I am obsessed with micro-needling right now. I love this procedure about as much as I love fillers, and that’s A LOT. I recently started having Dermapen treatments for my stretch marks on my hips on stomach, and on a surgical scar. I have had one treatment and I already feel and see a difference on the larger, deeper stretch marks, and on the surgical scar. I will have a second treatment in three weeks. I can’t wait to see my final results.
First, the explanation of how this treatment works. If you’ve already read the information on our website, go ahead and skip to mine and our staff's treatment stories!
What is micro-needling?
Micro-needling - you may have also heard it called dermal rolling or collagen induction therapy - is a process that involves penetrating the skin with tiny needles to stimulate collagen production. Micro-needling has previously been done with a hand rolling device that has tiny needles and is rolled over the skin. Dermapen is the newest tool in advanced micro-needling and it has distinct advantages over traditional dermal rollers, particularly for certain areas of the body. Dermapen is easily maneuverable and allows for greater precision in treatment, particularly in the facial area, under the eyes, and around the lips.
How Does Micro-needling with Dermapen Work?
The purpose of micro-needling is to stimulate the production of new collagen, using our skin’s ability to heal itself. The tiny needles used in micro-needling make microscopic channels in the skin, triggering the body’s healing response: it stimulates the skin to regenerate and repair itself naturally. Your skin reacts to any injury by initiating the healing process. You are essentially encouraging your skin to continue healing through this micro-needling process. The result is increased blood supply to the skin layers and the formation of more collagen and elastin (which give your skin elasticity and firmness). Dermapen helps optimize this process.
The Scientific Explanation
Our skin has two layers, the epidermis (the outermost layer) and the dermis (the second and deeper layer). To effectively treat these skin issues, the epidermis has to be penetrated. This can be achieved safely and easily with the Dermapen.
The Dermapen also allows for combining topical agents with your micro-needling treatment. Because micro-needling gives direct access to the dermis, there are many treatment possibilities for directly delivering topical products to the area where these skin problems originate. This increases the effectiveness of treatments by promoting and evening the absorption of skin care ingredients into the skin for enhanced results.
What Is Dermapen Used to Treat?
reduce wrinkles, fine lines, & folds
lessen the appearance of stretch marks
diminish acne scars
minimize crow’s feet
improve elasticity and firmness
diminish brown spots
improve skin radiance
When Are Results Visible?
Visible results of skin rejuvenation can be seen as early as one week after treatment, but full results are generally seen six to eight weeks following the procedure, and improve further over time.
Beth's Story (That's me!)
I gained 55 pounds when I was pregnant with my daughter, 16 years ago. And I got some pretty bad stretch marks all over my abdomen and hips. Actually the ones on my hips were so bad that I asked my mom (while I was pregnant) if they were varicose veins!
So last week I finally decided to try micro-needling with the Dermapen on my abdomen and my hips. About half an hour before, numbing cream was applied to my treatment area. They began the treatment on my abdomen, drawing the Dermapen horizontal then vertical and then diagonal. On the deeper stretch marks the aesthetician used a stamping motion to help encourage collagen stimulation even more. This is the same technique they used on my surgical scar (from a partial tummy tuck). The Dermapen did feel uncomfortable on my hips, but it was very tolerable on my stomach.
My treatment area was very red after the treatment and one-day post treatment. By the third day though, the redness was considerably subsided. After even a few days I could feel a difference in the thickness of my surgical scar - it literally feels about 50 percent improved as far as thickness. I can’t wait to continue treatments and possibly be rid of my stretch marks and scar!
Gina's Story (our nurse injector)
I've recently been battling hyperpigmentation issues with melasma post pregnancy. My overall skin tone has been really uneven. I received one Dermapen treatment and my skin overall has been more even and bright with the melasma significantly lightened. Hyaluronic Acid was the product used to during my treatment. Post treatment I've been using Skinceuticals Phloretin CF during the day and Blemish + Age Defense at night. I can't emphasize enough the significant difference in one treatment how much lighter my discoloration is and with little to no downtime. This will definitely be something I will be adding to my regimen throughout the year to help manage my stubborn melasma!