What is the Best Timetable for My Microneedling Treatments?
What are your most significant skin concerns? Most people have several different issues that they would like to correct and find it difficult to pinpoint just one. Microneedling is a popular aesthetic procedure that uses fine needles to stimulate collagen production and rejuvenate the skin. Whether used as an anti-aging treatment, for general skin health, or to treat a specific skin concern, microneedling has become an increasingly common part of a healthy skincare routine. Most patients can use this treatment to address a wide range of superficial skin concerns.
However, determining how often to microneedle is vital to achieving the best possible outcomes, as is getting the microneedling process done at a medical spa with qualified professionals experienced in administering the treatments.
Why Does the Time Between Treatments Matter?
The time between microneedling treatments matters because of the nature of skin cell turnover. Most patients have an average of three to four weeks for dead skin cells to slough off and new skin cells to appear. Age and genetics determine the healing process. Skin heals faster for most younger patients, while older patients may need more time between sessions to promote the healing process.
Because every microneedling treatment is minimally invasive, you can have them done several times yearly. Four to eight weeks is the standard time interval between treatments, with the exact interval determined by your issues and your skin type. Patients with problems like deep acne scarring or other extensive skin damage may benefit from more frequent sessions during the initial treatment phase. However, if you are simply seeking a youthful appearance by reducing fine lines or mild textural improvements, you can space your sessions further apart.
How Many Microneedling Sessions Do You Need?
Providing an estimate on how many microneedling sessions you should get is challenging because every patient has different skin care concerns. Most patients will need at least six to eight treatments before seeing significant results from this minimally invasive treatment.
Determining how many treatments you need requires a thorough examination and analysis of your skin. From there, your doctor will develop a treatment plan to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars or other skin concerns you may have. The number of recommended sessions can change depending on the severity of your condition, how well you respond to treatment and whether you maintain your results with additional microneedling treatments.
Skin resilience also plays a role in determining the appropriate frequency. The amount of collagen produced by your microneedling treatment and your skin's recovery capacity are also crucial.
The Science Behind Your Microneedling Treatment
This simple treatment is performed with a device that makes a series of tiny punctures in the skin's surface, making it akin to being pricked by a needle. Microneedling produces microscopic wounds on the skin's surface that penetrate to the sub-dermal layers. These controlled injuries occurring during a microneedling treatment stimulate collagen production and other skin rejuvenation factors, including the production of additional structural proteins. Micro injuries speed up the production of new skin cells and allow you to shed dead skin cells faster to promote healing and produce healthier-looking skin.
Factors Influencing Treatment Frequency
Microneedling depth and treatment intensity significantly impact your outcome. Although your general skin health, type, and age will impact wound healing, needle length is the most significant factor affecting your desired results. You can have more frequent treatments when needles are less than one millimeter long. Longer needles of two to three millimeters cause deeper injuries that require a longer healing process.
Why Getting Professional Microneedling Skin Rejuvenation is Crucial
Microneedling pens and rollers abound on the internet, leading some people to believe they can produce more collagen and rejuvenated skin on their own. However, at-home microneedling can actually harm skin health when the treatments are performed too frequently. Professional consultation is fundamental for assessing your need to mitigate fine lines, sun damage and dark spots, improving skin texture, scar reduction, age-related concerns and more.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends patients opt to always get microneedling treatments from qualified medical professionals who can evaluate their skin concerns, condition, and goals to provide tailored recommendations. Professional expertise ensures that you receive personalized guidance, maximizing the effectiveness and safety of your microneedling treatments. Seeing a professional for microneedling instead of performing home treatments will give you the following benefits:
- Longer-lasting, optimal results
- Treatments tailored to your skin condition
- Get the correct number of treatments
- Prevent infection and skin irritation
Home treatments can be risky when you overuse microneedling rollers and can actually make your skin concerns more noticeable. Pressing too hard with the roller can damage your skin by piercing it. You can also accidentally spread warts, herpes and other viruses across your skin. When microneedling is performed by someone without medical training and in-depth skin knowledge, you'll also have an increased risk of developing side effects like scarring or long-lasting skin discoloration.
Follow-Up Treatments to Maintain Results
The results will fade as you lose collagen from your initial microneedling treatments. Decrease the amount of collagen induction therapy loss by protecting your skin from the sun and avoiding tobacco products. Microneedling sessions can become part of a long-term skincare routine through regular maintenance appointments to help keep a youthful appearance. Discussing goals with your med spa provider can help develop a workable plan.
Post-Microneedling Care
Following your provider's post-session recommendations using a gentle cleanser and recommended skincare products will help you achieve optimal results. Ample moisturization and sunscreen are vital.
Coordinating with Other Skincare Treatments
Microneedling pairs well with other treatments to treat multiple concerns during your sessions. One of the most popular is combining microneedlng with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), sometimes called a vampire facial. Microneedling with PRP is especially effective to reduce scarring from acne. It's also safe for people with darker skin tones. Studies indicate that this treatment plan can achieve acne scar reduction by 50% to 70%.
Chemical peels also pair well with microneedling. On their own, chemical peels are a great treatment solution for uneven skin texture, fine lines and wrinkles, but when paired with microneedling sessions, you'll more likely achieve your desired results.
Radiofrequency (RF) treatments paired with microneedling sessions amplify the effects of both, particularly for concerns like skin laxity and wrinkles. RF treatments send heat into the fine needles to further stimulate collagen production.
Book Your Med Spa Consultation Today
If you want to learn more about microneedling and other treatment options for anti-aging and to enhance your natural beauty, contact VIVAA today at 425-250-9999. For your convenience, you can use our online Request an Appointment form.
Author Dr. Navdeep Kaur
SPECIALITIES: Women's Healt, Including Contraceptive and Hormone Management, Supervised Weight Loss, Management of Medical Conditions, and Preventive Care.