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:
- Tighten loose skin
- Reduce and minimize fine lines and wrinkles
- Reduce and minimize pore size
- Improve skin texture
- Improve pigmentation and discoloration
- 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:
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
Non-Surgical Medi-Spa
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