Before SkinPen Microneedling, a topical anesthetic is applied to numb the area and enhance comfort during the procedure.
Recovery after SkinPen Microneedling treatment is relatively fast. Some redness and mild swelling, indicative of the treatment’s stimulation of collagen production, might be experienced right after.
Microneedling treatment with SkinPen is a minimally invasive procedure also known as ‘collagen induction therapy’. It works by creating controlled micro-channels in the skin with tiny needles. This triggers the body’s natural healing process and stimulates new collagen and elastin production.
SkinPen® used in our microneedling treatment is it’s the first FDA-cleared device for microneedling, ensuring both safety and effectiveness. It uses disposable, single-use needle cartridges and has a higher safety & quality standards compared to traditional microneedling. The treatment helps with reducing fine lines, smoothing skin texture, and improving overall skin tone.
Before and after results of our procedures.
The process of getting microneedling treatment typically involves the following steps:
Consultation: A consultation with one of our skincare experts is essential! During the consult, our Medical Aesthetician will assess your skin, discuss your goals, and determine if SkinPen Microneedling is the right solution for your skin needs. Our comprehensive aesthetic evaluation is your skin’s new best friend!
Medical history review: We will ask you to provide a comprehensive medical history, including information about current medications, allergies, and any previous cosmetic procedures. This is important to ensure the safety and efficacy of your microneedling treatment.
Preparation instructions: You may receive specific instructions regarding how to prepare for the procedure. This could include avoiding certain skincare products, medications, or activities in the days leading up to the treatment.
Discussion of expectations and post-treatment skincare advice: The skincare professional will discuss what to expect during and after the procedure, including potential side effects and post-treatment care. For about a week, you would need to use only gentle skincare products to let your skin recover before coming back to your regular skincare routine. Our plastic surgery office does offer post-treatment recovery skincare.
Topical anesthetic: On the day of the treatment, a topical anesthetic will be applied for about 1 hour to numb the skin and enhance comfort during the procedure. The kind of topical anesthetic solution will be chosen based on your health history and allergy review.
Treatment: After cleaning your face thoroughly, the treatment will start. The SkinPen® device is used to create micro-channels in the skin’s surface. The treatment typically takes around 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the area being treated. You may experience a ‘tingling’ sensation during the treatment. However, microneedling treatment should be comfortable. From the start with the topical numbing solution, to the finish of treatment, you should designate about 1.5 hours. After the treatment, you may experience some redness and mild swelling, but these side effects are temporary. Our skincare professional will advise you on how many treatments you may need to achieve optimal results.
Post-treatment care: Right after the treatment, your skin may be soothed with Celluma LED light therapy, which helps calm inflammation, accelerate healing, and stimulate collagen production for powerful anti-aging benefits. Then, a recovery solution will be applied to the treated areas to to further soothe the skin and reduce redness. The recovery oil and cream will be applied to keep your skin hydrated. Specific aftercare detailed instructions, such as avoiding pressure on the treated areas, refraining from strenuous activities for a specified period, and any other relevant post-treatment guidelines regarding skincare, will also be provided.
Follow-up and maintenance: Depending on your goals, you may schedule a follow-up appointment to assess the results and discuss any further treatments or adjustments. Your provider will share with you recommendations on how to maintain your results.
SkinPen Microneedling is a minimally-invasive treatment that enhances collagen production. It reduces the appearance of fine lines, and improves skin tone and texture, and minimizes acne and post-surgical scars. In general, it revitalizes your skin. Common benefits of microneedling treatment include:
Collagen and elastin stimulation: Promotes your skin’s natural healing process for long-term rejuvenation. By creating micro-channels in the skin, microneedling activates the body’s natural healing response and encourages new collagen and elastin production, improving skin elasticity.
Fine line reduction: Collagen and elastin created during the healing process help minimize fine lines and wrinkles, contributing to a smoother complexion.
Scar improvement: May reduce the appearance of scars, including acne scars, traumatic and surgical scars.
Texture enhancement: Improves overall skin texture, making it smoother and more radiant.
Minimized pore size: Can contribute to the reduction of enlarged pores.
Versatility: Suitable for various skin types and concerns, offering a versatile solution for skin rejuvenation. Safe and effective for Fitzpatrick skin types I–VI with minimal risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Minimal downtime: Typically has minimal downtime compared to more aggressive treatments like laser resurfacing.
I had such an incredible experience visiting Bluemont Plastic Surgery, I saw their master esthetician Nuha and received a RF Microneedling treatment paired with light passing of the Co2 Laser. I was absolutely thrilled with the outcome and the special care and attention to detail Nuha provided.
I had RF Microneedling with Nuha. She was knowledgeable and considerate before, during and after.
She spent a lot of time with me reviewing my concerns and recommended the Genesis Laser for skin tightening and pore reduction. She was very meticulous and thoughtful throughout the process. Her professionalism is top notch, the clinic is welcoming and spotless and I would not hesitate to come back.
I recently visited Nuha at Bluemont Plastics to have a scar above my lip treated and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. Nuha was very knowledgeable and took the time to explain the options and procedures that would work best for me. I’ve had 2 RF Microneedling sessions and can already see a difference! The entire process was very relaxing – I felt pampered from start to finish.
She assesses your skin to provide a customized treatment for you. She has done microneedling & laser treatments over several years with me. The results are noticeable immediately & continue to progress with time. I am so happy with my skin now as a result of Nuha’s care!
SkinPen microneedling is one of our favorite choices for non-surgical skin rejuvenation.
If you experience some of the below skin conditions, then SkinPen microneedling is for you:
Fine lines & wrinkles: Aging skin often presents challenges such as fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity, impacting one’s overall complexion. SkinPen microneedling treatment stimulates collagen production, in effect reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
Uneven skin texture: If you deal with skin irregularities characterized by roughness, bumps, and overall do not like the feel of your skin, then microneedling is for you. It is a transformative solution that helps smooth out uneven texture by promoting skin renewal.
Acne scars: The severity of the scarring can vary, ranging from mild to severe, and may impact an individual’s self-esteem. Uneven texture, discoloration, and skin depressions left by acne can be distressing, SkinPen microneedling is a powerful treatment option for visibly reducing acne scars.
Enlarged pores: This is a common skin concern that occurs when the openings of hair follicles on the skin’s surface become dilated. Multiple reasons contribute to enlarged pores. Among them are genetic predisposition, aging-related changes in collagen and elasticity, increased oil production by sebaceous glands, sun damage leading to diminished skin elasticity, clogging of pores due to dirt and dead skin cells, and suboptimal skincare habits. SkinPen microneedling can help minimize the appearance of enlarged pores.
Scars and stretch marks (to some extent): The controlled micro-injuries from the microneedles trigger the body’s natural healing response that enhances collagen synthesis. The result is smoother and more rejuvenated skin over time.
Dull-looking skin: Whether caused environmental stress, or lifestyle factors, tired-looking skin can benefit from the revitalizing effects of microneedling.
Recovering from SkinPen microneedling treatment is a gradual and transformative process. The full benefits of microneedling will unfold over several weeks as collagen continues to regenerate. Below are recommendations about recovery post SkinPen microneedling:
Immediately post-treatment: You may experience some redness and mild swelling, indicative of the treatment’s stimulation of collagen production. These effects typically subside within a few days.
A few days after: Around day three you might notice a mild peeling or flaking of your skin. This is part of your skin’s natural exfoliation process as old, damaged skin cells shed to reveal fresher, smoother skin underneath. Over time you’ll notice a gradual improvement in skin tone, firmness, and a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.
Follow Post-Treatment Instructions: Adhere to the specific post-treatment guidelines provided by your skincare professional.
Protect Your Skin: Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to shield your skin from harmful UV rays. This is crucial to prevent pigmentation issues and support the healing process.
Avoid Sun Exposure: Minimize sun exposure, and if you must be outdoors, wear a wide-brimmed hat and protective clothing to shield your treated skin.
Hydrate Your Skin: Keep your skin well-hydrated by using a gentle, non-irritating moisturizer. This helps maintain skin suppleness and supports the healing process. Our skin expert will advice you what product to safely use post-treatment.
Skip harsh products: Avoid using harsh skincare regimens, such as those containing retinoids or acids, for a specified period as recommended by your skincare professional.
Patience is key: Understand that visible results may take time. Be patient and allow your skin to go through the natural healing and collagen-building process.
No touching or picking: Resist the urge to touch, pick, or scratch the treated areas. Let the skin heal without interference to avoid infection and scarring.
Stay hydrated and maintain a healthy diet: Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and consider incorporating a balanced diet rich in vitamins and antioxidants to support overall skin health.
Attend follow-up appointments: Schedule and attend any recommended follow-up appointments with your skincare professional to monitor your skin’s progress and address any concerns.
With over 70 plastic surgeons in the Northern Virginia area, patients choose Dr. Domanski because they trust him. We believe you will not find a more honest surgeon than Dr. Domanski.
SkinPen Microneedling uses fine needles to create micro-injuries that boost collagen for smoother, healthier skin. RF microneedling adds radiofrequency energy to also tighten deeper tissues. While SkinPen microneedling is a great solution for a general skin rejuvenation, RF microneedling offers deeper collagen stimulation and skin tightening benefits, making it ideal for addressing skin laxity.
The price of SkinPen microneedling varies between $400-700 per session. The difference in the cost depends on whether the procedure is performed at a hair salon, dermal spa or plastic surgeon’s office, and the experience of the provider. Many people undergo 2-3 treatments to invest in optimal results.
The discomfort during the microneedling procedure varies by your personal sensitivity level, the area of the treatment and the device used. Some areas may be also more sensitive than others, e.g like lip area. With the application of topical numbing cream, the discomfort during SkinPen microneedling is very limited. We chose the SkinPen microneedling device because it is the first FDA-cleared microneedling device on the market. During multiple studies, it has been clinically proven to be safe and effective.
A popular option is for clients to undergo 2-3 SkinPen microneedling treatments initially. Frequently, clients will opt to undergo a once yearly maintenance session. We think of the initial sessions as turning back the conveyor belt of time. The maintenance sessions slow the conveyor belt down.
SkinPen microneedling is suitable for all Fitzpatrick skin types. This means that clients with darker skin are still candidates. For patients with sensitive skin, we can test a small area such as behind the ear, to see how the skin reacts. If there is no reaction, we can safely consider a full face treatment.
Aging is due to stretch and loss of volume. Like an old sofa that may show signs of wear and reduced cushion, our skin undergoes similar changes. Our facial fat distribution changes, resulting in a more hollowed appearance with the passing decades. The protein content of our skin changes, resulting in less elasticity.
Aging can be accelerated by smoking, sun exposure, and poor diet. While we can’t stop the aging process, we can slow it down by using a sunscreen on a daily basis. Dr. Domanski himself uses a SPF 15 light sunscreen as an aftershave on most days. Some people believe that exercise and a plant-based diet can also contribute to skin longevity.
If you are looking to improve the signs of skin aging such as line and wrinkles, uneven skin tone & texture (including acne scars) and want to stimulate collagen production, then SkinPen microneedling may be for you.
Right after the procedure you may experience some redness and mild swelling. Redness should subside within 24 hours. Some clients will experience mild swelling that generally resolves within 1-2 days. By day 3, mild peeling and flaking may occur as part of your skin’s natural renewal process, revealing fresher, healthier skin underneath. We offer our patients a complete after-treatment kit that soothes the skin and speeds up the recovery process. After about a week, you can typically resume your regular skincare routine, including the use of active ingredients.
Within days your skin may feel smoother to touch and have a ‘glow’. After one to two weeks, you should notice that uneven skin tone starts to become more even. This is the part of a process where your skin generates new collagen which is the goal of treatment.
“Be Yourself,
Everyone Else Is Taken.”
– Oscar Wilde
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