What is Micro Needling?

Bloomfield Hills, MI – Micro needling is a minimally invasive skin rejuvenation procedure that is taking the cosmetic world by storm. Fine needles puncture the skin to create deliberate and controlled injuries that then lead the body to produce new collagen and elastin.

“The theory behind micro needling has been around for some years, taking various forms,” says Dr. Ali, a plastic surgeon in Michigan. “In the 1990s, a Canadian plastic surgeon played around with the idea of using ink-less tattoo guns to help treat scars after surgery. In 1996, a South African plastic surgeon introduced the idea of skin needling using a roller to treat wrinkles, and this is the form of micro needling we recognize today.”

Micro needling, also known as skin needling or dermarolling, has been used to minimize acne scars, fine lines, brown spots and even stretch marks and cellulite.

Depending on the area to be treating, micro needling can take anywhere between a few minutes to an hour. The day of treatment, patients will need to avoid using any make-up or lotions on the area to be treated.

Before the procedure, the technician will apply a topical numbing cream to the area to be treated to make the procedure as comfortable as possible. Then, the skin needling device will be rolled over the area in a specific pattern to generate the most collagen and elastin production.

Each fine needle in the device creates a miniscule puncture wound in the skin, which then stimulates cell regeneration. It can then take about six weeks for the new collagen to fully form.

There are many benefits to skin needling. First, it is often a much more cost-effective solution for minimizing lines and reducing the appearance of scars. Most patients are good candidates for the procedure, including those with thin or sensitive skin. And patients with darker skin are also good candidates, as it has a lower risk of hyperpigmentation or scarring than other procedures.

Some procedures, such as laser resurfacing, create a clear difference in appearance between the skin that was treated, and the skin that wasn’t. This means the treatment needs to be blended to minimize the appearance of the treatment itself. But with micro needling, there will be no difference between the treated and untreated skin.

Following the procedure, patients may experience dryness, scaling, redness and slight swelling. This may last a few days, depending on the length of needles used during treatment. Patients will need to take special care to avoid sun exposure for several weeks following the procedure.

In as little as two weeks, patients will have noticeable skin rejuvenation, and the effects can last up to eight months. The procedure can be repeated as needed to reach the desired results.

There are now a host of products and devices on the market that allow home use, however, Dr. Ali advises against home use. Because a micro needling device does puncture the skin, the treatment should only be performed by a someone skilled in the procedure who can control the depth at which the needles enter the skin.

Because there are many products on the market, people who opt for at-home treatment should pay close attention to the brand and quality of the product they choose. The quality of the needle is essential, and many less expensive products can result in needles breaking off, sometimes even in the skin.

Cleanliness and sterilization are also crucial to the micro needling process. Using needles that are not clean can introduce harmful agents to the skin, and cause damage.

When in skilled hands, micro needling is a safe and effective way to improve the texture and tone of skin, and reduce the appearance of surface scars and fine lines.

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