Microneedling is one of the most effective methods for skin rejuvenation and collagen stimulation. This gentle anti-aging procedure improves your skin quality and reduces wrinkles, pigmentation spots, enlarged pores, or scars. It is a very natural method that utilizes the body’s own mechanisms of skin regeneration.
With microneedling, you achieve a refreshed and youthful skin appearance and a radiant look without extended downtime.
Important Facts
- Treatment duration: 30-45 minutes, plus 20-30 minutes for numbing cream application
- Aftercare: Sun protection, no sauna or tanning bed for 1-2 weeks
- Result: Immediate improvement in blood circulation, final result after 4-6 weeks
- Pain level: Low
- Social downtime: Skin is reddened immediately after treatment, but in most cases, the redness has completely subsided by the next day
- Price: Starting from €240 for the face, smaller scars from €100
What is Microneedling or Micro Needling
Microneedling is also known as Collagen Induction Therapy. This procedure utilizes the skin’s self-healing powers to achieve a lasting refinement of the skin texture and improvement in skin quality.
How does Microneedling work?
Thousands of tiny micro-injuries are intentionally created in the skin using very thin needles. These injuries are small enough to heal quickly but still signal the skin to accelerate regeneration. The stimulus of injury activates the skin’s own repair mechanism. Through this process, the skin renews itself and ‘reorganizes’. Growth factors are released. Fibroblasts (connective tissue cells) are stimulated, and the collagen and elastin synthesis of the skin is promoted, resulting in skin tightening. Additionally, the mechanical stimulus boosts blood and lymph circulation, so that metabolic waste products are removed more quickly.
The induced self-healing process and the resulting skin regeneration with the formation of new collagen continue to work in the deeper skin layers (dermis) for many weeks after the microneedling treatment, so that the skin appearance continuously improves.
Not only does the skin’s connective tissue renew, but patients also notice a refinement of facial skin pores and a radiant complexion, without altering the appearance of facial features. It’s no wonder that microneedling is also one of the most popular beauty treatments among Hollywood stars. An advantage of the method is that you can’t ‘overdo’ it. Once the redness of the uppermost skin layer has subsided after the treatment, you look as if nothing has happened, but beneath the surface, in the deeper layers of the skin, the self-healing process continues to work for a long time.
Regular use of microneedling can slow down skin aging. The induced injuries set in motion a process of skin regeneration that can also reduce pigmentation spots.
The effectiveness of microneedling is supported by scientific studies. The treatment is suitable for all skin types and very well tolerated.
The Microneedling Pen
The function of the Dermapen, also called Microneedling Pen, is easily explained: It’s a kind of electric stamp that uses ultra-thin sterile needles to create countless tiny channels in the skin within milliseconds, invisible to the naked eye.
The Dermapen has a sterile disposable tip, whose needle length can be varied between 0.5 and 2mm depending on the treated region. This makes it possible, for example, to choose a lower penetration depth in the sensitive eye area or over the forehead bone, than in the cheek area. This is also the reason why I clearly prefer the Dermapen in my practice over the otherwise commonly used derma roller. Additionally, the stamp shape leads to a gentler penetration of the tissue compared to the roller, as the channels are all perpendicular to the skin surface, whereas with the derma roller, the created openings are more irregular and wider at the top due to the rolling process.
Combination Possibilities of Microneedling
Microneedling with Special Active Ingredient Cocktails
To enhance the effect of the micro-needling therapy, active ingredients tailored to your individual skin type are applied during the treatment, such as vitamin C or hyaluronic acid. Through the open microchannels created during needling, the applied serum can penetrate particularly deeply into the skin and develop its anti-aging effect even more intensively.
Depending on the skin condition and patient’s wishes, combinations of active ingredients with hyaluronic acid, vitamins, amino acids, or substances that help against pigment shifts are available.
In this sense, the microneedling treatment can also be seen as an extension or intensification of mesotherapy. The difference is that the penetration of active ingredients is even better due to the high number of channels, and that the additional micro-injury stimulates an even stronger subsequent collagen stimulation.
Microneedling with PRP - The Ultimate Treatment Against Premature Skin Aging
Another highly popular combination method is the application of microneedling together with PRP. Here, the highly active plasma components centrifuged from the patient’s own blood are applied to the skin to further enhance the effect of needling. Microneedling together with PRP is thus a minimally invasive aesthetic treatment that works entirely without artificial substances. It is therefore particularly suitable for patients who do not want to use foreign substances such as hyaluronic acid. This combination method has also proven to be extremely effective in the treatment of hair loss.
The Advantages of Microneedling
- Excellent Tolerability
- No reduction in skin thickness - on the contrary, after some time the skin is even firmer.
- Minimal pain, as a numbing cream is applied before treatment.
- Slows Down the Skin Aging Process
- Permanent Refinement of Skin Texture Through Renewal of the Dermis Structure
- Enhancement of the Effect Through Additionally Applied Active Ingredient Cocktails Tailored to Your Needs (For Example, Vitamins or Hyaluronic Acid)
- Combination with PRP Possible - Together a Skin Rejuvenation Procedure Without Using Artificial Additives
- You Notice the Skin Improvement, but No One Can Tell You've "Had Something Done"
- You Can Resume Your Normal Daily Activities After the Treatment
For Which Skin Problems is Microneedling Optimally Suited
Microneedling is a Very Natural Anti-Aging Method That Can Be Used for Various Skin Problems
- Fine Wrinkles on the Face
- Pigment Spots and Pigment Irregularities
- Scars and Stretch Marks
- Sun-Damaged Skin
- Acne Scars
- Enlarged Pores
- Hair Loss (Especially in Combination with PRP)
When Can't the Microneedling Treatment Be Performed
- Acute Skin Infections
- Acute Herpes Infection
- Acute Severe Acne Infections
- Poorly Controlled Diabetes Mellitus
- Other Diseases Associated with Reduced Immunity
- Radiation Therapy or Ongoing Chemotherapy
- Known Wound Healing Disorders
- Known Coagulation Disorder or the Use of Blood-Thinning Medications (Aspirin, ThormboAss, Marcoumar, etc.)
How Does a Microneedling Treatment Proceed
The treatment itself lasts 30-45 minutes, but the applied numbing cream should take effect for about 20-30 minutes beforehand to make the procedure as comfortable as possible for you. We kindly ask you to arrive on time for your appointment.
As preparation, the skin is thoroughly cleansed of makeup and care products. Then, a local anesthetic cream is applied. After about half an hour, a thorough skin disinfection is performed.
Now, using the Dermapen with tiny sterile needles, countless micro-injuries are created in the skin while simultaneously applying an appropriate active ingredient mixture or PRP adapted to the skin condition. The active ingredients can diffuse directly into the deeper layers of the skin through the created channels in high concentration, further enhancing the result of microneedling and additionally supporting the subsequent healing process.
How Does My Skin Look After the Microneedling Treatment
Immediately after the microneedling application, the skin is reddened and may feel tight, looking similar to a sunburn. These symptoms, however, subside in the following days. In the subsequent days, minimal skin flaking may occur, which is a sign that dead skin cells are being shed more quickly, revealing new, fresh skin underneath.
The actual effect of the treatment only sets in during the following days and weeks. There is a significant increase in collagen synthesis in the deeper layers. Fine lines are smoothed, pigment irregularities are balanced out, and scars are reduced. However, your facial features remain completely natural and unchanged. No one needs to notice that you’ve had anything done.
On the same day, you should refrain from applying makeup, but afterward it’s not a problem.
In the following days, you must use sun protection. Strong sun exposure, sauna, or tanning beds should be avoided for 1-2 weeks.
Already the next day, the skin is plumper, fresher, and better supplied with blood. However, the final result is only visible after 2-3 weeks.
For optimal results, I recommend at least 3-4 treatments at intervals of about 4-6 weeks.
Hair Loss and Microneedling
Here, a combination of microneedling and PRP has proven particularly effective. The needling results in improved blood circulation in the scalp and the hair follicles are better supplied with nutrients. Additionally, the growth factors from the platelet-rich plasma promote new hair growth. This method is especially effective in treating early-stage hair loss. In this case, I recommend at least 3-4 needling sessions and then refresher treatments about every 6 months.
Of course, this method cannot produce a new mane of hair on a long-standing bald patch. In such cases, hair transplantation might be a more suitable method to consider.
Treatment of Scars and Stretch Marks
Surgical scars or acne scars, as well as stretch marks after pregnancies or due to rapid weight fluctuations respond very well to the application of microneedling. Here, there is usually a significant improvement in the appearance of the skin after 4-6 treatments, as the micro-injuries created by the Dermapen cause the collagen fiber bundles to be “rearranged”.
Frequently Asked Questions about Microneedling (FAQ)
What is the difference between microneedling and peeling?
Unlike peels, microneedling does not reduce skin thickness; on the contrary, in the following days and weeks, the skin actually becomes firmer and plumper.
However, patients can also benefit from the application of both methods. This way, you get the strong renewal of the superficial epidermis that peeling offers and the deep skin regeneration that the microneedling treatment provides. However, the two treatments should be spread over different sessions to achieve the best effect.
Is the treatment painful?
The treatment is almost pain-free, as a local anesthetic cream is applied to the skin in preparation, and the needles used are very thin. I recommend that you arrive at the practice about 15-20 minutes before your needling appointment so that the numbing cream has enough time to take effect.
Additionally, the needle length on the microneedling pen can be varied, allowing sensitive areas like the eye area or forehead to be treated more gently.
Are the results of the microneedling treatment visible immediately?
Although the skin is a bit fresher and plumper just one day after the treatment, the long-term effect is the result of a renewal process that takes several weeks.
Is the needling application only possible on the face?
The most common applications of microneedling are on the face, neck, and décolleté. Other possibilities include the scalp, scars, or stretch marks.
How many needling treatments do I need?
You can notice skin improvement after just one microneedling treatment. However, the best anti-aging results are achieved with at least 3-4 applications at intervals of 4-6 weeks, and then typically refresher treatments about every 6 months.
Are the injuries caused by needling dangerous for the skin?
The length of the microneedling pen needles is adjusted to the facial area being treated to reach the layer of skin where collagen is produced, without causing deep and dangerous injuries. The channels created during the application close again after a few hours, and the effect then takes place beneath the surface.
What is the difference compared to needling at a beauty salon?
The most important difference is the needle length. Unlike a doctor, a beautician is only allowed to use shorter needles. However, the length of the needles is crucial when it comes to stimulating collagen synthesis in the dermis. Therefore, you get significantly more intense effects with medical microneedling.
What is the difference compared to derma roller treatment at home?
Here too, the most important difference is the needle length. Derma rollers approved for home use have shorter needles. You get a superficial effect by stimulating blood circulation in the skin, but no stimulation of collagen synthesis in the deeper layers. Nevertheless, this treatment, when used regularly, is certainly not bad for your skin.
However, I strongly advise against ordering derma rollers from dubious internet sites that are actually only approved for medical use in a doctor’s office. Through improper handling and lack of hygiene, you risk the formation of scars.
How should I behave after the needling treatment?
Treat your face after needling like a fresh wound. Do not apply any makeup on the day of treatment afterward. Keep the skin clean and dry.
Wash the skin with lukewarm water before going to bed. Change your pillowcase at home before sleeping and use a fresh towel for your face to avoid infections.
Don’t let your four-legged friend lick your face. Avoid swimming, sauna, or steam baths for a few days.
And apply sunblock to your entire face daily in the first few days after treatment, as the skin is still extremely sensitive right after needling.
Will my frown lines disappear with the microneedling treatment?
The microneedling treatment stimulates collagen synthesis, which is why it’s also called collagen induction therapy. It slows down the skin aging process and causes skin tightening. The complexion becomes more even through the microneedling treatment, and pore refinement occurs.
However, if you suffer from deep frown lines, treatment with botulinum toxin is primarily the method of choice, because these are so-called dynamic wrinkles that are caused by strong muscle movement and not by lack of collagen.
Is my face bloody after the microneedling treatment?
The fact that you are at the right depth of the skin with the tip of the needles during microneedling to stimulate the synthesis of fresh collagen is recognized by seeing small punctiform bleeding. However, this bleeding stops while still in the office. When you arrive home, your skin is noticeably reddened and feels tight, or tiny scabs form, but no more bleeding is visible.