By Bridget Sullivan, PA-C, Coastal Skin Surgery and Dermatology
I have many patients who come into the clinic wanting to look younger and improve their skin’s appearance, but are not ready or interested in doing plastic surgery. While I always ask what their specific goals are, a microneedling facial is often a good option. This article will explain what a microneedling facial procedure is and highlight the many benefits.
A microneedling facial is a cosmetic procedure done in a medical office setting. After cleansing your skin, a numbing cream will be applied to your face and neck and you will sit there for 20-30 minutes, ensuring that your face is numb so that you will not feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure. We have a device, a “SkinPen”, that has fourteen needles at the end of it. We can adjust the depth of the needles with the device. After washing off the numbing cream, the device with the needles will be placed on your face and the procedure will begin. The procedure will last between 15-30 minutes and there is no downtime.
This procedure is making “micro injuries” in the deeper layer of skin called the dermis and causing punctate bleeding. That’s why sometimes this procedure is called “the vampire facial.” The microinjuries in the deep layer of skin force new skin cells, collagen and elastin to regenerate and form. This also increases your skin cell turnover rate. When you leave the office, your skin will look bright red, like you just got a sunburn, and you will not want to put any products on your face that day. Like a sunburn, you might experience mild irritation and peeling for 1-2 days, but can resume normal activities the following day.
This procedure has many benefits. It is fantastic for textural issues, particularly acne scars, but also fine lines and wrinkles. The benefits also include minimizing pore size, evening out skin tone, lightening dark spots, boosting product absorption, and giving your skin a natural glow.
Please do not buy the skin rollers over the counter or online. These products only penetrate the top layer of skin, the epidermis, and will actually lead to damaging your skin barrier and can cause irritation.
If you are interested in this procedure, please make sure you are a candidate by your medical provider. Not everyone is a candidate for this procedure; for example, if you are prone to forming keloids or have certain autoimmune conditions.
I have over ten years of experience with this procedure, and I have seen firsthand how transformational it can be for improving skin texture, the skin’s overall appearance and giving patients a natural glow. If you have any questions about this procedure or any other cosmetic procedures we offer at the office, please feel free to reach out and make an appointment at Coastal Skin Surgery and Dermatology (850) 500-3376. Remember – healthy skin is beautiful skin and we all deserve to love the skin we are in! I look forward to meeting you and discussing your skin care needs!
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