Microneedling is a cosmetic procedure that uses small, sterilized needles to penetrate the skin to generate new collagen and skin tissue to smooth, firm, and tone skin. This treatment is mostly done on the face and may reduce the appearance of acne, scars, dark spots, wrinkles, and large pores.
Benefits of microneedling can include:
- reducing the appearance of scars, including acne scars
- reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- reducing enlarged pores
- reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation, or dark spots
- smoothing uneven skin tone
- improving skin elasticity
- reducing the appearance of stretch marks
- reducing the appearance of scars
Preparing for microneedling
Before the procedure, consider talking with the aesthetician about ways to prepare for your appointment. You may need to stop taking certain medications, such as ibuprofen and those for acne treatment (like Accutane), well in advance of the procedure.
It’s also recommended that you avoid using agents that may increase the sensitivity of your skin. The aesthetician may recommend that you stop using topical retinoids and exfoliants 3-5 days before your microneedling appointment.
What to expect after microneedling
The recovery time after microneedling is minimal. Most people require very little downtime if any at all.
You may notice skin irritation and redness within the first few days following the procedure. This is a natural response to the small “injuries” made by the needles in your skin.
It’s best to let your skin heal before applying makeup. However, once the appropriate time has passed, camouflaging makeup can help disguise the redness as it dissipates.
Your skin will also be more sensitive to the sun, so be sure to apply sunscreen. Still, it’s recommended that you wait atleast one week before exposing your skin to sunlight and harsh chemicals.
After microneedling, your skin works fairly quickly to rejuvenate new tissue. In theory, you should see results within a couple of weeks.
To maintain the results of your treatment, you’ll need multiple sessions and perhaps other complementing treatments. The doctor will work with you to develop a plan of action based on your individual goals.
Most of us today can reluctantly point to a few areas on our bodies that have a bit of excess fat. While completely normal, they often get in the way of us achieving the bodies we want and can be very hard to get rid of, particularly for women. Women, in general, tend to have more fat cells than men, which further increases with age and also becomes more apparent during pregnancy.
There’s a certain body fat percentage range that is healthy and helps our body function properly. But when it comes to dealing with some excess fat, the progress can seem really slow and frustrating. We go on diets and regularly work out (as we should), but such activities only go so far.
In the past, the only “extra” way to lose fat quickly used to be surgery — literally removing fat tissues. Luckily, right now we also have CoolSculpting® — a new method of noninvasive treatments that works by freezing fat cells without damaging the surrounding tissue and requires virtually no downtime. The Aesthetic Surgery Journal called CoolSculpting® “a safe and effective nonsurgical body contouring method.”
So what is CoolSculpting® and how does it work? Let’s break it down in detail.