Azura aesthetician Belle joins us to answer your most pressing skincare questions like, “What in the world is microneedling and why would I consider letting someone put pulsating needles in my face?”
Seriously, the things we do… am I right?!
Over the past couple of years, we’ve all heard of the treatment called “microneedling” and know it to be synonymous with “anti-aging” and “med spa” but what exactly is it and what is the procedure like for those who decide to try it for the first time?
What Exactly Is “Microneedling”?
Microneedling is a minimally invasive treatment that utilizes a small handheld motorized device with various speeds and depth settings with tiny needles. This allows for customization to penetrate the skin at different layers. Skin density is thinner on the forehead versus the cheeks, for example. The tiny sterile needles work to create micro-injuries in the skin, creating a controlled wound response to initiate the wound healing cascade.
Where the Magic Happens
As your skin works to repair itself, it stimulates the collagen and elastin synthesis. This process is known as “Collagen induction therapy” and it helps to improve pore size, fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and stretch marks – as well as break up some pigmentation.
I can hear you already, friends! You’re thinking, “YASSSSS, amazing, sign me up now, it’s now or never, let’s do this!”
You’re now excited about the notion of coming in for your appointment and you’ve told all your friends about it, but you’re wondering to yourself, “What did I just sign myself up for, really?” What was I thinking? Is it going to be a medieval dungeon-like torture session?”
You’re not alone in thinking this, either! Years ago, prior to me actually having this treatment done myself, I had these same thoughts, even as a practitioner. I’m a baby when it comes to pain threshold, to be perfectly honest. (I wince at every extraction I have to experience, I need double fans on my face to get through a chemical peel and my “eyes water” (cry) getting BOTOX® and filler. All true stories!)
The Azura Skin Care Microneedling Process
Rest assured, at your appointment, there is a consultation (intake) period where you will be able to ask any questions you may have prior to the procedure, as well as an opportunity to go over your personalized post-care instructions. When you come in for a treatment, you will be cleansed and numbed for at least 30 minutes. Once the numbing is removed, your face will be treated with alcohol and the procedure begins – generally taking anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes, and then you’re cleaned up, masked, and appropriate topicals will be applied before you’re on your way.
Easy breezy… you’ve got this!
The Faceoff Begins
Medical Microneedling
Microneedling is a procedure that helps to stimulate the growth of your own collagen production. (AKA: Collagen induction therapy.) Over the course of approximately 90 days from your first treatment, microneedling will help refine the skin texture, including pore size, fine lines, scarring, stretch marks, etc, as it takes time for the collagen maturation process to develop. It also helps to break up some pigmentation, as well.
The recommendation is to plan on anywhere from three to five treatments (sometimes six to seven is needed, depending on how deep the scarring is), spaced four weeks apart, contingent on specifically what we are looking to treat. The downtime associated with this is approximately two to three days with your skin feeling and looking like it has experienced a mild sunburn.
This treatment is ideal for the individual who is mostly concerned with improving skin texture and not as concerned with how fast they may achieve their desired results, downtime, laxity/firmness, deeper fine lines/wrinkles, or more pronounced scars.
vs.
Vivace™ RF Microneedling
RF microneedling is the latest evolution in microneedling. It utilizes radiofrequency to produce thermal energy deep into the skin to further stimulate and accelerate collagen production thus compounding and multiplying the benefits of needling. In contrast to “regular microneedling”, we’re able to treat the skin at a deeper depth through the use of thermal energy while not compromising the surface tissue.
Most “regular microneedling” tips have nine to 12 whereas the Vivace has 36 gold-insulated needles on the tip, as well as red and blue LED therapy. Since RF Microneedling (Vivace) delivers deeper in the skin through the addition of thermal energy, you experience greater stimulation, delivering quicker and faster results with little-to-no downtime.
Similar to microneedling, Vivace will still take approximately 90 days for the collagen maturation process to develop but with RF microneedling, your results will be a bit more amplified. With Vivace, you’re not just working from the surface down, you’re stimulating from deep within as well resulting in smoother skin texture (pore size, fine lines, wrinkles) increased firmness/laxity as well as softening of scars, etc. The recommendation is to start with three treatments, spaced four weeks apart, then to touch up as needed quarterly or yearly.
Vivace RF Microneedling is perfect for anyone who could benefit from microneedling that doesn’t want to go through the period of downtime, as well as for those with deeper textural concerns or for those with skin goals to improve overall firmness and laxity.
And the Winner Is…
Both!
Microneedling and RF Microneedling is a win-win scenario for our clients here at Azura Skin Care Center in Cary as they are both beneficial! Depending on your specific needs and skin goals, you may be better suited for one over the other, which is why we offer both mediums to be able to treat the skin for various conditions and concerns, downtime availability, and your personal budget.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation where we’ll work with you to develop an individualized skin care plan to suit your needs and goals.
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