Microneedling Before And After

No one wants to be a human pincushion! And we know for some of you, the idea of a needle getting even remotely close to you makes you a flight risk! NORMAL! But after seeing some microneedling before and after pictures, you might be willing to let a few tiny needles a lot closer to your face than you would have before. 

As skin gurus, we are constantly looking at products and procedures to give us the best skin possible, and there are always new things coming out to get our hands on and try! 

Smoother, radiant, firmer, and clearer skin are just some of the goals we are aiming to achieve. 

For those reasons and more, a lot of people are turning to microneedling. Plus, if you're anything like us, you probably want to get your skin as close to perfection as possible. Well, microneedling might just be the ticket. 

We'll take you into the microneedling world for a little while and answer some common questions about the procedure. 

But, first…

What Is Microneedling?

Microneedling is a minimally invasive and increasingly common procedure performed by licensed dermatologists, or in some states aestheticians, that uses very small needles to puncture small areas of your skin to promote collagen production and improve the skin. 

While some attempt to microneedle themselves at home with tools they buy online, please don't do this!! 

You are literally about to puncture yourself with tiny needles all over your face, and doing this wrong or not sterilizing the needles properly can cause you to have severe side effects! 

Microneedling is always best performed by a professional who can give you proper guidance on what to do pre and post-procedure to benefit the most and heal up the best. Plus, you're going to find way better and more effective results having it done professionally since the tools you would use at home are different from those in the office. 

Takeaway? Leave the professional's job to the professionals! 

How Does Microneedling Work? 

First, your doctor, or Aesthetician, will apply a numbing cream or gel all over the area where microneedling will be performed to help eliminate some pain. That will stay on your face for 30 minutes to an hour for the numbing agent to kick in. 

Using a large pen-shaped tool or a roller, specifically called a derma roller, tiny sterile needles are introduced to your skin, creating tiny wounds. These needles will penetrate the epidermis and potentially go as far as the dermis. This entire process only takes about 20 minutes or so. 

Afterward, the doctor will apply a deep hydrating mask and often a serum for intense hydration and soothing. 

As these minor wounds heal, new tissue will form richer in collagen and elastin than the damaged skin tissue was. This fresh, collagen-rich tissue is often much smoother, more even-toned, and even firmer than the skin beforehand. 

Since the goal is to create more collagen as you heal, microneedling is also referred to as Collagen Induction Therapy. 

The extra collagen and elastin will help your skin look younger, healthier, and reduce facial scarring and dark spots. 

Hello, glow!

Who Benefits From Microneedling?

Anyone with acne scarring, age spots, an uneven skin tone, or fine lines and wrinkles will most benefit from microneedling and see the most results. 

 

However, microneedling is not just for the face. Microneedling can also be used on different areas of the body to help reduce or possibly eliminate stretch marks. 

Look at these before and after shots here! 

So, you can see the benefits of microneedling, but can a whole bunch of needles on your face really be good for you? Could it potentially ruin your skin?

Good question.

Can Microneedling Ruin Your Skin?

While there are many potential benefits of microneedling, there is potential to ruin your skin if you go through with the procedure while having skin conditions that are contraindicated or if you have severely reactive skin. You could have much more severe side effects that take longer to heal or make existing problems worse. 

For example, if you have active acne, microneedling can spread that bacteria all over your face resulting in a worse breakout than you started with. Similarly, any lesions on your face can be made worse after microneedling.

You will certainly want to avoid microneedling if you have eczema, psoriasis, keloids, or a tendency for keloids to grow, or are immunosuppressed. Being immunosuppressed can make it difficult for the punctures on your face to heal properly. 

None of us ever want to walk out of a procedure with severe regret or look at our beautiful faces and realize it's much worse off. You want amazing microneedling before and after pictures, not ones you are horrified to look at! 

So, be honest about your skin. Is your skin very sensitive? Do you have any of the contraindicated conditions? Don't just follow a trend, but be thorough about your decision. 

How Long Does It Take To See Results From Microneedling?

It will take anywhere between four to six weeks to see the best results from your first microneedling treatment. 

You may see results sooner than that, and you will certainly see some side effects immediately after the procedure like bruising, bumps, dry skin, and swelling as you heal. It's going to take time for your body to heal itself and for new collagen to produce. 

How many times will you need to get microneedling done? 

Well, it all depends on what you want to see from microneedling. You may need three to six total microneedling treatments to see full results. These treatments will need to be spaced out in the four to six-week range as mentioned above. 

So though you may see some results in a few weeks, be prepared that it could take many months to achieve your goal. 

How Much Does Microneedling Cost?

Depending on where you go to get your microneedling, an Aesthetician's office or dermatologist's office, and whether the location is more of a smaller practice or higher-end practice, microneedling can cost anywhere between $100 to $700 a session. 

Is Microneedling Worth The Money? 

If your skin tolerates the procedure well, microneedling can be worth the money. You can see some fantastic results, and your skin can feel like a million bucks! 

To determine if you should make the splurge, always consult with your dermatologist and go over all the concerns, risks, and skin conditions you have to honestly see if your skin is an ideal candidate for microneedling.

Can I Wax Before Or After Microneedling?

Well, you had to know we'd be addressing waxing here! It's a prime concern! 

Each professional may recommend a different time frame on when waxing is acceptable pre and post-procedure. So, always ask far in advance. However, a general rule of thumb is not to wax AT LEAST a week before or after your microneedling procedure. 

To avoid added irritation and to help give your skin plenty of time it needs to heal correctly and facilitate its best results, steer clear from waxing any area that will be microneedled two weeks before and after the procedure. 

Our skin is our friend! Please, don't over irritate it and be patient with it while it is healing. 

Does Microneedling Really Work?

If your skin is an ideal candidate for microneedling and you go to a professional office to have microneedling done effectively, yes, microneedling does really work. Even the following day after their procedure, most clients can feel a noticeable difference in the texture and appearance of their skin. 

A few days after the itchiness and redness wear off, many report their skin feels fresher, tighter, and has more of a glow. A few weeks after is when you'll heal up and get a better idea if microneedling has really worked for you. 

In Summary

Microneedling, A.K.A. Collagen Induction Therapy, is a procedure done using tiny needles that puncture down through the epidermis and sometimes even deep into the dermis. 

This causes your skin to heal with fresh collagen-rich tissue helping to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, stretch marks, and help hyperpigmentation as well as scarring and an uneven skin tone. 

Since your skin needs decent time to heal and microneedling does cut the skin, you will experience light bleeding, swelling, redness, and bruising after the procedure. 

Most people undergoing this procedure have excellent results and see tighter, smoother, and more even-toned skin. With multiple treatments over a few months, most will see that microneedling has worked for them and is worth the splurge. 

If you are contemplating microneedling, feel free to reach out to your dermatologist or reliable, and licensed, Aesthetician! They will help guide you in your decision and be sure to look at the microneedling before and after pictures here! You will definitely see a difference and might even soon take the microneedling plunge.