Microneedling
Microneedling isn’t new; the concept here is to create a superficial “wound” that will trigger a healing response from the body. Microneedling was introduced with a dermaroller back in the 1950s but didn’t catch on. A form of Microneedling reappeared in the 1990s using tattoo guns without ink to treat post-surgical scarring. More recent improvements, such as the handheld Microneedling pen – make today’s Microneedling at Schlessinger Eye & Face a great option to improve your skin texture, and firmness and to reduce the appearance of large pores, stretch marks, and scars!
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At Schlessinger Eye & Face, we offer two Microneedling devices, both paired with Radiofrequency. Treatment with RF Microneedling is designed to stimulate new growth of collagen and elastin, resulting in a plumper, more youthful appearance. Collagen is the protein responsible for providing the skin’s structural support framework while Elastin makes the skin firm, yet pliable.
In addition to your treatment, we recommend our Alastin Nectar post-procedure serum specifically designed to complement your skin-rejuvenation procedure and protect your investment. Alastin employs Tri-Hex technology to support the production of new healthy elastin and collagen. This silky nectar contains a high level of antioxidants to calm the skin, promote healing and reduce recovery time.
Collagen is key to healthy, vibrant skin and is plentiful when we are younger. You see lotions and other topical products with collagen in them, but to be truly effective the body needs to produce its own collagen in the dermis layer of the skin. Unfortunately, our collagen production declines as we age. In fact, after we turn 20, our collagen production drops by one additional percentage point every year — at 50 your body produces 30 percent less collagen. This is why the skin gradually appears to sag and droop, and wrinkles and lines form more easily.
Microneedling can be applied virtually anywhere on the body; the face, neck, abdomen, and décolletage are the most common targets.
Some skin conditions we treat with Microneedling:
Though it would seem that puncturing your skin hundreds of times would cause pain, it doesn’t. We apply a topical numbing cream prior to your procedure and the needles used on our Microneedling pen are very thin. Patients equate the feeling of Microneedling as similar to light sandpaper being moved across the skin.
Microneedling is a procedure that almost anyone can have. The hyperpigmentation issues that occur with other resurfacing procedures usually do not occur with Microneedling. Microneedling is effective for all skin types.
There is an immediate “glow” after your treatment session, but Microneedling results build over time. This is because your collagen and elastin production elevates for weeks, long after your visit to our office!
Visible changes in the skin develop over the course of several days and weeks. Your results can continue to improve for up to six months.
How long your results will last varies from patient to patient; no two are alike. The new collagen and elastin we’ve created aren’t going anywhere, but production will continue to drop with normal aging. That’s why continuing treatments with the Schlesinger team is recommended as needed.
Another new treatment we offer at Schlessinger Eye & Face is Secret RF Microneedling. This innovative combination of Microneedling and radiofrequency energy delivery improves aging skin, the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, acne scarring, and other texture issues without any downtime.
Secret RF is a great new treatment that combines proven skin improvement delivered by Microneedling with radiofrequency energy delivered into the dermis, initiating increased collagen production and collagen remodeling. This is a combination of two procedures into one.
The key to Secret RF is the two handpieces included with the Cutera system — a 64-pin handpiece and a 25-pin handpiece. The 64-pin handpiece covers the largest treatment area available, ideal for the face, neck, chest, and other areas of the body. The 25-pin handpiece is ideal for smaller, more delicate areas.
We can adjust the depth of the microneedles from 0.5mm to 3.5mm, depending on your skin problems. We then pass the Secret RF handpiece across the treatment area. The microneedles move up and down, penetrating the epidermis down into the skin’s second layer, the dermis. At the same time, the insulated needle tips deliver radiofrequency energy directly into the dermis. This keeps the surface skin from being damaged by the RF energy, as can happen when the RF energy has to penetrate from outside in other skin tightening procedures.
By combining two procedures into one, and delivering the RF energy directly under the skin (rather than through the epidermis), Secret RF creates two levels of skin improvement.
First, Microneedling creates hundreds of microscopic punctures in the epidermis down into the dermis. The punctures are so small they heal within just a few hours. The body, however, believes it has been wounded with all of these tiny incursions into the dermis layer. It initiates a healing response in the skin. First, the skin actively remodels the existing collagen, instantly tightening the skin. Then it signals to increase production of collagen, the protein in the skin responsible for the skin’s underlying support structure. It also increases elastin production, which helps the skin with elasticity and suppleness. The end result is that the skin firms, creates new cells, helps to break down existing scars and large pores, and then sends supplies of new collagen and elastin to the area.
Second, Secret RF delivers radiofrequency energy directly into the dermis. When the RF energy enters the dermis, it converts to heat energy. When the body senses heat in the dermis layer, it assumes there has been a wound. It immediately remodels the existing collagen in the area, tightening the skin. And then it gets busy “healing” the perceived wounds with new collagen and skin cells.
This combination works to improve the skin without downtime.
These treatments only take around 20 minutes. We’ve found three to four Secret RF treatments to be optimal to provide the results most patients seek. These are spaced four to six weeks apart. You’ll notice some tightening immediately, but you’ll really see changes as your collagen builds. This will begin after your second treatment and results will continue to build for three months after your last treatment.
For additional information about our services, call us at (516) 496-2122 or click here to request a consultation.
Your skin will appear red and flushed after your Microneedling session; it will appear as if you have a mild sunburn. The degree of redness will correlate to the number of passes over the treatment area and the depth of the setting for the needle penetration. These factors are determined after your thorough consultation and skin analysis. This redness usually passes within 1-2 days. There may also be some slight swelling and your skin will feel tight for a day or so. It’s optimal to schedule your session as an after-work procedure because, by the next morning, most of the redness will have passed. You don’t have to restrict your activities at all after Microneedling.
Side effects are extremely rare with this procedure. There can be a very minute risk of infection, but this is highly unlikely as our environment is completely sterile, the surface of the skin is thoroughly cleaned and the punctures are topical and begin to close immediately.
To allow the skin to fully heal and complete its collagen production increase, Microneedling can be done once every 4-6 weeks. At Schlessinger Eye & Face, we recommend at least three treatments for collagen building and 3-6 treatments to reduce and treat scarring.
The Gold MicroInfusion Facial has been growing in popularity. At Schlessinger Eye and Face, our Microneedling treatments are an excellent alternative to improve the appearance of your skin. We invite you to contact our office today to learn more about how Microneedling compares to the Gold MicroInfusion Facial.
