomes firmer and is able to return to a relaxed state after facial muscle contractions.
Shrinks Enlarged Pores
Larger, noticeable pores are often caused by either a loss of collagen and elastin in the skin or excess sebum production. Because this therapy can increase your skin’s collagen and elastin production and is also capable of reducing sebum in skin glands, it can be highly effective at treating enlarged pores.
Brightens the Skin
Your skin gets much of its appearance from nutrients and oxygen, which help to keep it in a healthy state. Because this therapy improves circulation, which helps both oxygen and nutrients reach your skin more easily, it can lead to healthier-looking skin and a radiant appearance.
Tightens Loose Skin
One of the most well-known effects of this therapy is its ability to improve sagging skin. By stimulating the proteins that help to keep the skin firm, this treatment can be very effective for sagging skin, and the results can usually be maintained with regular treatments.
Prevents Adult Acne
Another benefit offered by this treatment is reduced acne breakouts for those who occasionally suffer from these as adults. Adult acne can have different causes, though enlarged pores are a common cause that can be addressed with this treatment.
Repairs Stretch Marks
Your genetics and the amount of stress your skin experiences can both play a role in the development of stretch marks, which are more common in older age. Sagging skin due to lower collagen levels often results in stretch marks, though the collagen-stimulating benefits of this therapy can help reduce their appearance.
Reduces Rosacea Redness
Because this therapy improves circulation and reduces inflammation, it can be beneficial for many inflammatory conditions, such as rosacea. When inflammation in the skin diminishes, the redness associated with rosacea often improves.
Improves Other Issues
There are many other skin conditions that may benefit from this treatment, such as the signs of premature aging. During your consultation, we can get an idea of how effective this therapy might be for you after examining your skin.
How Safe is Microneedling?
As one of the safest cosmetic treatments available, Microneedling has very few risks involved because it’s an all-natural approach. There are no incisions, harsh chemicals, or long healing times involved, and it’s your own healing system that produces the results with this treatment.
Also, Microneedling is often used to treat hyperpigmentation, which is a discoloration of the skin, making it safer for patients with darker skin who have an increased risk of hyperpigmentation occurring with other treatments.
Schedule Your Microneedling Appointment in Cincinnati, Ohio Today
Regardless of whether you currently have skin issues that you’d like to have corrected or would simply like to prevent them from occurring, microneedling can be a viable option in both scenarios and the effects can last a long time. To see how effective Microneedling treatment might be for you, schedule with us today at The Dermatology, Laser & Vein Center in Cincinnati, OH, and we’ll be here to answer any questions you might have during your initial consultation.
