Microneedling
Effective pursuit of skin rejuvenation
What is Microneedling?
This is a cosmetic procedure also known as collagen induction therapy. The procedure uses a micropen - a battery-operated pen with very small, sterile needles at the tip - to create "channels" or an intentional small injury in the skin. This stimulates a series of reactions in the body to heal the injury - leading to an increase in collagen and elastin and a boost in cellular turnover, a process that slows as we age. The created channels also allow for deeper penetration of topical products, increasing their efficacy.
The procedure is quick, the downtime is short and the results are great!
In exchange for all of these benefits you will experience about 12-24 hours of mostly mild red skin and you must avoid sun exposure, makeup and exercise for 24 hours after your session. Because the skin is more open after treatment it’s important that you use natural clean products - you will have the option to purchase an aftercare kit to make the whole process as easy as possible. The kit will contain products that have “clean”, natural and effective ingredients at a good price point. If you love the products you can continue to use them full time - not just after sessions.
Depending on your skin health and amount of sun damage you may start to see results as early as within 3-4 weeks of your first session or at latest, after 2-3 treatments. Most people receive a series of 3-6 treatments scheduled 4-6 weeks apart. Results can last for years!
Microneedling can target areas - such as the neck, decolletage and the backs of hands - that are not able to receive other kinds of treatments. The technique can really be applied to most areas of the body for scars or hair loss. If you’re interested in both the face & neck areas I suggest doing a series on the face first as any skin tightening there will have an effect on the neck but of course, it’s your choice.
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It is possible to see improvements in
-skin elasticity
-fine lines
-wrinkles
-sun spots, in general a more even complexion
-chronic acne
-acne scars, some other scars respond as well
-localized hair loss
-enlarged pores
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Ideally you'll arrive to my office with a clean, makeup-free face. If that can't happen I have cleansing wipes you can use to remove makeup.
Before we start we’ll take a few “before” pictures so that it’s easier to see our progress.
If you choose to use numbing cream, you should arrive 20 minutes before your appointment. Once the cream is applied you have about 15 minutes to wait for full effectiveness (depending on room availability you may be in the waiting area during this time).
The numbing cream will be removed and the skin cleansed before microneedling starts.
I’ll apply a serum to your face to help the micropen move over the skin. I’ll then use gentle pressure and small movements to target different areas of your face or neck/chest. I’ll move systematically from area to area.
The whole procedure takes about 15 minutes. We then complete the treatment with application of a cooling face mask and an individualized prescription of ear acupuncture while you rest with the mask for 10-15 minutes.
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I’ll send you home with clear aftercare instructions and there’s the option to buy a packet of products safe for use at this time but here’s an idea of what to expect.
First 24 hours
-your skin will likely appear red and will likely feel tight, dry
-Avoid all sun exposure
-Avoid makeup
-Avoid sweaty exercise
-Avoid other causes of sweating such as saunas, hot tubs, etc.
-You will only use the products in your aftercare kit.
24-48 hours
-redness and tightness will be starting to subside
-continue to avoid direct/prolonged sun exposure and wear a mineral sunscreen when spending time outdoors
Days 2-4
-The immediate post-treatment side effects should be resolving now.
-You may have some flaky skin or maybe a few breakouts as old clogged pores clear themselves.
Most people notice positive results by three weeks post-treatment and that the results accumulate over time and over additional treatments.
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It depends on your goals. Microneedling is not hyper-localized like other treatments (i.e. botox or fillers), it offers a great full-face refresh. You might choose microneedling if you wish to see an improvement in wrinkles, skin tone & texture, areas of hyperpigmentation, acne scarring or you want to improve your appearance while maintaining your full facial expression.
Microneedling would not target chronic muscle tension or sagging as well as acupuncture and herbs.
Microneedling is not for everyone - if you have chronic health conditions or certain skin conditions it may not be in your best interest - contact me to see if microneedling could work for your situation.
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Come for acupuncture treatments in between your microneedling sessions - this way we can also address the underlying imbalances that contribute to the aging of our appearance. Since we can only do microneedling once a month there’s time in between those sessions to engage in cosmetic/facial acupuncture and facial gua sha which both include a body acupuncture treatment to address any imbalances as well as relax chronic stress and muscle tension. When you feel and sleep better you look better!
Take it easy on your digestive processor: eat clean, fresh food, and moderate intake of alcohol, rich foods and disturbing visual/auditory content for at least the first few days after your session.
Don’t ignore thirst - drink plenty of water when thirsty, take vitamin C for a few days and get some good rest.
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Through February 24, 2024 your first “trial” microneedling treatment is offered at a discounted price of $325.
You can buy one trial treatment for $425 but since microneedling really requires a series of treatments to meet full effectiveness I offer package purchases with discounts to help make sure you see the best results. To request a list of packages click here. Cosmetic packages are offered at 20% off until February 24, 2024!
I love to think of cherry blossoms when I think of aging gracefully - the petals that have fallen off the tree may be past “peak bloom” but they are still so so beautiful.
Why receive this type of treatment from an acupuncturist?
Actually microneedling can only be performed by health professionals that have been trained in invasive techniques - since microneedling breaks the surface of the skin it can only be performed by MDs, RNs and L.Acs. Some other professionals may offer something similar using a pen that vibrates against the surface of the skin but does not create the same type of channels at the skin surface.
Additionally, aging happens from the inside out so we miss an opportunity if we ignore the internal terrain that contributes to the aging process. While micro-needling does a great job at increasing cellular turnover (a process that slows as we age) it does nothing to support the blood, fluids and energetic pathways in our body that ultimately support the health and structure of our skin. Combining a non-invasive surface-level technique such as microneedling with Chinese medicine allows us to more effectively address the complete health of our skin.
I am excited to use this approach in my practice for current patients in good health that want to pursue a multi-faceted approach to aging as gracefully as possible. To boost your results consider adding acupuncture sessions (either facial/cosmetic or body treatments) and maybe a few gua sha facials in between our microneedling sessions.
What does it mean to be a current patient? I must have seen you within the last year.
Want to return to the practice? That’s great! You never have to pay an additional fee to return to my practice. However if it’s been a while I’ll ask you to fill out the health history and consent forms again to make sure we’re current. Book a followup session and add a note with the reason for your visit. During the session you’ll have an acupuncture treatment and we can discuss what cosmetic approaches might be best for you as well as what packages will give the best results and be most cost-effective.
If you’ve never been to my practice you can become a current patient by booking an initial visit - this includes a new patient intake and an acupuncture treatment. The goal of this session is to discuss health history and determine whether cosmetic acupuncture or microneedling are in alignment with your goals and safe for you at this time. I use this time to determine what your individual aging process looks like so that I can support you seeing the best possible results through acupuncture, diet and herbal prescriptions. Please note I do not perform microneedling or any cosmetic procedure during the first visit.