If you’re struggling with dark spots, wrinkles, or scars, you may have tried various over-the-counter products to improve the appearance of your skin. However, if you have moderate to severe aesthetic concerns, over-the-counter skincare may not be enough to fully address your concerns. Fortunately, Eric P. Bachelor MD, in Pleasanton, CA offers aesthetic treatments such as microneedling to improve your skin appearance.
What Are the Benefits of Microneedling?
Microneedling or collagen induction therapy is an ideal treatment for most people. There are several notable benefits of this all-in-one treatment since it can address concerns related to aging and so much more. For example, one of the key benefits of this treatment is the ability to strengthen the skin so skin is healthier and more resilient. Other benefits include:
Restore Skin Volume
This treatment can drastically restore skin volume by producing a higher level of collagen within the skin. This treatment is perfect for patients who want to erase fine lines, soften deep wrinkles, tighten the skin, and restore skin laxity with natural collagen. Restoring the volume of the skin can help you look years younger.
Resurface Skin
This treatment is also ideal for resurfacing the skin, which may be particularly important if you have superficial concerns such as sun damage, blemishes, hyperpigmentation, and other dark spots. Resurfacing the skin is the best way to restore your complexion, while also improving the softness and suppleness of the skin.
Reduce Scarring
One of the core benefits of this treatment is the reduction of scars. Scars formed from injuries, acne, or stretch marks can all improve when this treatment increases collagen in the sub-dermal layers of the skin. Reducing stretch marks and acne marks may be a top priority for many people, particularly since the appearance of these scars will not fade with time.
Furthermore, collagen induction therapy can also address concerns such as enlarged pores, uneven texture, and other textural concerns. Improving the overall texture of your skin will create a smooth skin surface that looks and feels more youthful. This may be the key to unlocking no-filter skin.
Other FAQs
How Long Will This Treatment Take?
This treatment will take at least half an hour to finish. The number of treatment areas may affect how long your treatment will take. Many people treat areas such as the face, neck, chest, arms, hands, legs, and stomach. Each additional treatment area may take another 15 to 20 minutes to treat. Please let us know during your consultation if you want to treat multiple areas.
Is This Treatment Affordable?
This treatment is much more affordable than many other aesthetic treatments for skin tightening and skin resurfacing. Other treatments, such as laser systems, can be very costly since these treatments use advanced technology and require multiple treatments. Collagen induction therapy, on the other hand, can be more cost-effective for the number of treatments you will need.
How Many Treatments Will You Need?
To achieve optimal results in each area of the body, you will need to have at least three to six treatments. Your appointments will be spaced about a month apart to give your skin enough time to produce higher levels of collagen to improve skin volume and texture. Having your appointments once a month will also allow for natural cellular turnover to improve your superficial concerns.
How Long Will Results Last?
In general, the results of this treatment can last for about six to nine months at a time after you achieve optimal results. Some people treating certain conditions, such as stretch marks and other scars, may be able to enjoy results for much longer. You can help your results last as long as possible by protecting your skin from sun exposure, leading a healthy lifestyle, and using skincare products that are formulated to address your skin concerns.
For example, if you are concerned about sun damage and blemishes, you can use skincare ingredients that are formulated with anti-inflammatories and gentle resurfacing ingredients to keep your complexion even and brightly toned. For anti-aging concerns, using anti-aging skin products can also be an effective way to maintain your results for as long as possible.
How Does This Treatment Work?
Collagen induction therapy works by using sterilized microneedles to repeatedly pierce the upper dermal layers of the skin. Usually, these microneedles are between one millimeter and two millimeters long, which is just deep enough to stimulate the body’s natural healing response without causing any damage to the skin.
When the microneedles create a micro-injury in the skin, this prompts your body’s healing response to produce a higher level of fibrin, elastin, and collagen. Because collagen is a protein that is associated with skin strength and volume, producing higher levels of collagen can help you address many age-related and scar-related skin concerns.
What About Skin Resurfacing?
This treatment is also known to gently resurface the skin. As part of the healing process, new skin cells will turn over while your skin is healing from the micro-injuries. Your skin may also look brighter or healthier because increased blood flow to the skin surface will improve your skin tone. These fringe benefits of microneedling are one of the reasons why this treatment is ideal for so many people.
What Should You Do Before Treatment?
Before your treatment, you will need to stop using any medications or supplements that may have blood thinning effects. This can include vitamin E, ginkgo, large doses of vitamin C, and over-the-counter medications such as aspirin and NSAIDs. You will need to stop using these medications and supplements for at least one week before your appointment.
What Should You Do After Treatment?
After your treatment, you will need to avoid hot water, steam, sweat, or any other strenuous activity for at least 24 to 48 hours. Although you can go back to work immediately after your treatment, some people may choose to take one or two days off work to allow the skin more time to heal. Importantly, you will not be able to use retinoids or other harsh skincare ingredients for a few days until your skin is less sensitive.
The best way to take care of your skin after microneedling is to use lukewarm water and gentle soap that does not include any alcohol or dyes. You should use a simple moisturizer with hydrating ingredients to reduce inflammation and soothe the skin. And you must wear sunscreen consistently for at least one to two weeks during your healing period so you can avoid hyperpigmentation.
Is There a Best Age for This Treatment?
Collagen induction therapy can be used by people during any stage of life. For example, younger people may use this treatment to improve acne scars, enlarged pores, sun damage, or other superficial concerns. Mature people, on the other hand, may use this treatment to increase skin volume, smooth the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and achieve a more youthful visage.
Is There a Best Time for This Treatment?
You can use the treatment at any time of the year to improve your skin concerns. However, if you are using this treatment to address superficial skin concerns before a major occasion in your life, you may want to plan your initial treatment at least six months before any important events. This will give your skin enough time to produce an adequate amount of collagen to refine your appearance.
Is This Treatment Right for You?
This treatment is appropriate for most people, including those who have sensitive skin, rosacea, or other complicated skin concerns. Because this treatment is minimally invasive and does not use any chemicals, even those who are intolerant to laser treatments or who are currently pregnant can use the treatment to improve the superficial appearance of the skin.
Ultimately, the best way to determine if this treatment is ideal for your aesthetic concerns is to attend a consultation with a dermatologist. A dermatologist will analyze your skin type and skin concerns to recommend the best treatment plan that will improve your concerns as efficiently as possible.
Restore Your Skin With Collagen Induction Therapy
Collagen induction therapy is a flexible treatment that can be used by most people to reduce superficial skin concerns such as sun damage, dark spots, and other signs of visible aging. This treatment can also be used to improve scarring on the face and body. If you think the numerous benefits of collagen induction therapy can address your skin concerns, get in touch with Eric P. Bachelor MD, in Pleasanton, CA, and Danville, CA to schedule your first appointment.