RF Microneedling

Microneedling is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure designed to improve the appearance of acne marks, dark spots (hyperpigmentation), age spots, and sun spots. Microneedling benefits also include minimized pores/reduced large pores, enhanced skin laxity, and improved stretch marks. Additionally, microneedling also improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

This non-invasive procedure involves a special microneedling device, which is a roller with sterilized needles attached on it, like bristles on a hair brush. These tiny needles, when rolled on the target area, damage the skin, prompting the body to produce collagen to heal the injured areas and generate new skin.

At Capital Facial Plastic Surgery, we use an advanced microneedling technique called Morpheos8 RF Microneedling, which uses microneedling and radiofrequency techniques to achieve optimal results.

In a nutshell, microneedling damages the target area by pricking it with tiny needles. These small injuries prompt the body’s natural response to heal and recover. Simply put, microneedling stimulates collagen production, which results in the growth of new, firmer and more toned skin. This is why microneedling for acne scars and other dark spots on the face is a popular request among patients. It effectively addresses such skin blemishes without surgery or downtime.

New collagen also results in a firmer skin, as mentioned above, which means if your have skin laxity under your eyes, microneedling under eyes could be the ideal non-invasive solution for you.

As mentioned above, microneedling stimulates collagen production to improve skin elasticity. The procedure also prompts the body to generate new skin to “replace” skin that has been injured by the tiny needles pricking the target area/s.

Collagen is a protein that helps maintain various body parts, including the skin, ligaments, hair, and bones. As we age, collagen production slows down resulting in lover levels of the important protein, which in turn eventually causes a host of bodily changes, foremost of which is loss of skin elasticity and strength, causing loose or sagging skin, and wrinkles to appear.

By simply stimulating the body to produce more collagen, these skin issues are effectively addressed.

Microneedling cost differs from patient to patient as different factors are at play for each patient. Each patient’s needs are unique, and they have different treatment goals as well. These two factors alone already significantly affect how much treatment will cost. Additionally, your doctor could require several sessions to achieve your desired results, so don’t be surprised if your microneedling treatment cost is different from that of someone you know.

During consultation, you must be open about discussing your microneedling before and after concerns and issues to allow the doctor to develop a treatment plant that fits your needs and goals, as well as your financial capability.

In general, one microneedling session may last anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes, but this will still depend on the specifics of your treatment like the location and size of the target area/s, as well as the actual condition of your skin concern. While the usual location for treatment is the face, with microneedling under eyes a popular request, microneedling may also be used on other parts of the body like the stomach and thighs to lighten stretch marks.

Your doctor will also tell you how many sessions you will need to achieve your desired results. Some patients need only about two to three sessions, others four; still, others may require up to six microneedling sessions for them to see optimal results.

After your session, your doctor will give you instructions about microneedling aftercare to ensure two things: minimize risk of infection (remember, your face was “injured” from the procedure) and ensure healing and recovery happens as it should.

On that note, here are a few things to remember after your session:

• Wait at least four hours before washing your face and use a gentle cleanser. Gently pat-dry skin with your cleans hands only.
• Do not apply makeup until after your skin has completely healed
• Redness and swelling may occur immediately after your session. These will subside in a few days.
• Use sunscreen every time you go out. Ask your doctor when you can start using sunscreen.
• Wait until 72 hours have passed before doing activities that make you sweat, including swimming and sauna/steam baths. Protect your skin by giving it time to heal and recover.

Patients should know that microneedling results don’t happen overnight. Remember that results will depend on your body’s collagen production process, healing, and recovery. You will also have to wait until your body develops new skin. The timeframe for all these will depend on your body’s response to microneedling. Remember that each patient has individualized responses to treatment, so don’t compare results with others. In a nutshell, noticeable results may begin to appear about four weeks after your session. Some patients report seeing noticeable results six weeks after treatment.

All these questions will be thoroughly answered by your doctor during your microneedling before and after consultation.