Everyone develops some wrinkles and fine lines as they grow older. But as common as wrinkles are, it can still be unpleasant for some to look in the mirror and realize your own skin is wrinkling. The good news is that there are plenty of treatments to ease the appearance of wrinkles and even help keep them from worsening. One option that works well for many patients is microneedling. As a minimally invasive procedure, microneedling has an easy recovery, yields predictable results, and works by triggering your body’s own healing process.
What Is Microneedling?
A microneedle is a tiny, thin needle. Microneedling is a procedure that involves inserting many tiny, thin needles into your skin. The needles are not inserted very deep – usually just into the dermis, which is the middle layer of your skin. They can be inserted a bit deeper to treat really deep, serious wrinkles. Or, if you’re mostly concerned about fine lines, your dermatologist may only insert the needles a few millimeters.
Your practitioner will use a special instrument that holds many tiny needles. So, your skin will be punctured by multiple needles all at once.
How Does Microneedling Treat Wrinkles?
At first, the idea of microneedling may sound a bit strange because the procedure essentially injures the skin. But actually, it’s the mild injury caused by microneedling that makes it so effective at treating wrinkles. After your skin is mildly injured by the needles, it jumps into healing mode. That means the treated skin starts receiving more blood flow, and more importantly, it means your skin starts forming new collagen and elastin as it heals.
Collagen and elastin are the proteins that give your skin its suppleness. As you age, your levels of collagen and elastin start to decline, which contributes to the formation of wrinkles. By stimulating your skin to make more collagen and elastin, microneedling can ease the appearance of wrinkles and help keep new ones from forming.
What Happens During a Microneedling Session?
At a microneedling appointment, the first thing your practitioner will do is apply a numbing gel or cream to the treatment area. This will ensure you don’t feel any pain when the needles are being inserted. Once your skin is suitably numb, your practitioner will use a special, pen-like tool to prick the areas where you’re most worried about wrinkles. They’ll finish up with a soothing serum or moisturizer, then send you on your way.
What Areas Can Microneedling Treat?
Microneedling can be performed practically anywhere you have bothersome wrinkles or fine lines. Most often, it is used in the following areas:
- Around the eyes, such as to treat crow’s feet
- Around the mouth, such as to treat marionette lines or smile lines
- The forehead
- Between the eyebrows
Keep in mind that microneedling is more than just a wrinkle treatment. It can also help ease the appearance of scars, improve your overall skin tone and texture, and reduce hyperpigmentation due to aging or sun exposure. If you struggle with any of these other concerns in addition to wrinkles, your practitioner can often address them during the same microneedling appointment.
How Long Does It Take To Recover?
After a microneedling session, your skin will be a little red and sore. This typically only lasts a few days – or up to a week, at most. The extent of the irritation will depend on the size of the area that was treated and also on the depth of the needles. You’ll be sore a bit longer after having deep wrinkles treated than fine lines. In the meantime, stay out of the sun and wear sunscreen when you do go outside. There’s no reason to take time off from work or other activities.
When Will You See Results?
The results of microneedling start to appear as soon as the redness wears off. You may notice your skin looks and feels a bit plumper and fuller. The results will continue to develop and intensify over the next couple of weeks, reaching a peak at about 4 – 6 weeks post-treatment. The timeline will vary based on your body’s own healing processes.
One of the best things about microneedling is that you can always go in for another treatment. In fact, many patients find that a few treatments, spaced 2 – 3 months apart, leads to a dramatic improvement in the tone and elasticity of their skin.
If you’re looking for a minimally invasive wrinkle treatment with a short and easy recover period, microneedling is a great option to explore. Schedule a consultation with Balance MedSpa to learn more about microneedling and how it can improve the look of your skin. We look forward to meeting you!
