FINAL RESULTS: 2 MONTHS
When the effects of sun damage, aging, wrinkles, and other problems start to show, Richmond microneedling can help reduce the toll that life has taken on your skin. This innovative skin resurfacing procedure is exploding in popularity, and for good reason. By using tiny needles to create tiny microscopic punctures in the outer layers of skin, microneedling is a safe and effective way to minimize wrinkles, scars, and other common skin imperfections, thus helping you restore a smoother, clearer complexion without heat, chemicals, or abrasion.
All skin resurfacing treatments work by encouraging new, healthy skin cells to emerge. However, instead of removing outer layers of skin to reveal younger-looking skin, microneedling prompts your skin to do the work naturally. By making a series of “micro-injuries” in the skin, microneedling triggers the natural healing response, helping your skin regenerate healthy, unblemished cells and produce collagen at a higher rate.
Because no heat, chemicals, or abrasion is used, microneedling is safe for any skin type and can be used nearly anywhere on the body. We’ve seen great results helping patients at our office address a variety of skin problems. For example, we can use microneedling to:
Our experienced aesthetician performs your microneedling procedure during a 30 to 60 minute visit at our office in Richmond. When you arrive, she first will cleanse the skin to be treated, and then apply a topical anesthetic to keep you comfortable during treatment. The Microneedling procedure involves a small, pen-like device with a tip containing a dozen or so very fine, short needles. This device is applied to your skin several times to cover the blemished area thoroughly. Most patients say the feel a mild vibrating sensation, but little discomfort during the procedure.
Following your microneedling session, you can return to your normal activities with one special consideration: wear broad-spectrum sunscreen. Treated skin is extra sensitive to the sun, and unnecessary exposure can harm your results. The most common side effect from microneedling is temporary redness, similar to a sunburn, in the treatment area.
While many patients notice improvement within a day or two after treatment (i.e., they say their skin has a nice glow), the lasting effects begin to emerge after 1 to 2 weeks, as your body produces new collagen. Results continue to improve for several months.
Microneedling is a very gentle procedure, and subtle improvements can be achieved with just a single procedure. However, most patients who come to our office choose to have a series of 3 to 6 treatments, spaced a month or so apart, to experience the most satisfying results. Less severe imperfections, such as mild sun damage or fine lines, can often be treated satisfactorily in just a few treatments, while more pronounced scars and blemishes typically require several treatments.
For those who desire skin tightening in addition to the numerous benefits of traditional microneedling, our office also offers VirtueRF, a new form of microneedling that is enhanced with radiofrequency energy. VirtueRF effectively targets acne scars and wrinkles, but it also utilizes radiofrequency energy to tighten the skin at the same time. This use of targeted radiofrequency energy achieves similar skin-rejuvenating results as a laser or peel, but without the down time.