Here’s What It’s Like Getting Microneedling: A Knoxville Aesthetician’s Guide
Key Takeaways
- Microneedling is a non-invasive treatment that stimulates your body’s natural collagen production to improve skin firmness and overall appearance.
- It’s a versatile option that can reduce fine lines, acne scars, stretch marks, and uneven skin texture across many skin types.
- The treatment is generally comfortable, with numbing cream used beforehand and only minimal sensation during the procedure.
- While you may see some improvement after one session, a series of treatments is typically recommended for the best results.
- Microneedling requires little downtime, but proper pre- and post-care — like avoiding certain products and protecting your skin from the sun — are key to optimal healing and results.
If you have stumbled across a beauty influencer’s account on social media, or you’ve done a little research on non-surgical anti-aging aesthetic treatments, you’ve probably heard at least a little bit about “microneedling.” While this procedure has been around for decades, it’s gaining popularity in recent times as an effective non-surgical way to rejuvenate your skin by triggering its own natural processes.
Since microneedling has been offered at The Lucas Center (among other non-surgical aesthetic treatments and a full slate of surgical procedures) for many years now, we thought it was time to offer an inside look at the microneedling treatment process, its benefits, recovery time, and more.
To help us out, we talked with our in-house aesthetician, Elaina, for her expert input and to get answers to some of your questions about this popular non-invasive procedure.
Let’s take a look…
What Is Microneedling and How Does It Benefit Your Skin?
Probably born out of the ancient practice of Chinese acupuncture, modern microneedling (also sometimes called collagen induction therapy) is the gentle piercing of the top layer of your skin with very small needles. Multiple needles are usually grouped together in a “pen” form to make the process quicker and easier. While the treatment is most common on the face, it can be used on other areas of the body, as well.
Here’s how Elaina explained the benefits and who might be a good fit:
“All skin types can benefit from microneedling! I would recommend it to a patient if they are concerned about reducing scarring and fine lines, improving skin texture, and enhancing their overall skin health.”
How Does Microneedling Stimulate Collagen Production for Skin Rejuvenation?
As we age, collagen (an important protein that gives skin structure) begins to break down. This is why, over time, most people eventually go from having smooth, youthful, firm skin to looser, saggier, and wrinklier skin.
With advances in medicine and science, however, we’ve learned that when a person’s skin experiences injury or trauma, their body is wired to quickly facilitate healing to the affected area. Can you guess how the body does that?
If you guessed collagen, you’re correct!
So, the microneedling treatment process is relatively simple. The targeted tiny punctures to your skin trigger your body’s natural healing response to that area, stimulating the production of more collagen.
In Elaina’s words,
“This is one of the BEST things you can do for your skin! Microneedling boosts collagen and elastin growth, leading to firmer, smoother, and more youthful looking skin. It’s so beneficial for the overall health and longevity of the skin.”
Key Benefits of Microneedling for Acne Scars and Texture Improvement
This treatment isn’t just for fine lines and wrinkles. In fact, microneedling has been shown to be effective at fading acne scars, stretch marks, and other similar small blemishes on the skin’s surface. It has such a rejuvenating effect that it can significantly smooth and fade those trouble spots that so often undermine confidence.
Even if you don’t have scars or stretch marks to worry about, it can also help with overall skin texture, evening out skin tone (reducing blotchiness), and giving your skin a smoother, firmer texture.
Pro tip: Typically, you’ll want to plan on more than one microneedling session, with time for healing in between. The total number will depend on the severity of the scars, blemishes, or texture issues you want to address.
According to Elaina:
“One misconception about microneedling is that one treatment is all you need. While you can see improvement after one treatment, three treatments are recommended to see its full effect.”
If you enjoy a deep dive into more technical research, check out this suggested reading.
What to Expect During the Microneedling Treatment Process
For some patients, the very name of this treatment may be an obstacle (since it has the word “needle” in it). However, as Elaina explains, the process is usually pretty comfortable:
“I would compare microneedling to the feeling of a dull vibration, though you do not feel the needles. Some patients even say it tickles!”
How Does the Aesthetician Prepare Your Skin for Microneedling?
To help you feel at ease and to minimize any possible discomfort,
“Patients are numbed topically for 30 minutes before the treatment so you feel no pain and the experience is overall enjoyable!” says Elaina.
Here’s What Happens Step-by-Step During a Typical Microneedling Session
Before: Before beginning the treatment, you’ll talk with your provider about your specific area(s) of concern. Is it around the corners of your mouth? Pockmarks on your cheek? Some spots of hyperpigmentation? Your concerns will direct your specific treatment.
During: Next, those areas of your face will be numbed, most likely with something like lidocaine cream. After that has had time to kick in, it’s time to start. As Elaina said, with that topical pain reliever applied, discomfort (if any) should be minimal, although you may feel a slight tickling sensation.
An experienced provider like Elaina can also help set you at ease. Here’s how she does it:
“I think sometimes patients are not too sure what to expect, which is why I always like to explain exactly what I am doing step-by-step, so they feel more comfortable about the whole experience.”
After: Even though the procedure is gentle, you should expect some visible irritation at first.
“Some patients are surprised about the redness and possible pinpoint bleeding they can have, which are completely normal.” Elaina explains.
In the first few days after treatment, Elaina says you may also experience possible flaking and dryness.
Here’s How You Can Care for Your Skin Before & After Microneedling to Ensure Safe Recovery
All in all, microneedling is a non-invasive procedure requiring minimal prep and post-treatment care on your part. But there are a few things Elaina says can help set you up for success.
Elaina’s Microneedling Prep Tips:
- Avoid retinols, active ingredients, tanning, and self-tanner on your skin 1 week before.
- Avoid BOTOXⓇ and fillers 2 weeks before.
- Talk to your provider if it’s getting close to your appointment and you have irritated skin (i.e., sunburn, open wounds, sores). To be safe, you may need to reschedule.
Elaina’s Post-Microneedling Care Tips
One of the great things about this treatment is that there is virtually no downtime required. Most normal physical activities should be fine right away, as long as they don’t affect the treated area, which you should give a little more TLC than usual.
“I always tell patients to ‘baby’ their skin after microneedling,” says Elaina. “Cleansing your face the morning after and then not touching your face is very important. Plus, wear sunscreen! Your skin is already in a compromised state, so keeping your face protected from the sun is one of the most beneficial things you can do.”
Microneedling in Knoxville, Tennessee
If you’re in the greater Knoxville or East Tennessee area and are ready to give microneedling a try, schedule a time to come see us at The Lucas Center. We’ll be happy to answer any more questions you have about the treatment (or any other aesthetic or surgical procedure) — and Elaina and the team would love to help you give your skin the rejuvenation it needs!
To schedule your appointment, give us a call today at (865) 217-0572.