Several different types of microneedles have been fabricated and investigated. Some are solid, and some have a drug-coating layer that dissolves on insertion.

Microneedling stimulates your skin’s natural wound-healing response without creating an actual wound. This helps treat textural concerns like large pores and mild surface scarring. It also boosts collagen and elastin production to remodel your skin.

Traditional Microneedling

This classic procedure stimulates collagen growth by creating tiny “wounds” in the skin. The micro-trauma causes the body to form tons of small blood vessels that bring fresh blood, oxygen and nutrients straight to the surface. This results in a reduction of wrinkles, healing of sun damage and tightening of the existing skin.

You can get a traditional microneedling treatment at most cosmetic dermatology practices. A numbing cream will be applied before the procedure, and the technician moves a roller or pen-shaped device with needles across your face. The hands make little cuts in the skin, and some bleeding occurs.

This treatment is good for various complexion concerns, including large pores, acne scars, and uneven skin tone. It can also improve fine lines, wrinkles, and stretch marks. A newer version called INFINI-Focused RF microneedling adds radiofrequency energy to stimulate more robust collagen induction and skin tightening.

PRP Microneedling

A specialized handheld device creates micro-channels on the skin’s surface, which triggers faster cellular turnover. This is the product that your Bellevue plastic surgeon recommends. It’s ideal for skin problems like wrinkles, fine lines, uneven pigmentation and enlarged pores.

Adding PRP (platelet-rich plasma) to the microneedling process can enhance the effectiveness of treatment and help achieve results more quickly. This is often called the “vampire facial” and can address various skin concerns, including age spots, wrinkles, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation.

First, the skin is anesthetized with a topical cream that must sit for 30 minutes. Then, the micro-needling procedure is performed with a special electric pen that vibrates 12 tiny surgical-grade needles.

The microchannels created by the needles stimulate the body’s natural healing process and increase collagen and elastin production. The PRP serum is then applied directly to the micro-channels, resulting in an overall boost of growth factors. This procedure is more expensive than traditional microneedling, but it is worth the extra investment for dramatic rejuvenation results.

Microneedling with Radiofrequency

When you combine microneedling with radiofrequency energy, you can address fine lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores and brown spots. The skin can also become firmer and tighter. This treatment is most effective on the face, but it can also be done on the neck or hands.

RF microneedling helps treat acne scars and can also be used for hyperpigmentation (brown spots). It’s very safe to use and has been proven effective in numerous studies. Several different devices exist that incorporate radiofrequency with microneedling. 

During an RF microneedling procedure, the needles penetrate deeper into the skin and release heat, stimulating the skin to produce more collagen and elastin. After the treatment, the skin will look red, similar to a sunburn, but it will fade over time. A few treatments are recommended for the best results.

Microneedling with Chemical Peels

Adding microneedling to your regimen can enhance the cosmetic results of chemical peels by promoting skin tightening. This is because microneedling stimulates collagen production, which can increase elastic skin fibers that make your skin firmer.

Combining these two treatments also helps address deeper problems like scars and wrinkles. This is because chemical peels remove the damaged top layers of the skin. Microneedling then targets the areas that have been damaged.

You can do a chemical peel after microneedling, but it’s best to wait at least two weeks for the skin to heal. The skin may still be sensitive and inflamed after the procedure.

In addition, it’s important to choose a peel that is safe for your skin tone. Some peels can cause hyper- or hypo-pigmentation on darker skin tones. Thankfully, the microneedling technique is safe for most skin tones. However, it would help if you spoke to a dermatologist who can help you select the right chemical peel for your skin type.