Micro-Needling

Conditions and Treatment

Micro-needling, also referred to as Collagen Induction Therapy, is a treatment in which thousands of superficial needle imprints are stamped onto the skin. The needles vary from 1- 1.5 mm in depth and penetrate through the epidermis to the second layer of the skin, the dermis, where collagen is formed.

This process promotes collagen production by stimulating the fibroblasts inside the dermis. Collagen, which naturally provides structural support to the skin, diminishes with age, resulting in wrinkles, laxity and other signs of aging.

A series of four to six treatments is recommended every two to four weeks for superficial needling and at four to six week intervals for deep needling. Downtime is about 24 hours for superficial treatments and about 3 days for deeper treatments.

Micro-Needling is a very safe procedure and, other than temporary redness, side effects are usually minimal.

How to Enhance Micro-Needling

The beneficial effects of micro-needling can be enhanced with the application of Sculptra, Exosome Therapy, or Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP). When the procedure is performed, a patient’s own blood is drawn in the office. The blood is then processed to separate out your own natural growth factors. These growth factors are then applied to the skin during and following micro-needling.

The channels into the skin created by micro-needling then readily absorb these growth factors, resulting in more rapid and robust collagen production. These growth factors include: platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor Beta 1 (TGF-Beta 1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The effects of these growth factors on the skin have been well established by numerous scientific studies.

Pre-Care Instructions

  • Avoid aspirin (or blood thinners) for one week before treatment.
  • Avoid sun exposure and retinoids to the treated area for 24 hours before your treatment.
  • We recommend a topical numbing cream 1 hour before your treatment (available in our office).
  • Arrive at our office with a clean, makeup-free face.
  • If prescribed, please begin your prophylactic valacyclovir the day before your appointment.

If you’re having micro-needling with PRP, be sure to drink lots of fluids several hours before your appointment to allow for a successful blood draw. If you are dehydrated and we cannot obtain enough blood, your appointment will need to be rescheduled or done without PRP.

Post-Care Instructions

During the first 1-3 days you will look red (like a sunburn), and your skin may feel warm and tight. Use the following tips for best results:

  1. Avoid sun exposure for 24 hours.

    After that make sure to wear a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 daily.

  2. Avoid swimming, strenuous activity, and exercising during the first 24 hours.

    Downtime may be longer for deeper treatments.

  3. Use only gentle skin care products for the first 3-5 days.

    We recommend the provided post-care kit or Cetaphil or Cerave cleansers and lotions.

  4. If prescribed, finish your course of prophylactic valacyclovir.