Micro-Needling is a cosmetic procedure that I have heard about but have never tried, until now. In this blog post, I share my experience and in-depth information about micro-needling. I hope that you will find this article useful if you are also thinking about making an appointment soon.
Micro-Needling or “Collagen Induction Therapy” is a quick (10-20 min) appointment that can be performed by a doctor or a reputable med spa. This procedure uses small needles to prick the skin creating small wounds that bring in blood flow and boost collagen production. The device they use looks like a large magic marker or like a nose hair trimmer. A new needle head attachment is used for each customer for both safety and sanitary reasons.
BENEFITS – There is a long list of benefits to this procedure, but it mainly targets and improves the following…
+ Large pores
+ Acne & Acne Scars
+ Other types of scars
+ Fine lines & wrinkles
+ Sun damage
+ Dark spots & uneven skin tone
+ Skin elasticity
+ Improve the appearance of stretch marks
According to my esthetician, it will take at least 2-3 treatments to see improvement in most people. In each session, the needles will go a little deeper and give you greater results. 3 sessions is the max recommended to be performed in a year.
RISKS – This procedure is generally safe for those who are healthy, but make sure you check with your doctor or esthetician prior to the procedure if you have concerns. You can expect some bleeding and peeling, some people may even bruise. The most common risk you want to avoid is a skin infection, but this is preventable by starting the appointment with clean skin, not touching your face afterwards, and sleeping on a clean pillowcase.
COST – Make sure you are going to someone who is qualified, when it comes to skincare services you really get what you pay for. I take this very seriously, because somethings, once done, can’t be reversed. The cost can vary anywhere from $200 – $600, price can vary based on size and location of the area you are treating. I paid a total of $350 + tip for both my face and neck.
Before going into your service follow these guidelines to be prepared for your appointment:
DO:
+ Drink plenty of water before hand, your skin will feel dry afterwards & will need all that moisture to heal
+ Book your appointment in the late afternoon or at night so you (and your red face) can just go home to relax afterwards
+ Either go in with a clean face or make sure that the esthetician cleans your face prior
+ Afterwards, use the gel provided frequently to keep your skin hydrated
DON’T:
+ Don’t use make up for at least 12 hours (another reason why it is best to book your apt in the late afternoon)
+ Don’t self-tan or spray-tan for a week
+ Avoid lakes, pools, & oceans for a few days
+ Hold off on using irritants on your skin for 2 days prior to your appointment & for a full week afterwards (Includes: Retinols, Retinoids, tretinoin, etc.)
+ Wait two days to go to the gym to avoid bacteria & infections
+ Avoid the sun & make sure to wear SPF, your skin will be extra sensitive post-treatment
MY EXPERIENCE
I have been interested in this treatment for a while and Images Med Spa was running a promotion on services, so I decided to treat myself. (Images Med Spa in Lincoln Park is the location I always go to and LOVE, this is not sponsored btw) I knew this treatment had many benefits, but I still didn’t know what I was getting myself into until the day of.
My appointment only lasted 30 minutes and my esthetician (Brodie) explained all the risks/benefits/procedures to me. She was so helpful and answered all my questions, I asked everything so I could report back to you guys with my findings! She started out by washing and sterilizing my face. Then followed with her plan of attack, letting me know how she was going to proceed and hit certain areas to give optimal results.
The device that is used in a micro-needling service looks like a large nose hair trimmer and kind of sounds like it too. She did 3 passes over each section of my face, starting out with cheeks, neck, mouth/chin, and lastly forehead. We didn’t numb the areas she treated, and to be honest I really didn’t think it would have been necessary. It wasn’t painful at all, just a little uncomfortable. It was the most sensitive around my mouth, but even then, I didn’t feel the need for a numbing cream.
Immediately after the service, my skin felt like I had a sunburn. Again, it wasn’t painful but uncomfortable. My skin felt dry and hot, just like a sunburn and it was RED! I reapplied the gel, that Brodie provided me, several times, but ended up having to also apply a moisturizer.
By morning, the burning sensation has gone down and while my skin was a little tender it didn’t feel as dry or as sensitive as the night before. The red had gone down a lot as well. It was still visible but nothing that wasn’t easily covered up with a little make up.
After two days, the redness was completely gone but my face still felt a little dry. Since my appointment, I have continued to use a heavy moisturizing night cream and that has worked wonders.
It has been just over a week now and I haven’t seen a drastic difference, but I have noticed that my complexion and skin tone is much more even. According to all my research, this is totally normal and there shouldn’t be much change until after I have received multiple rounds of treatments. And I will definitely be doing this service again to see how this treatment will improve my skin over time. The science behind why this works makes sense and I think my skin will only improve.
On that note, this article gives a lot more in-depth information about why micro-needling works: click here
I hope you found this article useful! Have you or would you every do micro-needling? Share your experience in the comments below!
