21 Sep 2023 | by Leonard Miller, MD, FACS, FRCS
Aging manifests on the skin and tissues of your face in a number of different ways. At Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, we like to say that aging is multi-factorial. This is why every patient’s rejuvenation journey is unique. For example, you may hate those fine lines that have creeped up around your mouth and/or eyes while your best friend could care less about her lines, but can not tolerate her brown spots. The key to a successful treatment plan is therefore dependent on your individual anatomy and needs. While we are proud to offer our Boston area patients a full range of surgical and non-surgical procedures for turning-back-the-clock, there is one procedure with the versatility to address almost any of your skincare needs — Micro-Needling. Here we discuss 3 benefits of micro-needling.
Micro-Needling Can Improve Skin Texture
Most patients don’t realize how important skin texture can be for looking more youthful, energetic and vital. It tends to be something that most of us take for granted until it starts to breakdown. As mentioned, this point is different for everyone. However, starting at around age 25, the body begins to produce less collagen and elastin. The former is what keeps your skin looking lifted and plump while the later is what allows it to stretch and “bounce back” when you form facial expressions. Declining levels of either can result in:
- Fine lines & wrinkles
- “Crepey” skin texture
- Loose, sagging skin especially around the nose & mouth
- Dull, lackluster appearance
Any micro-needling procedure can improve your skin’s texture as the “injury” of the needle will promote your own body to produce more collagen and elastin. The degree of improvement is going to depend on which micro-needling technique or techniques we decide to use.
Micro-Needling for Rejuvenation
A mild procedure like the SkinPen can be ideal for patients who want to restore a more “glowing” appearance to their skin, reducing sun spots and uneven texture. It requires little downtime and can even be performed by one of our aestheticians. Think of it as the micro-needling equivalent of a facial. Then there are the more intense medical grade micro-needling procedures that must be performed by one of our Board-Certified doctors. These use longer needles or, in the case of EndyMed PRO™, combine micro-needling with radiofrequency (RF) energy to deliver a more robust rejuvenating effect that can improve both skin tone and texture issues such as:
- Deeper lines & wrinkles
- Uneven skin texture
- Mild to moderate sagging in lower face and/or neck
However, they also require more downtime for recovery. The right choice for you is going to depend on your goals and lifestyle. Regardless of which technique we use, one of the reasons that micro-needling is so powerful is that it not only delivers an immediate improvement but also continued rejuvenation as your collagen and elastin levels elevate over the next 6 months. It’s one of those procedures with a high return on your initial investment.
Diminish the Appearance of Scars with Micro-Needling
Another powerful benefit of a micro-needling procedure is its ability to diminish hard to treat scars such as:
- Acne scars
- Stretch marks
Acne affects so many patients of all ages. Not only do you have to live with the unsightly bump, but the body’s reaction to a cyst is to produce a healing blast of collagen. This is what creates a scar. Interestingly, treating a scar with micro-needling, sometimes referred to as collagen induction therapy, is akin to treating fire with fire. However, unlike the scar-forming borage of the initial collagen, micro-needling gently induces your body to ramp up its collagen production over time allowing your scar to heal from the inside out. The end result can be a much smoother looking and therefore less noticeable scar. While acne scars are one of the most common treatment issues for micro-needling, the procedure may also work beautifully on stretch marks, surgical scars or marks left by bug bites if you have really sensitive skin. So, if your outer reflection and your inner reflection are no longer in synch, schedule an appointment to come in and speak with us about how micro-needling may help.
To find out more about the benefits of Micro-Needling, EndyMed Pro™, or any surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Leonard Miller at Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, check out our website or call (617) 735- 8735 to schedule a consultation.
