Microneedling: The Secret for Movie Star Skin

“So what, exactly, is microneedling?”  We get this question all the time, and honestly, it’s exactly what it sounds like:

• Microneedling is a cosmetic procedure that uses small needles to prick your skin.
• Microneedling can be used on your face, neck, your knees, or even right under your eyes to promote collagen production, which can lead to firmer, more youthful-looking skin.

Tiny needles piercing the skin around your eyes—sounds easy-breezy, right?  ?? Alright, now that we have the horror film plot device out of the way, let’s talk about how you should consider it anyway. This past week, our Office Manager decided to try the Vivace Microneedling with RF (Radio Frequency) treatment.  When she headed right back to the office after about 5 minutes, I figured she lost her nerve—I know I would have.  Instead, her face was covered in BLT (not a sandwich, but a mixture of Benzocaine, Lidocaine, and Tetracaine that numbs the skin topically).  She answered a few more emails and then headed back to the MedSpa side.  I never saw her after that…

…I’m kidding.  I saw her bright and early the next morning, radiant like a sunbeam.  She says to me, “I seriously feel like I have movie star skin—like, Halle Berry-silky-buttery skin.”  I asked her to elaborate her experience, because at this point, I’m dying to know.  She goes on to say, “Once you’re numb, you can relax and fall asleep—I did for a few minutes.  The whole thing took an hour.  Starts out with light pressured and gets a little more intense by the end.  The forehead was the only semi-uncomfortable part, but it was first when I was very good and numb.  No downtime...at most, my face was a bit itchy, but after my shower, was good to go.”  

Intrigued, I decided to put my Velma glasses on again and research microneedling.  First question to tackle: who decided that pricking the skin with tons of tiny needles repeatedly would make you look younger?  A tiny Google search later, I find that it originated in 1995 by Dr. Desmond Fernandes in Philadelphia who developed the treatment to reduce the appearance of scars and wrinkles, eventually developing a small stamp to induce collagen production.  In theory, by causing controlled micro-traumas to the skin, the body responds by increasing the blood circulation and allows the skin to produce a higher level of collagen.  This therapy is called “Collagen Induction Therapy” (CIT) and is designed to rejuvenate the skin.  And it works.  PSA: Here’s a tip for any men who might be reading (or their sister/friend/girlfriend/wife who may enjoy the benefits as well), microneedling the scalp can stimulate collagen and elastin, stimulating hair follicles to hold on to hair for longer, and minimizing hair loss.--Just saying.

So back to your eyes and the tiny needles you’re going to want to put around them.  As we age, it’s natural for collagen production and elastin in your skin to decrease. This can result in those visible dark circles under your eyes. It also makes you more prone to wrinkles and can make the veins under your eyes easier to see.   Utilizing microneedling with the Vivace and the help of our own Anne Parker, LE, we can help make the fine lines, wrinkles, eye bags, age spots, and dark circles disappear.  And like its original intent, microneedling does mitigate the appearance of scars. 

To sum up, microneedling works and can leave your skin with an improved texture and elasticity.  Once the skin has healed from the microneedling procedure, many patients notice that their skin is smoother, more even toned, and more flexible. When getting a microneedling procedure done at Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates in our amazing Medical Aesthetics wing, each new patient gets their own head to be used only for them.  On the head itself, there are 36 tiny gold needles.  During your Microneedling session, our Licensed Aesthetician, Anne, will use the Vivace wand to touch spots on the desired area to achieve maximal results from the procedure.  When used around the eyes, especially when combined with PRP injections (Platelet-Rich Plasma) new cell growth is stimulated and the added PRP promotes healing.  Before scheduling the procedure, please consult our Aesthetician with a free skin consultation to determine if microneedling is right for you depending on your desired results.  

Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates is ready and waiting to help you with your transformational needs, great or small.  You can check out our surgical and non-surgical offerings at http://csaok.com or call (405) 842-6677 for our Oklahoma patients, or http://csajax.com and call (904)-648-6400 for our Florida patients.   Start your own journey today & be sure to ask if Microneedling is right for you!