In the past, cosmetic treatment options to address common skin issues like wrinkles, fine lines, acne, and dark spots generally revolved around topical creams and surgical procedures. Nowadays, patients are afforded non-invasive treatment options, including microneedling. What is it exactly? And what are the benefits of microneedling? Here we break down everything you need to know about microneedling.
A Primer on Microneedling
Microneedling is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure that involves pricking the skin with tiny needles. The device generally used is a roller with tiny needles on it. The doctor will slowly and lightly roll this device on the skin to essentially stimulate the body’s natural healing process by injuring the skin. This healing process involves collagen production to stimulate growth of new skin.
Patients are reminded that results will take time to appear since new skin growth will depend on their body’s unique healing process.
Benefits of Microneedling
There are many benefits to receiving this type of treatment, foremost of which is that it is an effective non-invasive procedure; a feature that a lot of patients – especially those who aren’t too keen on incisions and sutures — appreciate.
Here are other benefits:
1. Lightens scars, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation
If acne marks and scars, sun spots, dark spots or age spots, and hyperpigmentation are your biggest skin issues, then you’ll be glad to know that microneedling can effectively improve their appearance. With one or two sessions, those dark marks on your skin will become less visible.
2. Minimize pores
As we age, our skin loses its elasticity and collage production decreases and slows down. These in turn can cause a number of problems, from wrinkles to enlarged pores. The problem with large pores is that these may become clogged, which in turn could cause such common skin issues as acne and blackheads. Additionally, large pores are highly visible thus affecting the appearance of your skin. For a lot of people, large pores make them feel self-conscious.
That said, of the many benefits of microneedling, minimizing large pores remains a huge deciding factor for most patients.
3. Stimulates collagen production
Collagen is a naturally occurring protein in the body. In a word, it is the one component that holds the body together as it helps strengthen ligaments, cartilage, bones, tendon, and teeth. It also gives the skin its natural elasticity. As we age, our body’s production of this protein slows down and decreases thus affecting the health of the body parts it helps maintain. This is why as we age, wrinkles and lines begin to appear.
As mentioned above, microneedling stimulates collagen production which helps improve such common signs of aging as wrinkles and fine line as well as loose and sagging skin. In a nutshell, collagen is an effective skin rejuvenating agent.
4. It can be combined with other non-invasive treatments for optimal results
If you’re eager to achieve your skin rejuvenating and treatment goals, your doctor could suggest other non-surgical treatments you can undergo in combination with microneedling. Your doctor could prescribe microneedling and serums or microneedling and a laser-assisted treatment like laser skin resurfacing.
Remember however, that regardless of whether or not you undergo microneedling in combination with another non-invasive treatment, your doctor could still require you to undergo additional microneedling sessions if your skin issues and treatment goals require it.
Do you want to learn more benefits of microneedling? Please feel free to give us a call at (312) 736-7793. For your safety, comfort and convenience, Gold Coast Plastic Surgery accepts requests for online consultations at this time. To schedule your online consultation with Dr. George T. Moynihan, please fill out the form here.
