Before we even start with working out what you should know before having a microneedling treatment, we should really start off with explaining exactly what microneedling is. Microneedling is a non-surgical aesthetic procedure that utilises a number of tiny needles to pierce the outer layer of the skin to trigger the natural healing responses of the body. By doing this, your body reacts by triggering the production of collagen which, in turn, helps to fight the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to improve the texture and feel of your skin.
The aesthetician in charge of the microneedling treatment will discuss the goals that you are looking to achieve as well as any skin conditions that you may be struggling with to work out the perfect depth to use during the treatment. Then it’s simply a case of using the microneedling device, either a dermaroller or microneedling pen, to puncture the skin in the area to be treated.
So now we’ve got the basics out of the way, lets find out more about what you need to know before booking yourself in for a microneedling treatment…
How should you prepare yourself for a microneedling treatment?
First things first, if you’re using any form of intense topical treatments for your skin (especially ones which contain retinol) then it would be a good idea to stop using these for at least a week before your microneedling treatment is booked in. We tend to find that particularly harsh products can aggravate the skin, so the milder the product is will definitely be beneficial for the skin.
It’s also really important to make sure that you avoid direct sun exposure, where possible, for at least three days before and after your treatment as it can negatively effect your skin (and afterwards it can be very sensitive).
The best recommendation is to follow the advice above and to arrive for your microneedling appointment with clean, dry skin so that you’re ready to go. Numbing cream can be applied if you’re worried about any pain associated with the treatment, and then you’ll be fully prepared to undergo your treatment.
What to expect from microneedling?
One of the most common questions that people ask us is probably the most obvious one when it comes to having some needles piercing your skin, does it hurt? This is something that we can’t really give a definitive answer to as every patient is different, but the vast majority of patients report that microneedling, while it doesn’t feel great to have happen, is a completely tolerable treatment that lasts around 30 minutes.
You’ll tend to find that the areas that you have had treated (specifically around your forehead and jawline) may be more sensitive than the rest of your face. You may also have devices that can reach different depths used for different areas of your face, and this is completely normal.
After undergoing the treatment, you can return to your normal day to day life pretty much immediately. There will be some redness to your skin and the possibility of some small areas that are showing signs of bleeding, but generally there is no downtime associated with it and you will be able to return to your normal skincare routine the next day.
What are the benefits of microneedling?
For the skin, microneedling has a wide range of benefits that include;
- Enhancements to the texture of your skin
- Stimulation of the production of collagen
- Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Reduce the appearance of scars and hyperpigmentation
The greatest benefit is the radical and rapid enhancement to the skins texture, thanks to the increased and improved production of collagen. Collagen is responsible for the rejuvenation of the skin and is incredible at treating problems that cause issues with the texture of the skin such as your pores, acne scarring, wrinkles or sagging skin.
What about the side effects?
Immediately afterwards (just like we mentioned earlier) the area that has been treated may have some redness to it, but this is a completely normal side effect and will naturally fade away fairly quickly. Considering as the microneedling treatment is having your skins “wounded” repeatedly, a bit of redness isn’t really too much of an issue.
It’s also possible that your skin may start to feel itchy, but this is something that is reported on a patient to patient basis and not everyone notices this. This does fade but can take a few days to do so, and creams are available to make the itchiness fade or become more bearable.
So, what’s the final word on microneedling then?
Well, our opinion is that microneedling is an incredible treatment to improve the overall general appearance of the skin with minimal effort and can be done in the space of a lunch break. It’s also been shown in a number of studies that topical products will be able to penetrate the skin more deeply after undergoing a microneedling treatment, so using hydrating products to moisturise the skin may show much better results than you’d been noticing previously.