What Should You Expect From A Session Of Microneedling?

Whilst a lot of aesthetic procedures rely on advanced technology or proven chemical treatments, microneedling remains unusual as it helps to smooth skin, remove scars and wrinkles and boost collagen in the skin through accelerating the skin’s ability to heal itself.

Whilst commonly used, safe and affordable, the relative newness of microneedling means that the number of blemishes and conditions that it could potentially treat continues to increase as it becomes more widely available.

As with any other aesthetic treatment, many people will enter the clinic with some knowledge of the treatment, but also quite a few questions that we are more than happy to answer.

How Does Microneedling Work?

Microneedling works by using a row of sterile, shallow needles that puncture the skin in a way that forces the skin to start its healing process.

This includes producing collagen and elastin, remodelling the skin, evening its tone and smoothing lines, wrinkles and scarring.

There are various methods that are used for microneedling, but the most common is a targeted needle pen that is used to create thousands of tiny microabrasions, although some processes use dermarollers or more advanced equipment, depending on the clinic.

How Long Does It Take?

The complete length of your treatment plan will be agreed upon following a skin consultation session, but each treatment session itself will typically take around two hours, depending on the size of the treatment area.

This includes applying an anaesthetic gel to numb the area, waiting comfortably for it to take effect, half an hour for the microneedling session itself, and applying either a soothing salve or growth serum at the end of the session.

It is minimally invasive and will recover very quickly, with results that start to be seen within a few days. A typical course of microneedling will involve three to six monthly sessions, although this will depend on where you are being treated and why.

Will Microneedling Hurt?

Because it involves needles piercing the skin, there may be some discomfort, but there should not be any pain during the procedure due to the numbing gel used. If there is, tell your practitioner.

There will be some redness and irritation following the treatment, but this is a sign that the skin has entered its first healing stage. This should disappear after 48 hours, and you will be recommended a targeted aftercare programme to help ease these symptoms.

Full healing can take a couple of weeks, during which time you should wear sunscreen to protect the area and avoid wearing harsh skincare products or makeup.

Follow-up sessions will typically be spaced a month apart to give the skin the best chance to heal.

When Should You Expect To See Results?

The healing process begins immediately, which means that you may start to see benefits after 48 hours once the initial redness starts to subside, but in most cases, it will take at least a week to see a reduction.

For scars, deep wrinkles and acne, it may take a few sessions before you see significant results.

How Long Do Results Last?

Typically, a treatment plan consisting of up to six sessions will lead to continued collagen production for up to six months after the last session, although this can be topped up with additional follow-up sessions.