Skin Pen - Microneedling

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  • READ PROCEDURE DETAILS written by Dr Romano

The SKIN PEN is a device and newest and most effective updated microneedling technology for cosmetic skin rejuvenation. Microneedling is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that has for a long time been popular and rapidly growing in plastic surgery for its ability to rejuvenate the skin. The treatment involves the use of a device equipped with fine needles that create tiny, controlled punctures in the skin superficial structure: the dermis. These micro-injuries stimulate the body’s natural healing process, leading to the production of collagen and elastin—two essential proteins that keep your skin firm, smooth, and youthful.

Microneedling is very technical. The science that underlies microneedling involves the diameter of the needles, how deeply they are applied into the dermis, the frequency of how fast they are injecting into the skin, and the technology of the device which relates to sterility, sharpness and design of needles, ease of use, and comfort level.

So why the SkinPen?

The Skin Pen is a state-of-the-art microneedling device that has become the gold standard for a wide range of predictable and safe uses in the field of plastic surgery. It is the first FDA-cleared microneedling device, known for its safety, precision, and effectiveness. The Skin Pen’s adjustable needle depth and speed allow it to be customized for different skin types and concerns, making it a versatile tool for skin rejuvenation.

How Does Microneedling/Skin Pen Work?

During a microneedling session, the SkinPen’s fine needles create thousands of micro-channels in the skin. These tiny punctures trigger the body’s natural wound-healing response, which involves:

  1. Inflammation: The body recognizes the micro-injuries and increases blood flow to the area, initiating the healing process and bringing in more collagen to smooth wrinkles and tighten the skin.
  2. Proliferation: New skin cells, collagen, hormones, and elastin are produced, which help repair and fortify the micro-injuries and improve the skin’s texture and appearance.
  3. Remodeling: Over time, the newly formed collagen and elastin strengthen and restructure the skin, leading to a smoother, firmer, and more youthful complexion.

Benefits of Microneedling with SkinPen

Microneedling with the SkinPen offers a range of benefits for patients seeking to improve their skin’s appearance:

  • Reduces Fine Lines and Wrinkles: By stimulating collagen production, microneedling can effectively reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, resulting in smoother, more youthful skin.
  • Improves Skin Texture and Tone: Microneedling can address uneven skin texture, enlarged pores, and pigmentation issues, leading to a more even and radiant complexion.
  • Minimizes Scars: The treatment is particularly effective in reducing and almost virtually eliminating the appearance of scars by promoting the regeneration of healthy skin tissue. It helps greatly in acne skin.
  • HAIR GROWTH and Enhancement Absorption of Skincare Products: The micro-channels created during the procedure allow for better penetration of topical treatments, such as serums and creams, to penetrate deeper into the skin, enhancing their effectiveness. This is especially useful in treating thinning hair to use Skin Pen to increase penetration of Platelet Rich Plasma (read more), well known to stimulate hair growth.
  • Safe for All Skin Types: The SkinPen is safe for use on all skin types and tones, making it an inclusive treatment option. Patients of color can safely be treated by this.

What to Expect During the Procedure

Microneedling with the SkinPen is a relatively quick and straightforward procedure. Here’s what you can expect:

  1. Consultation: Your plastic surgeon will assess your skin and discuss your aesthetic goals to determine if microneedling is right for you. They will also create a personalized treatment plan based on your specific needs.
  2. Preparation: On the day of the procedure, your skin will be cleansed, and a topical numbing cream may be applied to minimize any discomfort.
  3. Microneedling: The SkinPen will be gently moved across the treatment area, creating tiny punctures in the skin. The procedure typically takes 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated.
  4. Post-Treatment Care: After the procedure, your skin may appear red and feel slightly sensitive, similar to a mild sunburn. These effects are normal and usually subside within a few days. Our office will provide post-treatment care instructions, including the use of gentle skincare products and sun protection.

Recovery and Results

One of the key advantages of microneedling with the SkinPen is the minimal downtime. Most patients can resume their normal activities within 24 to 48 hours. It’s important to avoid direct sun exposure and follow your surgeon’s aftercare instructions to ensure optimal healing.

Results from microneedling are immediate, and just gets better in time as the skin takes time to produce new collagen and elastin. You will start to see improvements in your skin texture and tone within a few weeks, with continued improvements over the following months. For best results, multiple sessions may be recommended, typically spaced four to six weeks apart.

Microneedling with the SkinPen is an excellent option for individuals seeking to improve the overall appearance of their skin as an adjunct to undergoing more invasive procedures. It is suitable for treating a variety of skin concerns, including fine lines, wrinkles, scars, and uneven skin texture. Microneedling with the SkinPen offers a safe, effective, and minimally invasive way to rejuvenate your skin and address a range of cosmetic concerns. Whether you’re looking to reduce the signs of aging, improve skin texture, or minimize scars, this innovative treatment could be the perfect solution.

For a consultation in person or remotely or to speak with Dr Romano personally contact our office at info@sfplasticsurgery.org.

INTRODUCTION

Our office is pleased to provide the Skin Pen microneedling product and procedure to our patients. We are keen to offer this, but for your further education and information please note, even though this device is new and totally FDA approved for what we do and safe, it is not a new technology. The basis of what the Skin Pen is all about has been around for many years dating back to 1905 with the first recorded use of a microneedling procedure by German dermatologist Ernst Kromayer. This is where the needles create controlled “micro-wounds” or channels in the skin to induce healing and the benefits that come from this. Taken together this is called Collagen Induction Therapy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collagen_induction_therapy ) where small needles penetrate the upper levels of the skin and induce the process where new collagen is formed.

The technology of microneedling has cycled from very basic rollers (dermarollers) with needles that you roll across the skin.

To elaborate towering machines with handpiece and long cords and computer generators which can apply energy and needle depths and different durations of treatment.

To now, thankfully, The Skin Pen, something in between and better than both extremes.

THE SKIN PEN

This is the solution in between the unsophisticated, painful, imprecise, and bloody roller device, and the overdone, bulky, too expensive, overdone towering machines. The Skin Pen provides a very precise adjustable needle depth at an extremely high rate of injection in a small device that is comfortable, portable, the newest technology, and affordable. It is the single most often sold device around the world providing microneedling and Collagen Induction Therapy.

INDICATIONS

The Skin Pen was originally promoted to treat and improve acne scarring which it does very well. In our practice it is recommended to treat face, neck and décolletage:

  1. Tighten loose skin
  2. Reduce and minimize fine lines and wrinkles
  3. Reduce and minimize pore size
  4. Improve skin texture
  5. Improve pigmentation and discoloration
  6. Acne and scars

HOW IT WORKS

Collagen induction therapy (CIT), also known as microneedling, dermarolling, or skin needling, is a cosmetic procedure that involves repeatedly puncturing the skin with tiny, sterile needles (microneedling the skin). Collagen Induction Therapy is the body’s natural method of healing used to induce the formation of elastin and collagen It is a technique and technology for which research is ongoing, but has been used for a number of skin problems including scarring and acne, and now cosmetic. In the Skin Pen the particular needle depth is chosen easily on the device as determined by the thickness of the skin in the area to be treated (eyelids vs. nose skin) and the desired effect (little vs. lots of improvement). The needle penetration creates a wound of a specific depth as shown below:

This creation of a micro-wound then sets in place the healing process that occurs in three phases:

  1. Inflammation. Growth factors and hormones are released that bring in the products and collagen forming cells to heal and create new collagen that fills in the needle channels.
  2. Proliferation. The collagen forming cells (fibroblasts) are all in place and now producing collagen and filing in the micro-channels. This is the initial “disorganized” stage
  3. Remodeling. This is where the elastic fibers are fortified, the collagen fibers organize into sheets, fill in the needle spaces and plump up the skin, smoothing the skin and creating the cosmetic improvement.

THE PROCEDURE

Topical anesthetic cream is applied and allowed to work. The procedure takes about an hour for the face and neck. Because the needle tip vibrates so fast and penetrates to just the right level, not too deep, there is virtually no pain. There is no bleeding. We adjust the needle depth on the device according to your skin, the area, and the result you want to obtain. There is a little redness and tight feeling that goes away in a few hours. There are minimal, virtually no complications. The good news also, unlike other procedures, the Skin Pen procedure can be repeated for further results and maintenance.

SUPERCHARGE WITH PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma)

Our practice and especially Dr Romano has been using this in surgery and anti-aging since at least 1998. Read more about this in the accompanying document. Basically, platelets are small, irregularly shaped clear cell fragments that contain an abundance of natural growth factors, hormones, and super healing proteins. Platelets may be considered the “factory” of the many different types of growth factors and hormones that are released and utilized throughout the body and for many different valuable functions. This procedure can accompany your Skin Pen. We draw your blood, prepare the platelet concentrate, spread this on your skin and the Skin Pen injects this directly into the collagen and elastic layer where it goes to work fast.

THE RESULT

This process occurs in stages over about 90 days but you see some result very soon and it just gets better in time. For this reason, the procedure is suggested in stages of 3 treatments to get the best result. The effect lasts forever in the sense that it is always better than if you did not do it. Some relaxation occurs naturally over time and repeating a series will always be helpful and cause no harm.

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