Microneedling Vancouver Clinic: Everything You Need to Know
Acne, scarring, discoloration—as we get older, our skin gradually accumulates damage. At the same time, the processes that help heal this damage begin to slow, and skin starts to show signs of aging. A variety of treatments have been developed to encourage skin regeneration, ranging from more intensive procedures like laser resurfacing to a variety of less invasive options such as microdermabrasion and microneedling. Discover the benefits of microneedling in Vancouver with our experienced and professional team from this blog.
For those concerned about signs of aging or damage to the skin, microneedling can be a minimally invasive and cost-effective way to promote healing of the skin.
When considering any cosmetic procedure, it is important to do your research and choose the procedure and practitioner that is right for you. This guide will walk you through a general overview of the microneedling process and answer some frequently asked questions.
Microneedling Vancouver Clinic : An Overview
Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy or CIT, is a safe and minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that improves the health and surface appearance of skin without laser treatments, surgery, or a long recovery time. It can be used to address a variety of skin concerns, including fine lines, wrinkles, acne, scarring, and sun damage.
Microneedling Vancouver Clinic: What is it?
Microneedling involves a medical device that uses very fine needles to continuously puncture the surface of the skin, creating multiple invisible micro-wounds. Though the damage involved is minimal, your body registers the damage and increases the production of collagen and elastin, improving skin texture, firmness, and hydration in the area.
As you age, your body’s collagen and elastin production slows, which means that skin becomes thinner, less firm, and slower to regenerate damage. And the less collagen a body has, the less collagen it can produce or maintain. Thus, by engaging the body’s natural healing processes, microneedling not only helps improve skin’s appearance, but it also makes the skin healthier, stronger, and better at maintaining collagen as a whole.
What is Microneedling Used For?
Microneedling is a safe and effective way to improve the appearance of skin, and is used to address several different skin concerns, including:
- Fine lines, wrinkles, and reduced skin elasticity: Classic signs of aging occur when the skin slows in its production of collagen and elastin, which are essential in the healing and structure of your skin. Microneedling helps stimulate skin regeneration and elasticity to restore a youthful appearance to your skin.
- Scarring: Scars occur when the body does not produce enough collagen while healing a wound. By increasing collagen production, microneedling helps smooth out and reduce the appearance of scars.
- Stretchmarks: A form of scarring, stretchmarks form when skin rapidly expands, causing the connecting elastin and collagen strands to rupture. Microneedling helps restart the collagen production process and promotes the healing of stretchmarks.
- Sun damage: Sun damage such as hyperpigmentation can be greatly reduced with collagen induction therapy.
- Enlarged pores: The increase of collagen from microneedling helps to tighten up lax skin and reduce the appearance of pores. The actual microneedling process itself can also aid in unclogging blocked pores.
- Hair growth: Collagen is essential for the health of your hair, and some studies have shown that the use of microneedling on the scalp can be an effective way to strengthen hair follicles and promote blood flow in the area.
Microneedling Vancouver Clinic: How Much Does it Cost?
When done by a licensed professional, you should expect a microneedling session to cost between $250 and $350 per session. However, there are factors which effect this price,
including the amount and location of skin being treated, the amount of damage, and the desired results.
Like with any cosmetic procedure, it is very important to get microneedling done only by a reputable professional to ensure best results and avoid complications. While this may potentially mean a larger cost per session, individual treatments will likely yield more dramatic results and require fewer sessions to achieve.
Please note: microneedling is an elective cosmetic procedure, and thus not covered by insurance.
Microneedling Vancouver Clinic: Is it Safe?
The short answer is yes, microneedling is considered safe for the majority of people. Most people require no downtime post-treatment and do not experience any side effects after an initial period of redness and minor skin irritation lasting two to three days. However, as with any cosmetic procedure, there are associated risks.
Most potential side effects of microneedling are quite minor, if unpleasant. In addition to redness, you may notice your skin becoming flaky, peeling, or lightly scabbing in some spots. You may also experience some pain once the numbing cream wears off. And while generally your skin does not bleed during microneedling, an intensive enough treatment can potentially cause minor bleeding and/or bruising.
In terms of more serious complications, the biggest concern when it comes to microneedling is infection. Since the procedure involves creating many tiny wounds, there is the potential for germs to be introduced into the skin. To reduce your risk, make sure that you keep your skin clean and refrain from activities such as swimming while your skin is first healing. You should also ensure that you get the procedure done at a reputable establishment that thoroughly disinfects both their equipment and the treatment area.
Finally, there are certain health conditions that make you a bad candidate for microneedling. It is recommended that you avoid microneedling if you:
- Are pregnant.
- Are currently taking certain medications, ex. oral acne medications such as Accutane, blood thinners.
- Have any active skin conditions such as open wounds, cold sores, warts, cystic acne breakouts, eczema, etc.
- Frequently drink alcohol.
- Are prone to keloid scarring.
- Suffer from Lupus or Psoriasis.
Remember, the best way to prevent potential complications from microneedling is to do your research and go to a reputable clinic. Make sure your treatment will be done by a licensed practitioner and speak to them about any health concerns you may have when you go for your consultation.
6 Benefits of Microneedling
When trying to decide between different skin rejuvenation methods, it can sometimes be difficult to tell what exactly distinguishes all of them from one another. These are some of the benefits which make microneedling a great option for skin resurfacing:
- No recovery time needed: Microneedling does require some basic aftercare, but the majority of your routine activities can be resumed immediately after the treatment.
- Professional results: While home microneedling kits, or “derma rollers”, do exist, they have much shorter and duller needles than the devices used by professionals, leading to less dramatic microneedling results. Home rollers also carry an increased risk of infection if not cleaned properly.
- Cost-effective: Microneedling is a significantly cheaper skin rejuvenation option than more invasive treatments like laser resurfacing.
- Safe for all skin tones: For those with darker skin, heat-based treatments like laser resurfacing can potentially cause damage and discoloration. By contrast, microneedling is a completely mechanical treatment that can safely be used on all skin colours.
- Head-to-toe treatment: While mostly done on the face, microneedling can be performed on any part of the body, for example when used as a treatment for scars.
- More effective skincare: For a time after microneedling, the punctures from the procedure will act as channels, allowing your topical skincare products to penetrate deeper into the skin.
Microneedling vs Microdermabrasion: What’s the Difference?
Microneedling can sometimes be confused with microdermabrasion, and there are some superficial similarities. While both procedures improve skin texture, microdermabrasion works through exfoliation. A special tool is used to remove the topmost layer of your skin, which is primarily composed of dead cells. By contrast, microneedling penetrates the skin but does not “polish” it the way that microdermabrasion does—the topmost layer does not get removed.
Let’s compare:
| 微晶焕肤 | 微针治疗 |
| Non-invasive | Minimally invasive |
| Procedure takes ~30-60 minutes | Procedure takes ~10-20 minutes |
| Superficial, exfoliates top layer of epidermis to expose newer skin beneath | Penetrates the skin to stimulate tissue repair in epidermis and dermis |
| Used to improve: fine wrinkles, uneven skin pigmentation, enlarged pores, dull complexion, blackheads | Used to improve: fine and deep wrinkles, uneven skin pigmentation, enlarged pores, dull complexion, acne scars, stretch marks, loose skin |
| Requires multiple treatments, approx. every two weeks | Requires multiple treatments, approx. once a month |
| Results last ~2 weeks | Results can last multiple months |
| ~$100-$200 per session, not covered by insurance | ~$250-$350 per session, not covered by insurance |
Microneedling Vancouver Clinic: What Should I Expect During the Treatment?
Even minimally invasive treatments can be daunting, and it is helpful to know what to expect when you go in for your microneedling procedure. After arriving at the clinic and before the treatment itself, clients will have a medical grade numbing cream spread over the area receiving treatment and then be asked to wait until the effects set in. This process takes approximately twenty minutes and will prevent any pain or discomfort during the treatment.
Once the area is numbed, the procedure will begin. The professional performing the procedure will use a medical grade microneedling pen or roller on your skin. The pen has a reciprocating tip that continuously punches fine, sharp needles into the skin as it moves over the surface of it. It is a very efficient tool—depending on the area being treated, the procedure should only take somewhere between ten and twenty minutes. Your practitioner may spread a soothing serum onto the area. At this point you’re all done! Your skin might be sensitive and slightly flushed, similar to having a moderate sunburn. Make sure to follow any aftercare instructions that you’re given, and these effects should resolve themselves within a few days at most.
Microneedling Vancouver Clinic: What You Should and Shouldn’t Do
While microneedling is a minimally invasive treatment with little to no downtime, it is still a cosmetic treatment and will leave skin sensitive in the immediate aftermath. Following all the aftercare instructions given to you by your licensed aesthetician or medical professional will ensure the best microneedling results.
6 Things you Should do After the Microneedling Treatment
- Always apply sunscreen before exposing your skin to direct or indirect sunlight. Use a zinc-based rather than a chemical sunscreen if possible.
- Always wash your hands before touching the affected skin.
- Keep skin clean, using mild cleansers.
- Keep skin moisturized with mild hydrating products.
- Apply hyaluronic acid to hydrate and stimulate collagen production.
- Always give your skin time an appropriate amount of time to heal before going for any other skincare treatments.
Always make sure to speak to the professional providing your treatment to get personalized aftercare instructions and clarify anything you may be unsure about, including any skincare products you are planning to use in the days following your treatment.
7 Things you Shouldn’t do After Your Microneedling Treatment
- Do not wear any makeup for the 24 hours following the treatment.
- Do not use any strong cleansers, acne medication, chemical peels, retinoid creams, or any perfumed skincare products.
- Do not touch your skin without washing your hands.
- Do not expose your skin to direct sunlight for long periods of time in the week post-treatment.
- Do not soak your skin (ex. in a swimming pool or hot bath).
- Do not work out, go to the gym, or engage in any activity which will cause profuse sweating for the 72 hours following the treatment.
- Do not schedule any additional treatments until your skin has had time to heal.
Additionally, the professional providing the treatment will be able to give you more detailed aftercare instructions based on your personal medical history and skincare needs. Make sure to follow all the instructions given to you for the best results.
Microneedling Vancouver Clinic: Where Can I Get it Near Me?
As has been emphasized throughout this guide, it is crucial that microneedling is performed at a reputable clinic by a medical professional or otherwise licensed practitioner. Do your research before making an appointment and come prepared with a series of questions. Questions you may want to ask before committing to a spa or clinic or a practitioner include:
What are your credentials?
- How do you sterilize your equipment? How often is it done?
- Do you use numbing cream before the treatment?
- Do you apply any kind of calming treatment to the skin after microneedling?
- How many treatments will it take before I see my desired results?
- Is there anything I need to do to prepare?
- Is there anything I need to do for aftercare?
- What are the potential complications? What should I do if they occur?
Reputable practitioners should be able to talk you through the procedure and answer any questions you may have clearly and honestly. They should be knowledgeable about skincare products in order to tell you what products or ingredients to avoid before the treatment, and candid about potential complications. If you do not feel that a practitioner has answered your questions to your satisfaction, you may want to consider finding a different clinic.
For those in the Vancouver area looking for a trustworthy practitioner, Sparrow MD is an excellent choice of clinic, combining professionalism and medical knowledge with a boutique atmosphere. Microneedling is one of the core treatments offered at Sparrow MD, and is understood to be foundational to promoting and maintaining overall skin health. The treatment is always performed by a licensed aesthetician and supervised by a medical doctor.
The clinic itself is very clean: Sparrow MD not only carefully sterilizes their equipment but also uses single-use sterile cartridges that can be swapped out between clients. Plus, they take pains to maintain a spa-like atmosphere that keeps you relaxed and comfortable during the procedure. If you’re a Vancouver resident that’s interested in microneedling, this clinic is just the thing to provide a safe experience and stunning results.
Interested? You can find the clinic at:
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