Microneedling: What's it good for?
September Special: $50 discount for all subscribers and current patients!
I was blown away by the pen microneedling results one of my teachers has been getting for his patients, therefore, I’ve added the service to the clinic menu!
PS: I will be in the office the afternoon of Labor Day during my usual shift!
A 18,000 RPM microneedling pen with single-use, disposable needles is used for all treatments which also include body acupuncture points, application of infused hyaluronic acid serum made for your individual needs, aloe mask, and LED light therapy.
During your treatment, short, fine needles are inserted at a rapid frequency via a pen to stimulate collagen production, improve skin texture and brightness, and increase absorption of products and LED light therapy. Nanoneedling uses thinner needles that do not penetrate as deeply. It can be used for more sensitive areas — like the under-eye area — or for sensitive patients to improve cellular turnover and skin appearance, generally without recovery time.
*All subscribers and current patients get $50 off of any $350 service and $100 off any service over $500 for the month of September!*
*Face alone is considered a medium area.
What can be treated?
Wrinkles and sagging skin
Acne and acne scars
Hair loss, including alopecia
Scars
Melasma and dark spots
Much more! I’ve included some before/after photos at the bottom of this post!
Who is NOT a good candidate?
Please consult your primary care physician if you:
Are pregnant or nursing
Have high blood pressure
Have a local infection
Diabetes
Are prone to keloid scarring
Eczema
Psoriasis
Actinic Keratosis
Active Herpes Simplex outbreak
Micro/nanoneedling is CONTRAINDICATED if you have:
Taken Accutane within 6 months of treatment
Scleroderma
Collagen Vascular Disease
Rosacea
Clotting disorders
Platelet abnormalities
Are taking anti-coagulants
Facial cancer
Current chemotherapy
Current steroid therapy
Porphyria
Active bacterial or fungal infections
Taking immuno-suppressive medications
Scars less than 6 months old
BOTOX OR FILLERS in the past month
How to prepare for a treatment?
No Accutane for 6 months prior
No retinoids, exfoliants, topical antibiotics, or acids 5-7 days before treatment
No anti-inflammatory medications 3 days prior
Avoid IPL/Laser treatments for 2 weeks prior
If you are prone to cold sores, take an antiviral medication for 2 days prior to treatment
No shaving or skin care products of any kind on the treatment day.
Avoid blood thinners for one week prior but be sure to discuss the safety of this with your doctor.
If you prefer numbing (I DO!), you may apply lidocaine 30-40 minutes before treatment. (Available on Amazon.)
How often can I be treated?
For best results, microneedling treatments are scheduled 4-6 weeks apart. Nanoneedling can be weekly. It is fine — and for some conditions, recommended — to receive traditional and/or cosmetic acupuncture treatments between microneedling sessions.
How many treatments are required?
This varies greatly depending on the patient’s goals. Nearly all issues will require multiple treatments. We can design your treatment schedule during your consultation!
Aftercare?
Avoid sun exposure for 24 hours after. Use sun protection daily between treatments— mineral sunscreens preferred.
No makeup for 24 hours after.
Do not use ice or arnica on your face.
Avoid heavy exercise and sweating for 24 hours after.
Avoid saunas or heavy sweating for 24 hours.
Do not use retinoids or Vitamin C for 72+ hours after.
DO use hyaluronic acid or a serum recommended by Melissa.
What can I expect after the treatment?
Most people experience a sunburn sensation and/or redness for 24-72 hours after. Most patients are no longer red by the following day, but everyone is different.
Some patients may experience light flaking. DO NOT PICK AT IT! Let it flake naturally and keep moisturized.
Some patients experience pinpoint bleeding and/or light bruising. Most patients see this resolve within 24 hours.
After that, expect improved skin!
What are the benefits of the serums?
We use different hyaluronic serum infusions based on your goals. For aging skin, we use apple stem cells. In their first in-house study on cell viability, Scientists at Mibelle Biochemistry showed that, at a concentration of only 0.1%, an extract of Uttwiller Spätlauber stem cells stimulated the proliferation of human stem cells by an astounding 80%! For acne, dark spots, hair loss, or sagging skin, other effective serums are used. More on these in a future post.
What are the benefits of light therapy?
LED light therapy requires no downtime and is suitable for all skin tones. Different wavelengths of visible light are used to treat different issues. Red light is most commonly used, but blue light is most commonly used for the treatment of acne. NASA found that LED light therapy promoted human tissue growth and wound-healing activity, so it is a perfect finale to your microneedling treatment. We offer light therapy as a $50 add-on during traditional acupuncture treatments as well.
Would you like to schedule an appointment or do you have additional questions? Current patients may contact me the usual way and new patients can email me at drmonroe@melissamariemonroe.com
To your health,
Melissa
