You may have heard of microneedling in advertising, from friends or through your own research. The procedure has been shown to reduce fine lines, scarring, stretch marks, age spots and more. And if you’ve been interested in the results it can bring to you, the microneedling procedure with MDPen, now performed in Evansville at Midwest Facial Plastic Surgery by our board certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Young Paik, could be right for you. 

What is Microneedling?

Microneedling or skin needling is a minimally invasive skin rejuvenating procedure done with a tool using fine needles. It is also known as collagen induction therapy because the procedure is known to induce collagen production and strengthen the epidermis. This is done by using needles to create tiny punctures in the top layer of skin, prompting the body to create new collagen and elastin to fill in the tiny punctures. 

An extra skin repairing serum is used because the needling allows the active ingredients to penetrate under the dermis of the skin. For greatest results, Dr. Paik uses serums from hyaluronic acid to Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF).

Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally present in the human body. It is used to plump, moisturize and soften fine lines – and when applied during and after microneedling is absorbed deep within the skin.

PRF is completely natural. It takes what your body naturally produces – plasma, platelets, white blood cells, and stem cell –- and concentrates it down to be applied to the treatment areas. Microneedling exists on its own as a means to skin rejuvenation. However, new advancements have brought microneedling with PRF to the forefront of anti-aging treatments. 

Benefits of Microneedling

There are several different skin conditions that can be improved with this procedure. Let’s take a look at some of the most common:

Fine Lines, Wrinkles & Scars – Significant time spent in the sun can cause damage in the form of wrinkles, thinning of the skin and loss of elastin and collagen. Because of the procedure’s ability to induce collagen and elastin production, you can expect to see a minimization of wrinkles, fine lines and scars. Furthermore, it will help to build up the thinning skin most commonly associated with these issues. 

Premature Skin Aging – Similar to that of fine lines, wrinkles and scars, microneedling with the MDPen can deliver the same result, thickening skin and avoiding the breakdown of collagen, thus slowing down the aging process.

Stretch Marks – Stretch marks are a common annoyance resulting from things like pregnancy and weight gain. This type of scarring is typically a bit more difficult to treat, so multiple treatments are needed to achieve noticeable results; however, several patients who’ve completed microneedling are pleased with their results. 

Hyperpigmentation & Age Spots – Hyperpigmentation is when portions of the skin become noticeably darker than the rest. This typically happens when the skin cells in such areas produce too much melanin. This condition can be triggered by certain medical conditions and medications. This Hyperpigmentation develops from irritation and swelling, which microneedling can minimize by helping patients to shed the top layer of the skin and produce normal melanocyte.

Rosacea – Rosacea is a skin condition appearing on the face. Symptoms include things like facial flushing, redness, spots, and thickening of the skin, as well as dry eyes and sore eyelids. This skin condition inevitably leads to the breakdown of collagen, which can be restored with the MDPen.

Acne – If you suffer from chronic acne, microneedling–along with appropriate skin care products–can deliver results. Significant results are typically seen because the punctures from the treatment allow the active ingredients from other skin products to better absorb into the skin.

Patients may notice discomfort during the procedure and redness remaining for approximately 1-3 days following. Microneedling improves overall skin texture and firmness and produces noticeable results in a short period of time.

After your final moisturizing, you’ll be heading home. You will leave with high quality products to continue the application of effective serums while your skin is in the stage of absorbing and retaining the most moisture. It is crucial for patients to remember to maintain this serum application and moisturize the treated skin regularly after the procedure has finished and stay out of direct sunlight for a full 24 hours.

More information and full details to the aftercare plan will be provided at your consultation and at each appointment. Call us today to learn if microneedling could be right for your skin!