Skin problems such as acne scarring, wrinkles, and sun damage can be challenging to deal with. More likely than not, your at-home skin care products are inadequate for addressing moderate to severe skin concerns. However, at Beauty 2.0 Aesthetics in Port Moody, BC, we know that one solution for your skin concerns may be microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy.
How Long Do Microneedling Results Last?
In general, the results of your treatment will last for as long as collagen production remains high in your skin. The amount of your collagen production after your treatment and the longevity of this collagen will depend on various factors, including your age, stress levels, lifestyle factors, and the severity of your skin condition.
For the most part, people can expect to enjoy the results of this needling treatment for at least three to six months at a time. Some people who can retain high levels of collagen skin may be able to enjoy results for 12 months or longer.
How Can You Maintain Your Results?
The best way to maintain your desired results is to keep up with touch-up appointments. Usually, people will schedule a touch-up appointment every six or 12 months to maintain a high collagen level in the skin. Of course, the longevity of your results and your lifestyle factors may influence how frequently you need to have maintenance appointments.
Can Results Be Permanent?
Some people believe the results of this treatment can be permanent, but the truth is that these results are only long-lasting. The skin is a living organ that is constantly adjusting to environmental factors, stress, hormones, and natural aging. For this reason, any results you achieve with microneedling will be temporary.
In particular, using this treatment to address concerns such as scarring, enlarged pores, and uneven skin texture will generally produce results that last for six to 12 months. However, for pigmentation concerns, you may be able to enjoy results for much longer. For example, your results can conceivably last much longer than 12 months if you can avoid future sun damage.
Can You Enhance Your Results?
Because the results in this treatment are not permanent, many patients are invested in enhancing these results to ensure the results last for as long as possible. You should adopt some of these practices to enhance your results during your recovery time and incorporate these practices into your daily life. Some things you can do to enhance your results include:
Skincare Products
Skincare products you use every day can influence the appearance and health of your skin. Ideally, you should use skincare products that contain active ingredients to address your primary skin concerns.
For example, if your main concerns are related to aging, it’s a good idea to use skin care products that contain hyaluronic acid and collagen, which can supplement the texture of your skin. For pigmentation concerns, you may want to rely more on acids, chemical exfoliants, and vitamins. You can brighten the tone of your skin by using vitamin C, glycolic acid, lactic acid, and retinoids.
Sun Protection
Protecting your skin from the sun is essential if you want to prevent future visible signs of aging, premature collagen depletion, and sun damage. Rain or shine, you should wear SPF 30 or higher on days when you plan to be outside. On especially hot days, it’s best to reapply sunscreen to all visible parts of the skin.
Collagen Supplements
Some research suggests taking certain collagen supplements may help tighten the skin and improve skin volume. For example, liquid and powder collagen supplements can be taken daily to infuse the body with additional collagen resources. Collagen supplements can be a great compliment to topical collagen skincare products so you can achieve a synergistic effect on your skin appearance.
Healthy Diet
Finally, having a healthy diet can make a great impact on your skin. If you want to have a healthy skin tone and texture, you should make sure to consume adequate amounts of proteins, vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acids, and water. All of these nutrients protect the skin from sun exposure, improve skin electricity elasticity, and improve collagen production.
How Does Microneedling Work?
Microneedling is a straightforward treatment. During your appointment, a sterile device will be used to create many tiny micro-wounds on the surface of your skin. These wounds will trigger your body’s natural healing response, primarily the production of elastin, fibrin, and collagen. These internal healing factors will increase the collagen in your skin, which then reduces the appearance of textural concerns.
As for pigmentation concerns, microneedling can work by accelerating your cellular turnover cycle. Specifically, the micro-injuries on the surface of your skin will prompt your skin cells to turn over new cells, which will then improve the appearance of sun damage and blemishes. This treatment will usually take 30 to 60 minutes to complete.
Why Is This Treatment Effective?
This treatment is so effective because it induces the production of collagen and turns over new skin cells at the same time. Collagen plays a vital role in the appearance of the skin. Specifically, as the most abundant protein in the skin, collagen is responsible for the firmness and elasticity of the skin.
However, as part of the natural aging process, the natural production of collagen in the subdermal layers of the skin eventually slows around middle age. This is why you begin to notice fine lines and deeper wrinkles during your 40s.
What Can This Treatment Help With?
For pigmentation concerns, this treatment can address photoaging, uneven skin complexion, blemishes, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and post-inflammatory erythema. For textual concerns, mistreatment can reduce the appearance of acne scars, hypertrophic scars, fine lines, wrinkles, and enlarged pores.
This treatment also has a well-documented history of reducing the appearance of stretch marks. Because stretch marks are caused by a gap in collagen production, using this treatment can stimulate collagen growth to erase these scars or reduce their visibility.
What Can You Expect From Treatment?
During your treatment, your skin will usually be prepared with a topical numbing cream that will keep you comfortable for the duration of your treatment. After the needling part of your treatment has been completed, a serum or hydrating agent may be applied to your skin to soothe your skin.
What Should You Do Before Treatment?
Before your treatment, you should avoid any medications or supplements that may cause your blood to be thin. Unless otherwise directed by your primary care physician, you should discontinue these medications for at least one week before your treatment. It may be beneficial to use Arnica supplements for at least three days before your treatment to promote better healing.
What Should You Do After Treatment?
After your treatment, your skin will be sensitive to sunlight, impurities, and irritating skin care products. For this reason, you should avoid direct sunlight for two weeks, along with hot water, steam, excessive sweating, and friction on the skin. It’s also a good idea to stop using retinoids in your skincare products for at least one to two weeks.
How Many Treatments Will You Need?
Most people will need a series of three to six treatments to achieve their desired results. The initial round of treatments will usually be spaced six to eight weeks apart to allow your body time to stimulate collagen growth.
How Soon Will You See Results?
Most people will be able to see early results of this treatment within two to four weeks after the first appointment. As more collagen grows in the subdermal layers of the skin, these results will continue to prove. Optimal results may be visible in as little as four to six months.
Why Should You Consider This Treatment?
Patients consider this minimally invasive treatment for many reasons. For example, because this treatment takes advantage of your body’s regenerative abilities, the treatment itself is hypoallergenic and produces natural-looking results. Furthermore, your treatment plan can be customized since this treatment can be used along with chemical peels, PRP, and medical-grade skincare products to improve your skin concerns.
Restore the Collagen in Your Skin
The results of microneedling can last for six to 12 months or more, particularly if you take good care of your skin and adopt healthier lifestyle practices. Get in touch with Beauty 2.0 Aesthetics in Port Moody, BC to schedule your consultation today.
