Controlled micro injury that prompts the skin to rebuild collagen. Excellent for scarring and texture, given as a course, with a fraction of the downtime of resurfacing.
It is the treatment we recommend most often to people who cannot take a week off for laser resurfacing but want real textural change.
Microneedling creates thousands of controlled micro channels in the skin. The healing response lays down new collagen, which is what improves scarring, texture and pore appearance over a course of treatments. Because the skin surface is left largely intact, downtime is a day or two rather than a week.
It occupies a useful middle ground. Less dramatic than fractional CO2, considerably more effective than anything topical, and safe across a much wider range of skin types than most energy based treatments.
What it treats
And a few things they do not. If your concern is not here, the consultation is where we work out what would actually help.
Skin and ResurfacingThe strongest indication after resurfacing, particularly for rolling and boxcar scars.
General surface irregularity, which improves steadily over a course.
Reduced in appearance rather than eliminated, and we are specific about that.
Softened through collagen stimulation, subtle rather than dramatic.
Treatable on the body, needing a longer course and realistic expectations.
One of its main advantages, since it carries far less pigment risk.
How it works
Four steps, in this order. Nothing is treated until it has been assessed, and nothing is repeated until it has been reviewed.
We establish scar type and skin type. Different scars respond differently and some need combining with other treatments to get a real result.
Results
Redness like moderate sunburn, with some tightness. Makeup is not advised for the first day.
Redness fades and mild flaking can follow. Most people are back to normal by day two or three.
New collagen forms and texture improves. The change is cumulative and builds with each session.
Assessed six to eight weeks after the final session, since collagen continues remodelling throughout.
Before and after
Photographs of our own patients in Mississauga, unretouched and shown in the same light. Results differ between patients and none of these is a promise of your own outcome.
View the gallery
Acne scarring and texture, cheek
Stretch marks and skin texture
When we say no
We do not treat in these situations, and we will say so in the consultation, which you are not charged for.
Questions
Microneedling creates channels and leaves the surface largely intact, so downtime is a day or two. Fractional CO2 removes columns of tissue and needs a week, but changes deep scarring more.
Three to six, four to six weeks apart. Established acne scarring is at the higher end and sometimes benefits from combining treatments.
Numbing cream makes it very tolerable. You feel pressure and vibration rather than sharpness. The forehead and along the jaw are the most sensitive.
Yes, and it is one of its real advantages. Pigment risk is considerably lower than with energy based treatments.
No. Needling through active acne can spread bacteria. We settle the acne first, which the dermatology side can prescribe for.
The following day for most people. We would rather you left the skin alone for the first twenty four hours.
Also in this room
Chemical PeelMedical grade peels chosen by depth for the concern in front of us, not a single peel offered to everybody.MicropenAn automated microneedling device with adjustable depth, which means the forehead and the cheek can be treated at the settings each actually needs.
Bela MD HydraFacialA multi step medical facial that cleanses, exfoliates, extracts and infuses in one session.
MicrodermabrasionMechanical exfoliation of the outer skin layer.
PRPPlatelet rich plasma, prepared from your own blood, used for hair thinning and skin quality.Mississauga, Ontario
A consultation is a clinical examination, not a sales appointment. Bring your questions and expect straight answers about what will and will not work, including when the answer is that you do not need us yet.
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