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Microneedling

Discover the most effective microneedling treatments in New Jersey, provided by Top Cosmetic Physicians.

Discover the most effective microneedling treatments in New Jersey, provided by Top Cosmetic Physicians.

The State of Microneedling: Dermarollers, Vampire Facials, RF Microneedling & More!

If you’re confused about what microneedling treatments can really do for your skin, and the results you can achieve at home, with an esthetician, or at a doctor’s office, this is the video to help you! Dr. Michelle Ellern is a cosmetic physician practicing at Reflections Center in NJ. You can learn more about her credentials and why her training and experience make her qualified to speak about microneedling

Microneedling is an easy and effective way to stimulate new collagen growth and cell growth, as well as remodel the skin’s surface for deep penetration of serums and skin boosters. The type of device used in your microneedling treatments and the combination of serums and treatment boosters are the real determining factors in the quality of results you’ll see. That’s why Reflections has curated a collection of several different technologies for microneedling, as well as cutting-edge boosters that create significant results when combined.

Microneedling Quick Facts

  • Improve fine lines, wrinkles, and stretch marks
  • Treat acne and acne scars
  • Can be combined with other treatments for more dramatic results
  • Minimal downtime

Most Common Uses for Microneedling Treatment

Microneedling (also sometimes written as “micro needling” or “micro-needling”) refers to a treatment using small needles to penetrate the skin. The needles used can vary in size, number, and depth of penetration. The treatment works by creating micro-damage to the skin, which creates a healing response, causing the body to build new collagen in the treated areas.

Collagen supports the skin, making it thicker, smoother, bouncier, and more resilient. Young skin naturally has an abundance of collagen and elastin, but we lose these as we age and when the skin is damaged.

Fine Lines & Wrinkles

Both fine lines and deeper wrinkles form when the collagen below the skin has been damaged, usually from repetitive motions that crease and break apart the support structure below. Microneedling encourages the body to repair and rebuild the damaged collagen, for thicker, more resilient skin.

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Stretch Marks

Similarly, stretch marks appear where the skin has been stretched so drastically that the collagen and lower layers of the skin rip apart. The top of the skin stretches thin over these gaps in the collagen and support layers, creating rippled stretch marks. Microneedling stretch marks help the body to stimulate new collagen growth in those gaps. Your body can never completely undo the damage of stretch marks, but microneedling can make a big impact on their appearance by increasing the thickness of the skin and reducing the ripples and waves. Other technologies, like Fraxel and Vbeam Perfecta, can be used to remove the red or purple color of stretch marks.

Scars from Acne, Surgery, or Other Trauma

Acne scarring and other types of scars occur when the body lays down too much scar tissue while healing from trauma. Microneedling helps to break up the scar tissue that creates the firm, indented ice-pick and box-car scars, as well as raised and thick scars from trauma and surgery. The micro-damage created by the needles triggers the body to build new collagen and repair the skin.

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What Are the Types of Microneedling We Perform?

This page covers microneedling, as compared to RF Microneedling, which is a treatment that emits radiofrequency energy from the needles for heat-based therapy in addition to the benefits of microneedling.

Dermapen – The Microneedling Pen

Dermapen, Skin Pen, and Eclipse MicroPen are some of the most well-known microneedling brands. Each of these 3 devices works very similarly. They look like pens but emit a bundle of 10-12 microneedles that punch in and out of the skin. The pen moves across the skin, punching at even intervals of time, to treat the skin. The individual performing the treatment needs to be skilled at their movements to ensure punches are placed optimally to not injure the skin too much or too little to be effective. Dermapen is our favorite because it offers several depth options so that we can customize the level of aggressiveness to your treatment, and optimize the depth of penetration of any add-on serums.

  • Recovery & Downtime: Little to none
  • Numbing: Topical numbing cream
  • Cost: Discuss during free consultation
  • Candidacy: Healthy patients looking to improve the texture of their skin after aging or acne scars, or Looking to stimulate new hair growht
  • Duration: Long-lasting
  • Why We Love It: Improves the appearance of texture abnormalities (scars, stretch marks, crepey skin) and stimulates new cell growth (hair, skin, collagen, etc.)

MicroBotox & MicroRejuve with Hyaluronic Acid

We recently introduced a cutting-edge microneedling system to our practice that allows us to deliver Botox, hyaluronic acid dermal fillers, serums, vitamins, and more directly into the skin. 24-karat gold microneedles with spiralized channels down the length of the needles deposit microdroplets of these products into the top layers of the skin to reduce redness, shrink pores, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and improve skin texture and quality. MicroBotox is used to reduce redness from rosacea and shrink pores, while MicroRejuve has both Botox and dermal filler-quality hyaluronic acid to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin texture, and shrink pores.

  • Recovery & Downtime: Little to none
  • Numbing: Yes
  • Cost: Discuss during free consultation
  • Candidacy: Patients who desire an improvement in signs of aging and skin texture
  • Duration: 3-6 months
  • Why We Love It: Reduces redness, shrinks pores, improves skin texture, and softens fine lines and wrinkles

Microneedling Treatments We Do NOT Recommend

  • At-Home DIY Microneedling Pens

    Microneedling pens are a regulated treatment in New Jersey, because of the risk of blood-borne diseases and infection. However, you can purchase these tools online. And we find that very scary. We can’t imagine a world where you’re able to keep a sterile field while treating yourself with this and for such the small cost-savings (it’s barely less money to do this than to have our doctors or aestheticians treat you), we cannot imagine why you’d risk it.

    Dermarollers

    Dermarollers have gained popularity, especially in Europe. We do not condone the use of microneedle dermarollers because the needles drag across the skin. Instead of creating smooth vertical columns of damage, they create holes on the skin as they enter at one angle, twist, and then exit at another angle. This makes dermarollers risky because they can create textured scarring that resembles ice-pick acne scars and hyperpigmentation (dark discoloration) on Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Indian skin.

    View Patient Stories About Microneedling Treatment

    View All Patient Stories

    “I did 2 microneedling sessions and I have noticed a big improvement in my acne scarring!”

    View My Story

    “Kendall says Microneedling with Concentrated Platelet Therapy made such a difference her aesthetician and friends noticed her results - namely her smaller pores and refined skin texture.”

    View My Story

    Why Choose Reflections Center
    for Microneedling Treatment?

    The Reflections Center team is dedicated to providing treatments that create natural-looking and long-lasting results. Microneedling is one of our favorite treatments because the results are natural and long-lasting. Our dedicated team of cosmetic physicians and providers enjoys access to all of the best microneedling and cosmetic treatment technologies, which allows us to match the individual with the very best treatments for their goals.

    The state of New Jersey regulates microneedling treatments because deeper penetration of both needles and products can have adverse results in the hands of untrained professionals. We offer 3 different depths of treatment, performed by 2 different types of professionals within our office.

    • The most superficial treatments are performed by our aestheticians, who can add serums and vitamins for deep moisturization, exfoliation, and stimulation of cell turnover and a mild collagen response. These are ideal for anti-aging and skin quality.
    • Our registered nurses (R.N.s) provide deeper treatments with the Dermapen and can add on serums and vitamins for moderate collagen remodeling and rebuilding. These treatments are ideal for deeper wrinkles and generalized uneven skin texture, often from widespread small ice-pick acne scars or rolling acne scars.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Microneedling

    • What does Microneedling cost?

      Our pricing of microneedling varies by size and area treated, as well as who is performing the treatment. Dermapen performed by an aesthetician is generally $250 – 450 per treatment. Dermapen performed by a cosmetic nurse is generally $400 – 500 per treatment.

    • How should I prepare for Microneedling?

      You will remove all makeup and cleanse your face prior to treatment, at our office. Other than that, there’s no need to change your routine prior to treatment.

    • Will it hurt?

      Dermapen alone is not painful, especially at the more superficial depths. For those having a deeper treatment, we apply a topical numbing cream or, alternatively, you can have a stronger numbing injection.

    • Is there downtime for Microneedling?

      Microneedling alone typically creates very little bleeding and some minor pinkness that resolves in an hour or two. You will need to avoid wearing makeup as well as washing your face or applying any products for the evening, to ensure you’re not delivering those products much too deeply into your skin.

    • What's the difference betweeen RF Microneedling and Regular Microneedling?

      Microneedling has been around for thousands of years, showing up in archaeological digs from as far back as ancient Egypt. It’s a proven treatment that works to induce the body’s natural collagen rebuilding process by creating tiny areas of micro-injury. This is the same method of action used by lasers which create tiny columns of super-heated skin. Unlike lasers, microneedling’s lack of thermal injury has made it a safe choice for all skin types, but also because of its lack of thermal injury, microneedling is somewhat limited as to the impact of a single treatment.

       

      RF microneedling combines the best of these 2 technologies. By delivering heat only from the tips of the microneedles and having varying depth and heat settings, RF microneedling creates the profound change of laser treatment, without the risk of pigmentation change, no matter your skin tone. For this reason, it has quickly become our treatment of choice for most types of acne scarring, and also for skin tightening.

    • Can microneedling ruin my skin?

      In the right hands, microneedling is a very safe and effective treatment. Good results depend on the experience of the provider and the technology there are utilizing. Improper use of the devices or inexpensive, non-FDA-cleared technologies may result in bad outcomes, such as pigmentation issues or scarring. Only Skin Pen is currently FDA-approved for microneedling (which is different from RF microneedling).

    • How long do the results from microneedling last?

      Collagen synthesis that is induced from microneedling is long-lasting (please note: that superficial microneedling does not reach deep enough into the skin to stimulate collagen). Deep enough microneedling to stimulate collagen is limited to physicians, ARNPs, and PAs in New Jersey, whereas nurses and aestheticians are allowed to microneedle at more superficial levels of the skin only. Patients looking to increase the amount of improvement and longevity of results combine this treatment with components from their own blood to safely and effectively rejuvenate the skin.

    • Can you wear makeup after microneedling?

      You should avoid wearing makeup or applying skincare or other potential sources of bacteria to your face for the first 24 hours after microneedling.

    • Can you microneedle too often?

      It is not recommended to microneedle the skin more often than once a month. Your skin needs time to heal itself and when you injure skin (which microneedling does) while it is already inflamed, there is a risk of scarring and pigmentation changes. One month is enough time to ensure the inflammation of the previous treatment has resolved.

    • Can I wear makeup after microneedling?

      Yes, but not within the first 24 hours, while microneedled channels may still be open.

    • Does microneedling help sagging neck?

      No, microneedling is not a good option for sagging skin. RF Microneedling can improve skin elasticity and tighten loose skin, but microneedling alone is not going to make a visible difference for sagging neck skin.

    • Does microneedling work on older skin?

      Yes, but like all fractional therapies (which treat some fraction or percentage of the skin) in a given treatment, the improvements are incremental and dependent upon the response your body has. Generally, younger patients see a bigger response from any treatment, and microneedling is no different. The way we counter that is by doing a series of microneedling instead of just 1 treatment and/or augmenting it with other treatment modalities, including a few options that can boost the results from every single treatment.

    • Does your face bleed after microneedling?

      The area treated during microneedling may have pin-point bleeding during the procedure. This depends on how much of a bleeder you are, whether you’ve stopped all blood thinners (including supplements like fish oil and vitamin E, Advil, alcohol, etc.), and how deep your treatment is. That picture of Kim K that everyone seems to think of shows her having her own blood rubbed in over the top of her microneedling, and that’s not a normal reaction to microneedling alone. We’ve never heard of a patient experiencing bleeding after treatment unless they have been very rough with their skin, which you should avoid at all costs.

    • Can microneedling be used on the neck?

      Yes, microneedling works well on the neck to address both crepey texture and fine lines but it won’t completely erase deeply set-in wrinkles or provide tightening that lifts the neck. We recommend other treatments for those concerns.

    • Are microneedling results permanent?

      Yes, you are creating cellular level change and you’ll grow new tissues that will then age (like all living tissue does). So you’ll always look better than if you had done nothing, but of course, we can’t freeze time.

    • Can I use hyaluronic acid after microneedling?

      Yes! We prefer to use a different type of microneedling device to deposit the hyaluronic acid filler in the skin for permanent moisturization (we call this MicroRejuve and HA Rejuve, depending upon the style), but if you use a topical moisturizer skincare product as part of your routine at home, you can start using that again 12 hours after your treatment.

    • Can microneedling be done under eyes?

      Yes! We love microneedling, especially when boosted by Vampire Therapy, to improve thin, crepey skin under the eyes. If you’ve got a lot of fine lines under your eyes, microneedling is a great choice!

    • Do you peel after microneedling?

      You can, but we recommend you wait until your skin has healed from the microneedling first. Too much inflammation without time to heal in between can create scarring. Always ask your doctor for clearance before resuming your at-home results-oriented treatments.

    • Does microneedling help broken capillaries?

      No, only lasers that treat blood vessels with help with broken capillaries. That’s either the Vbeam or a Q-Switched Laser, depending on your skin tone and blood vessel color.

    • Is micro needling better than laser?

      No, microneedling is different than laser but, in general, the Skinpen or Dermapen type of automated microneedling is going to create less of an effect in each session than a single session of any of our lasers. However, microneedling doesn’t have the downtime of a laser, is safe for all skin types, and when we do a series of microneedling, you can create a similar impact at a similar price point.

       

      We offer over 70 different lasers and technologies and will be happy to compare and contrast the options that would work for your needs so that you can choose the most convenient option for yourself – this is included during your free consultation with one of our cosmetic physicians!

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    Dr. Mitchell Chasin is a Cosmetic & Laser Physician at Reflections Center. Dr. Chasin believes strongly that the best cosmetic physicians are those who are dedicated to mastering their craft through continuing education and collaboration with the industry’s top doctors.