By: Dr. Corey Hartman, Skin Wellness Dermatology
While the idea of microneedling, or taking little needles and applying pressure to the skin, is anything but new, the improved devices and technology have put it back on the forefront. For a while, the advent of laser technology took us in a whole new realm, but now microneedling pens are so much better that patients can get results that are just as good as the laser, without the added side effects and downtime.
That’s why the new SkinPen Microneedling Device is a game-changer – it’s the only microneedling device in the world that has been studied, cleared, and approved by the FDA, and that’s pretty huge. So, while microneedling has been around for decades, people should think about it as a completely different experience.
What can the SkinPen Microneedling Device be used for?
The SkinPen is great for anybody who’s interested in producing collagen – the enemy of wrinkles. Along with losing 1% of collagen production every year, our bodies are also creating less collagen as a result of sun exposure and genetics, which is why we develop wrinkles later in life. Therefore, if you can keep collagen production going, you’re going to prevent wrinkles and keep your skin firm, plump and elastic.
What does this mean to a patient? After stimulating collagen production over time, they’re going to see fine lines and wrinkles disappear, an enhanced skin tone and texture, and even improvement in the appearance of large pores and acne scarring. It’s also great for any other surface irregularity like crepe skin and even stretch marks. Since it keeps all the parts of the skin active and alive, it’s going to give patients a good overall glow while also improving texture.
What does the SkinPen Microneedling procedure entail?
Microneedling should be thought of as a more preventative procedure that you’ll want to put on your calendar every 8-12 weeks. When a patient comes in for microneedling, the first thing we do is apply a numbing cream before letting them sit for 15-20 minutes. Then we use a hydrating gel that helps the pin glide across the surface of the skin that also aids in discomfort. To do a complete face, the entire procedure takes about 15-20 minutes. Afterwards, depending on penetration, the patient will notice redness and may also see little pinpoints of bleeding, but that all that gets cleaned up before they leave the office.
There’s not a whole lot of downtime, other than what almost looks like a sunburn the next day – though I will say there are some people who also experience peeling for a couple days after as well. Patients can apply makeup to cover up any redness, but they’ll also want to wear sunscreen since the skin is going to be more vulnerable after the procedure.
Get Your Best Results with SkinPen Microneedling
While many patients do microneedling alone, there are many that do it in combination with injectables. Since the injectable is going to address larger more etched in lines or creases in bold, microneedling is going to treat the crepe skin and fine fines. When they do this, they’ll often get their filler once a year while working on the fine lines and texture throughout the year with microneedling.
Whether alone or in combination with other treatments, I’ve seen fantastic results with the SkinPen Microneedling Device. When you balance out the downtime and the cost, it’s pretty cost effective and the downtime truly can’t be beat.