Micro-needling and Skin Rejuvenation
To provide my patients with the best treatments to keep them looking, feeling and moving their best I’m happy to be the first Naturopathic Clinic to offer this service combined with platelet-rich plasma in Halifax.
Many times, we take the face as one of the most vital features of our body. From time to time we may find ourselves looking in the mirror and wondering whether we are growing old. As years go by, our face begins to show aging signs such as stretch marks, wrinkles, age spots and others. Most of us think that wrinkles are the only facial aging signs; what we don’t know is that the aging process is a complicated one. It affects the facial bones, muscles, and skin. And, not everyone is ready to accept facial aging as a normal life change. So, they opt to go for facial surgery to retain their younger-looking face.
Dermatologists and surgeons help people undergo these cosmetic surgery procedures. This procedure is commonly known as facial rejuvenation treatment and it is widely used to help people regain the skin’s youthful look. You will find that there are quite a few treatments used in facial rejuvenation. The variety of techniques available can be confusing to people searching for the right treatment procedure. The most common of these treatments include the Derma Abrasion treatment and the facelift.
Recently, several types of treatments have emerged that involve minimally invasive procedures. These are known as non-surgical rejuvenation procedures and they don’t involve incisions. In addition to this, the patient doesn’t necessarily experience any downtime.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2011 there were around 14 million non-surgical procedures that were undertaken. Some examples of non-surgical cosmetic procedures include the Platelet Rich Plasma procedure and the Collagen Induction Therapy.
These non-surgical cosmetic procedures are preferred by many and are increasingly becoming popular. Let’s look at them in detail starting with:
Micro-needling & Collagen Induction Therapy
What is Micro-needling & Collagen Induction Therapy?
Also known as micro-needling, Collagen Induction Therapy works by stimulating the skin’s natural ability to repair itself. This improves the overall facial appearance; reducing acne scars, wrinkles, and stretch marks. This procedure is done by using very sharp needles to make micro-channels in the outer part of the skin.
All of these micro injuries facilitate the release of cytokines that trigger the healing process as well as other growth factors. During the wound-healing process, the body makes more collagen. Collagen is a fibrous protein that facilitates the structural integrity of our skin. It makes the skin thicker and youthful in appearance. This collagen reformation technique has been scientifically proven to be long lasting and it’s completely natural.
How Does Micro-Needling Work in the Skin?
The process of micro-needling breaks down the old collagen strands that bind sunken wrinkles. Each needle insertion triggers the release of fibroblasts and platelets by the body. These, in turn, trigger a series of growth factors in the skin and stimulate the production of elastin and natural collagen by the body.
Unlike other treatments such as the Derma Abrasion or TCA Chemical Peels, micro-needling doesn’t remove the epidermis but it penetrates through it and allows it to heal quickly. When the skin swells, the needle pricks fuse, causing the edges of the epidermis to adhere. Micro-Needling Therapy triggers the superficial layer of the skin, subsequently stimulating a natural healing response.
The use of tiny needles creates micro channels in the skin layers. This allows the infusion of therapeutic serums to achieve even greater penetration. This makes the Collagen Induction Therapy the preferred choice for non-ablative treatments for skin issues and facial rejuvenation. The procedure is also ideal because it gets into the hard to reach areas such as the nose, lips, eyes, and other areas.
This procedure can be classified as an organic treatment because of the natural healing that is experienced after the procedure is complete. Additionally, it stimulates the collagen formation and the healing property of our skin.
Does Micro-Needling Treatment Hurt?
For optimal comfort I apply a topical anesthetic on the skin before the needling treatment. Most patients describe the sensation of the micro-needling procedure as vibration rather than discomfort or pain.
Micro-needling Machine
This is a State-of-the-art device for medical use. The Dermastamp micro-needling pen is made in such a way that it ensures the specialist conducts the treatment in a controlled environment. The needle system is also used to avoid the retraction of the skin into the needle tip. The needles in this treatment device are as tiny as the human hair; spaced out to perforate the skin at 90 degrees.
These needles are the ones that create the micro channels that trigger the collagen production to fill the wrinkles or lines without removal of the top skin layer. In addition, topical applications such as antioxidants, peptides, hyaluronic acid, and hair loss applications can be used to enhance the effect.
Sessions and Results
Collagen Induction Therapy results are both gradual and immediate. Many patients see positive results after the first treatment. However, the results depend on individual skin health. A common occurrence immediately after the treatment is the swelling and redness of skin. After 2-3 days, the skin begins to regain its moderate pink color and the swelling decreases. The most noticeable results are experienced 1-2 weeks after the initial treatment.
There are some patients who see positive results almost immediately after the treatment. To get the best results, we recommend that you get spaced treatments of 3-6 weeks apart. For Collagen Induction Therapy, we recommend that you begin with 3-4 treatments at a separation of 4 to 6 weeks. For reduction of scars, 3 to 6 treatments are recommended for optimal results.
The moment you finish your treatment series, we make sure that we schedule a 6 week follow-up visit. This treatment procedure may require maintenance at some point. It is advisable that you continue to have an effective home care regimen. This will enable your treatment to remain intact for up to 6 months without requiring a scheduled maintenance treatment.
Precautions
If you have any serious allergies or other medical conditions, report them to the doctor prior to treatment. For post treatment, it is advisable to avoid sweaty exercise for the first 12 hours and avoid excess sun exposure for the first 72 hours.
If you have a history of bleeding disorders, skin cancer, or if you have been on a blood thinning medication in the last 2 years, then micro needling may be an unrealistic treatment option.
Platelet Rich Plasma Facial Rejuvenation Technique now available in Halifax
PRP is another natural procedure used for facial rejuvenation. This method uses the plasma derived from the patient’s own blood rather than chemicals injected into the body.
The substance is usually a by-product of blood that has plenty of platelets. Due to the organic nature of this treatment procedure, Platelet Rich Plasma is quickly gaining popularity.
This technique is only available in health clinics due to the cost of distinguishing platelets for use in the blood. To get the required quantity of platelets, a large amount of blood is needed; preferably 1 unit. However, the novel tech permits doctors to adequately draw platelets from 60cc of the patients’ blood.
This technique has been widely used for years to heal sports injuries. It is now popular for treating skin conditions such as wrinkles, sun damage, and scars or even dark circles under the eyes. Because the body will not reject its own blood, there are no side-effects to this treatment.
For a complete in depth analysis on PRP read more here
Scientific Proof
There are several articles that the National Institute of Health has cited on the Platelet Rich Plasma treatment method. Here are some of the experiments that have been conducted to provide proof regarding the effectiveness of PRP:
- A study conducted on 20 adult females with Glogau photoaging type II and III as well as Fitzpatrick skin types III-IV in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, where the split face therapy was used in this study. Every side was assigned to treatment using either growth factor or platelet rich plasma. All patients received 6 sessions at 2 week intervals. The assessment was conducted using (OCT) optical coherence tomography and GAIS (Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale) for 6 months.
Based on the results, the techniques showed significant improvement in regard to OCT and GAIS assessment. In area A, the burning sensation was higher. Patient satisfaction was higher in area B. Improvement was higher in area B on follow up. This proved that platelet-rich plasma is safe for skin rejuvenation compared to growth factors.
- Another study, published in the same journal in September of 2016, evaluated the effects of hyaluronic acid and PRP treatment. This was tested on 94 female subjects with various facial aging signs. The platelet-rich plasma were mixed with procaine and hyaluronic acid and injected into the dermis and hypodermis. The subjects rated their personal satisfaction. The results revealed difference in appearance of the skin in terms of skin texture and firmness. In addition to this, a significant connection was seen between the overall satisfaction and the number of injections. The PRP and hyaluronic injections offered a clinically evident improvement on the face. The improvement increased as the number of injections increased.
- In a study published in the same journal in 2016 evaluated the safety and efficiency of the single Platelet Rich Plasma injection for facial rejuvenation. The study involved 20 subjects with various skin conditions. They received a single injection of PRP; the subjects were carefully examined before and after the treatment. This study was done for 8 weeks using the Skin Homogeneity and Texture Scale, Physician Assessment, Subject Satisfaction Scale, and Wrinkle Severity Rating (WSRS). The value of WSRS showed a reduction after the 8 week treatment. Notable results were seen in younger subjects who had high Wrinkles of Nasolabial Folds (NLFs). 14 out of 17 subjects who had NLFs showed more than 25% enhancement in their look. This experiment proved that a single injection of Platelet Rich Plasma performs the facial rejuvenating function.
- Again, another study published in the Annals of Dermatology in November 2016 showed similar results. The study involved the injection of PRP to show its usefulness in facial rejuvenation. The study involved 20 subjects; women who were between ages 40-49. Their MODs (Mean Optical Densities) of collagen were measured before and after treatment. The MOD was high after the PRP treatment; improvement was 89.05% compared to the MOD before the treatment. This therefore concluded that the Platelet Rich Plasma technique is effective in increasing the Dermal Collagen Levels by facilitating the growth factors. The above studies have revealed that Platelet Rich Plasma are effective and safe in reducing aging signs, skin pigmentation, stretch marks, and aging signs.
The Final Moral
By mixing the two techniques; that is micro-needling and platelet rich plasma techniques, you can expect to have a youthful and happy face when you look in the mirror. Better yet, when the above two methods are combined, you can be assured of even greater results.
Benefits Include:
Convenience – Platelet Rich Plasma and Micro-Needling can be performed when patients are undergoing another procedure such as a surgical procedure or dental implants.
Safety – The needles used in these procedures are always sterilized and the application is painless due to the application of anesthesia. Regarding PRP, there are no disease transmission risks because the patient’s own blood is used.
Fast Healing – The wounds heal faster because of the micro-injuries created. They facilitate the healing mechanisms of the body so the skin heals faster.
Cost Effective – Compared to other methods of facial rejuvenation, these two procedures are cost effective.
Both the procedures have no side effects and are safe. In addition, they are painless and they will provide a younger looking face just with one treatment.
With these techniques, you won’t have to undergo surgery and this saves on cost. So, if you looking for a youthful face that is free from wrinkles and other aging signs then try out these 2 procedures and you will discover a beautiful and younger self.