Everything you Need to Know about Microneedling

***This post is sponsored by Sistine Plastic Surgery but all opinions are my own***

 

Tell me you watched the Keeping up with the Kardashians episode where Kim got a vampire facial? Well, microneedling is a variation of this: tiny little holes are punctured in your skin with the Skinpen, causing tiny injuries in the dermis and epidermis layers of your skin, with the hopes of promoting collagen and elastin. This procedure causes your skin to heal itself, causing rejuvenation of the skin into brighter, firmer and tighter skin. Its especially beneficial for acne scars, fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation.

So why did I choose to do it? To be honest, I don’t necessarily have problem skin. I have never had acne, but my fines lines are starting to creep in and overall my skin is so dull. I had considered getting a chemical peel, but after learning about how minimally invasive the procedure is, and the benefits, I was sold. Its also a fairly new-er procedure, so I was dying to know what the hype is all about. Also, keep in mind that a complete microneedling session is three-six treatments! My plan was to go for three treatments, 4-6 weeks apart for maximum results.

Pre-procedure

There was really no prepping for the procedure, other than planning my schedule to accommodate the recovery (like no photo shoots the day after since my face would be red for a day or two). I also needed to keep in mind that it would take three procedures for full results, so planning those out in four week increments was crucial too. Other things to keep in mind (which don’t apply to me) are limiting sun exposure before the procedure and discontinue use of blood-thinning medications 14 hours prior. Jenna (the RN who did my procedure) filled me in on all the good stuff so I was completely prepared!

The Day of the Procedure

Thank God Jenna at Sistine Plastic Surgery is so sweet. I highly recommend going to a place where you feel 100% comfortable with who is doing it. I emailed Jenna literally the day of having a minor freak out about how painful it would be (stupid me stumbled upon an article deep in the Google search engine about the horrific pain someone experienced). She reassured me that the pain would be super tolerable and minimal (spoiler: she was totally right). So other than the initial nervousness, I was super excited to start the procedure.

I arrived at Sistine Plastic Surgery and Jenna took me back to my appointment and went over any and every questions that I had. I signed a couple documents and was ready to begin! The first step was to cover my face with a topical numbing cream. This numbing cream sat on my face for around 15-20 minutes. Once it kicked in, I was ready.

The Procedure

The procedure itself only took about 20 minutes. You can see the actual video footage over on my Instagram! After applying the gliding cream, Jenna turned on the Skinpen and glided it over my skin. I will admit, it was a little strange at first and honestly, the vibration sound is the scariest part! I will also, truthfully tell you, that the worst part is around your hairline (the numbing cream isn’t all the way in your scelp) so I noted some sensitivity. Also, you know how sensitive your nose is? This part made my eyes water (not because it was painful, but because it was ticklish!)

Right After the Procedure

My skin was on fire, I won’t lie to you about that. It felt like I laid in the sun for a solid 24 hours. My skin was also BRIGHT red and super tight. Remember, the numbing cream hadn’t worn off yet so the initial discomfort hadn’t fully set in. I knew my skin would be red, but I have to admit it freaked me out. I also had minimal pinpoint bleeding (tiny little blood spots). So although I was prepped for it, it still was a bit of a shock! Once I got home, the numbing cream wore off and my face kind of felt like it was on fire. Jenna told me not to take any kind of ibuprofen because that would kind of prevent my skin from doing what it needed to do (rejuvenate and promote collagen) so I abided by the rules.

Post Procedure

The Skinfuse Lift HG that I was sent home with, with instructions to use for the first 24 hours was a Godsend. Whenever my face started to burn, I would apply it and felt instant relief. Sleeping was totally fine, and when I woke up the next morning, my skin felt much better. For the next 24 hours, I applied the other cream, which was a calming complex. Another key thing was NO makeup for 24 hours. I actually ended up going the whole weekend without it to let my skin heal and breathe.

Day 3 – 5

My skin started peeling, which I wasn’t totally expecting! The redness totally subsided. I also got a little bit of acne (which is SO odd for me). I was prepared for it but it still freaked me out just a bit! However, by day 4 I wore makeup even though I was a little peely. My makeup went on so much better and overall my skin felt amazing.

Overall, I am SO glad I did the procedure. My skin has a little bit of a glow to it, and I am much more confident going makeup free! I also feel like my skincare products adhere and soak into my skin so much better. I think this procedure was 100% worth it, and especially if you have problem skin, you could benefit so much from it! The below two picture right after the procedure, and day two post microneedling.

 

FAQ:

Did it hurt? On a pain scale, I would say the actual procedure is a 3 out of 10. The after (initially) was probably a 4 out of 10 just because a really, really bad sunburn hurts, right? I am also terrified of needles and I was able to do it, no problem!

Would I do it again? Absolutely. Like I mentioned before, my skin looks and feels better, and I can tell I have produced new collagen. I am more confident in rocking bare skin!

Where should I go? I would hands down recommend Sistine Plastic Surgery; the staff, nurse, and Doctor Leong are so caring and really walk you through absolutely everything. They also have a lot of locations in the Pittsburgh area so it makes it super convenient as well! You can see a listing of their offices here.

What does it cost? As far as skin procedures go, this is on par with the costs of injectables or skin treatment. I believe it depends on the number of sessions, but I will say its under $1000. And good news for you guys! If you are interested in microneedling, or any other service that Sistine Plastic Surgery offers – if you mention my name/blog, you can receive $100 on ANY service (excluded single session energy device treatments/products; expires on 4/15/19). This is one heck of a deal!

So what do you think? Would you try it? For me, taking care of my skin is a huge part of my life now that I am getting older. I will try anything to keep it looking young! I think of these kinds of things as preventative “medicine”; if I do it now, it sets me up for gorgeous skin down the road and less wrinkles! So check out Sistine Plastic Surgery for all of your skin needs! They offer SO many different service, so I know you will find something that you love! (and remember to use my name for $100 of any service, expires 4/15/19)