Microneedling in Washington, D.C.
Microneedling is one of the industry’s most promising skincare innovations, thanks to its minimal invasiveness and impressive versatility.
By harnessing your skin’s power to heal itself, microneedling encourages the growth of new collagen for improved tone and texture. Over time, lines, wrinkles, and even some types of scars can fade significantly. Microneedling at West End Plastic Surgery in Washington, D.C. may become your new favorite skincare ritual.
Microneedling is a deceptively simple procedure that can yield big results. The microneedling tool looks a bit like a pen with extremely small, nearly microscopic, needles on one end. Your skin care provider moves the device over your skin, creating a number of small punctures. These stimulate your skin to engage its healing capabilities, boosting its production of natural collagen. This is especially noteworthy because the body’s collagen production naturally diminishes over time. Microneedling can help bring collagen back to youthful levels.
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Microneedling is a versatile procedure that can be used to reduce the appearance of the following:
Microneedling can be a good choice for healthy adults who want to improve acne scars, enlarged pores, fine lines, wrinkles, mild skin laxity, or uneven texture without surgery.
Since traditional microneedling doesn’t use laser energy or heat, it can be suitable for many skin tones. Your provider will look at your skin type, any pigmentation concerns, and your goals before suggesting a treatment plan just for you.
You may need to wait or avoid microneedling if you have a skin infection, open or irritated skin, an active cold sore, or certain health issues that affect healing. Some medicines and health conditions, especially those that weaken your immune system or affect bleeding, can also impact whether this treatment is right for you. Share your medical history during your consultation so your provider can choose the safest option.
Your provider will give you instructions based on your skin and treatment plan. Before your appointment, try to avoid too much sun and let the team know about any prescription skincare, medications, recent cosmetic treatments, or skin concerns you have.
You might be asked to stop using retinoids, exfoliating acids, or other skincare products that could irritate your skin before treatment. Only stop prescription medications if your doctor tells you to.
Our aesthetic professionals perform microneedling in the office as an outpatient procedure.
Typically, a light topical anesthetic is applied 30 minutes before the procedure begins. Once the anesthetic has taken effect, your provider passes the microneedling tool over your skin. You won’t feel any discomfort during this time. The process typically lasts less than 1 hour, depending on the area being treated.
Some patients get a dermaplaning treatment before microneedling to maximize the results. Microneedling can also complement the results of other nonsurgical procedures, such as JUVÉDERM®.
Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is a popular addition to microneedling at our Washington, D.C. office. This approach uses your own blood platelets to enhance your results. PRP can enhance your microneedling procedure by providing an abundance of growth factors to help your skin revitalize itself.
After completing the microneedling process, your practitioner massages the platelets into your skin, where they use the “micro-channels” created by the microneedling device to access the deeper layers of skin. This can speed up and improve the healing process.
Microneedling isn’t the same for everyone. At West End Plastic Surgery, we offer different options, and the best one for you depends on your skin concerns, what results you want, and how much change you are looking for.
Traditional microneedling uses tiny needles to make small, controlled injuries in your skin. This process starts your body’s natural healing and boosts collagen, which can improve skin texture, reduce enlarged pores, smooth fine lines, and help with some acne scars over time.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can be added to your microneedling treatment. PRP comes from your own blood and contains growth factors. It is applied after microneedling so it can reach your skin through the tiny channels made during the treatment.
Radiofrequency microneedling combines microneedling with gentle heat delivered under the skin. This extra energy helps treat skin laxity, scars, texture, and signs of aging in a different way than traditional microneedling.
At your consultation, your provider will explain the differences between these treatments and help you choose the one that fits your skin best.
After your visit, you can return to your usual activities immediately, although your skin may appear red and swollen for the first day or so.
Results appear gradually within weeks of your initial procedure, and we may recommend a series of treatments for maximum results.
Microneedling results appear slowly because the treatment helps your skin repair itself. As your skin heals, collagen keeps building under the surface, which can make your skin smoother and improve acne scars, enlarged pores, fine lines, and texture over time.
Some people start to see changes a few weeks after treatment, but collagen keeps building for a while. Depending on your skin and what you want to achieve, your provider might suggest several microneedling sessions instead of just one. You can also talk about maintenance as part of your long-term skin care plan.
After microneedling, your skin needs time to heal. You might notice some redness, swelling, tightness, or sensitivity, which can look like a mild sunburn. Follow the aftercare instructions from your West End team instead of going back to your usual skincare routine right away.
Use gentle skincare products while your skin heals and keep the treated area out of the sun as much as possible. Once your provider says it is okay, start using a broad-spectrum sunscreen. You may also need to avoid retinoids, exfoliating acids, and other products that could irritate your skin for a while.
Getting the best results from microneedling means picking the right treatment for your skin, not just using the same approach for everyone. At West End Plastic Surgery, our team looks at your skin, listens to your goals, and builds a treatment plan just for you.
At our Washington, D.C. office, we offer several ways to rejuvenate your skin, including traditional microneedling, microneedling with PRP, and radiofrequency microneedling. With these options, we can recommend the treatment that matches your skin’s needs instead of using the same one for everyone.
Get to know more about the possibilities of microneedling in Washington, D.C. Request a consultation online or call West End Plastic Surgery at (202) 785-4187.
A numbing cream is put on your skin before microneedling to help you stay comfortable. You might still feel some pressure, vibration, or a prickling feeling as the device moves over your skin, but everyone’s experience is a little different.
How many sessions you need depends on your skin, what you want to treat, and how much improvement you hope to see. Many people get the best results from a series of treatments because collagen builds up over time. Your provider will suggest a schedule after looking at your skin.
Microneedling can help with some types of acne scars by making tiny injuries that boost new collagen and help your skin remodel. Results depend on the kind and depth of your scars, so your provider will check if microneedling or another treatment is best for you.
Traditional microneedling uses tiny needles to start your skin’s natural healing and boost collagen. Radiofrequency microneedling adds gentle heat under the skin, so it can treat texture, scars, and laxity using both microneedling and RF energy.
Yes, microneedling can be part of a bigger treatment plan. At West End Plastic Surgery, we offer microneedling with platelet-rich plasma, and your plan might include other cosmetic treatments if needed. Your provider will decide which combinations and timing work best for your skin.
The cost of microneedling depends on your treatment plan, how many sessions you need, and if you add treatments like PRP. West End Plastic Surgery will share current prices after talking with you about your goals and the best approach for your skin.
