Micro needling therapy
What is Micro Needling and why is it so effective?
Micro-needling therapy is also known as collagen induction therapy. It is a minimally invasive non-surgical and non-ablative procedure for overall facial rejuvenation and anti-ageing interventions and by using our efficient and cost effective Micro needling tool we seek to create controlled skin injury.
The tool at maximum speed creates up to 108,000 fine punctures each minute, or 1,800 per second. As each fine needle punctures the skin, it creates a channel or micro-wound. The controlled injury triggers the body to fill these micro-wounds by producing new collagen and elastin in the papillary dermis. In addition, new capillaries are formed. This neovascularization and neocollagenesis following treatment, leads to reduction of scars and allows skin rejuvenation, resulting in improved skin texture, firmness and hydration. Professional skin needling is considered to be one of the safest skin treatment procedures. In comparison to chemical peels, dermabrasion and laser treatments, skin needling causes minimal damage to the skin.
When will one recommend Micro needling?
Skin needling is effectively used for:
- Reducing scars (including hypertrophic scars caused by acne, thermal burns and surgery.
- Helping to fade stretch marks.
- Reducing fine lines and moderate to deep wrinkles.
- Dyspigmentation, e.g. in Melasma
- Tightening sagging skin
Benefits of Micro-needling
- Reduced risk of hyper pigmentation and scarring therefore safe on ethnic or dark skin.
- Suitable for thin and sensitive skins.
- The treatment can be performed in a clinic or salon environment and does not need any extensive special training or other instruments.
- The procedure is well-tolerated, relatively painless and well accepted by the patients.
- It is cost-effective and can be done on areas of skin not suitable for peeling or laser
- resurfacing, such as close to the eye area.
- Down-time is minimal, especially when procedures are followed with a quality product and the patient can resume regular activities within a day or so, depending on the depth of penetration of the needles. Treatment options like laser resurfacing or dermabrasion are sometimes associated with considerable downtime from daily activities of the patient in the post-treatment period.
What is the patient’s experience of Micro needling?
The procedure is well tolerated. It takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete, depending on the area to be treated and the severity of the problem.
- Skin to be thoroughly cleaned before the procedure.
- The aesthetic professional applies a numbing cream (topical) on the treatment area.
- The skin is punctured in a specific pattern using the micro needling tool. The cartridge of
- 12 needles passes over the skin multiple times for best results.
- As each fine needle punctures the skin, it creates a channel or micro-wound stimulating skin cell regeneration.
- Depending on the condition treated it may take 5 to 30 minutes to complete the procedure.
- A minimum of 3 to 4 weeks is recommended between 6 treatments before the results are truly observed and the results will be visible for 12 to 18 months thereafter.
Post-procedure care
- Skin needling is well tolerated by patients, but dryness, scaling, redness and swelling may be seen after treatment, lasting for several days or longer, depending on the depth of penetration of the needles.
- Sun screen to be applied for several weeks.
- In the case of acne scars, after the micro needling procedure, the face should be cleaned with a gentle cleanser before bed. The next day, the face may be cleansed and makeup, lotions and other topical products applied as usual.
- As the tiny punctures close quickly, post-operative would infection is rare.
- Anti-biotic creams may be prescribed, if considered necessary.
- Rejuvenation of skin may be seen almost immediately following the procedure, but will be visibly apparent as soon as 10 days and for as long as 6 to 8 months after the medical procedure.
- Burn scars are slow to respond. It can take up to 6 months to a year to see the final results from a single treatment.
Practical tips
- Cleanliness and sterile surroundings are necessary to perform the procedures.
- The patient should be counselled that multiple sessions may be needed and that in rare cases limited bruising may occur.
- Application of numbing creams can prevent procedure pain and help in performing the procedure properly.
How many Micro needling procedures does one need?
The number of needling procedures depends on the individual skin condition and the customer’s budget. One or two treatments for healthy skin will yield pleasing results, whilst three to four treatments may be needed for moderate acne scars. Scars from thermal burns and stretch marks may require up to 5 procedures. In the case of ageing skin and wrinkles, one or two refresher micro needling treatments are recommended every year.
Micro needling is effective in helping to:
- Reduce pore size
- Reduce oil levels in the skin
- Help to reduce wrinkles and fine lines
- Enhance delivery and effectiveness of recommended redermalisation and serum products.
What are the side-effects from Micro needling?
Generally the treated areas recover rapidly from micro needling. However there are occasional side effects, which include:
- Oozing and swelling during the recovery phase
- Skin infection with bacteria (rare) or herpes simplex virus (cold sores). We recommend using L-Lysine to avoid this happening.
- Milia (white heads), which can be easily removed.
- Acne-flare, which is usually mild.