Microneedling: The Non-Toxic Botox Alternative

If you’re looking to get younger, clearer and brighter skin holistically, YOU JUST FOUND IT.

Turning back the hands of times may not be possible but with microneedling… your skin can look baby fresh again with this holistic, non-toxic, health-enhancing treatment!

WHAT IS MICRONEEDLING?

Microneedling, AKA ‘Collagen Induction Therapy’, uses a pen-like device with sterile, single-use tips filled with 12 tiny needles that are quickly propelled up and down at 18,000 rpms. This make hundreds of tiny holes or channels all over the surface of your skin.

This stimulates the body’s natural healing response which includes the production of collagen and elastin. These help the skin to be firm, radiant, smooth and more youthful in appearance. Aging, stress and nutrient deficiencies can degrade and reduce our collagen and elastin.

The microneedling process also forms new capillaries that increase blood flow to give a healthy glow and improve the structure and texture of the skin.

Microneedling does not damage the epidermis in the long term and there is virtually no risk of infection or scarring from the procedure because the needles are tiny and only penetrate the skin 0.5-1.0 mm.

The best part?

Aside from day-of-treatment redness, microneedling has virtually 0 downtime or side-effects. It’s 100% non-toxic, healthy, and uses your body’s natural healing abilities to regenerate.

Need I say more?

CAN MICRONEEDLING HELP YOU?

If you’ve got:

• Acne + Acne Scars
• Fine Lines & Moderate Wrinkles
• Large Pores
• Skin Tone + Texture
• Scars + Stretchmarks
• Sun Damage
• Hyperpigmentation
• Hypopigmentation
• Hair Loss
• Dry Skin

Then you bet your bottom that it can help.

SOUNDS WEIRD BUT I’M IN… WHAT IS A SESSION LIKE?

The day of your session, be sure to come make-up and oil free! We will clean and prep your skin but we want it to be as squeaky clean as possible so we don’t push debris into those channels we are about to create.

If you choose to use numbing cream, you’ll arrive 20 min early to chill in our lounge and let it set in.

NOTE: Many people go without numbing cream and as an acupuncturist, I feel like the numbing cream dulls the results as you aren’t experiencing the full ‘inflammatory’ experience that creates collagen and elastin. If you have sensitive skin, you can certainly still do the numbing or we can do nanoneedle instead (see more below).

Next, we discuss your concerns, clean your face and prep the area to be microneedled. We use a hyaluronic acid serum to glide the microneedling pen across your face, covering every square inch.

Once we’ve covered the face, neck and chest, we apply a cooling, nourishing sheet mask to

soak into all the little micro-channels we just created. We insert acupuncture needles in the body to superboost your healing. You’ll rest and marinate in this glorious station of

relaxation for 20 minutes.

After that we’ll apply a potent, vitamin-packed, personalized serum that targets your trouble areas and send you on your way with your own to apply at home for the rest of the day.

Your face will generally be quite red, like a sunburn, and usually lasts about 12-24 hours. I wouldn’t plan on going out to dinner or a hot date right after! Sometimes it gets flaky from the hyaluronic acid serum but you can just add a little water to your face to balance it out.

The next day, avoid hot yoga, saunas, HITT workouts or other sweaty activities the best you can. Sweat contains bacteria and your skin is a little vulnerable the day after so we want to protect it. You can shower and apply makeup as normal however and resume any other activities.

DOES MICRONEEDLING HURT?

Microneedling can feel a little spicy, however, a numbing cream can be helpful for sensitive patients (please arrive 20min before your appointment if you’d like to use numbing cream).

The amount of discomfort will also depend on the needle depth we use. If you’re new to microneedling, we will generally use a shallower needle depth, which creates less discomfort.

As your skin’s tolerance to the needles increases with treatments, we can go a little deeper if you can tolerate it. However, it’s important to know that “deeper is not necessarily better”. Many studies show the best results with the least amount of down-time are when you penetrate between 0.25-0.5mm.

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?

Microneedling is only done once a month to give the skin sufficient time to heal and produce new collagen. That post-micro glow can be addicted but you gotta wait the full 28 days to let your skin ‘turn over’ and finish it’s cellular renewal cycle.

Since it works by stimulating and renewing the skin, the results do not fade or wear off like they do with other cosmetic procedures like Botox or filler – but rather, results are maintained by regularly taking care of the skin with serums, antioxidants and continued stimulation via microneedling or cosmetic acu sessions to ensure that collagen production continues.

I know you’re thinking… “Does skin needling really work?”

and the answer is a resounding ‘yes’ – most people can see a difference in their skin within a week of their first procedure, with more dramatic textural, pigmentation and fine line improvements after 3-4+ treatments.

We recommend buying a treatment plan of 5 or more for best results to ensure that you stay committed through the recommended treatment plan. Don’t be surprised if your hyperpigmentation or hormonal acne isn’t magically gone after a session or two.

It’s common to take a few treatments before seeing substantial results, especially if you have extensive fine lines, pigmentation or acne.

Just like most types of therapies that are beneficial for your health…

(eating healthy, exercising, physical therapy, meditation, journaling, etc)

it takes consistency and multiple sessions that build upon one another. If your concerns are complex or chronic, it gonna take some time to undo what’s been done over the years.

BOTOX VS MICRONEEDLING

Botox, fillers, lasers, and other more invasive treatments may give quicker and more dramatic results but they also come with risks, side-effects and results that wear off.

This is like choosing between that pharmaceutical (ex: Nyquil, Tylenol) that will immediately knock out or mask your symptoms vs choosing the more natural route that helps support your long-term health and strengthens your body (herbs, healthy foods, supplements, exercise, sunshine, saunas, etc).

Microneedling is not an aggressive procedure. It is a gentler approach designed to provide progressive and incremental results. Research shows that just 3 treatments can have long-lasting benefits.

GOT SENSITIVE SKIN OR BAGS UNDER YOUR EYES?

That’s a job for the Nanoneedle!

The Nano and Micro-Needling treatments both use the same pen-like device but the nanoneedle uses a different tip that has 81 tiny silicone cone-like projections and just penetrates the epidermis instead of the deeper, dermis layer in microneedling.

They both induce cell turnover, increase serum absorption by 97% and initiate the healing process that results in this amazing skin transformation.

It’s perfect for those with sensitive skin and for using on the ultra-delicate area around the eyes.

• If you are concerned about fine lines & wrinkles, skin tone, puffy, or undereye bags, then nanoneedling is for you.
• If your skincare concerns include deeper wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, stretch marks, or deep acne scars, then micro-needling or cosmetic acupuncture are a better option.

You can’t microneedle the delicate skin around the eyes so if puffiness or under-eye-bags are a main concern, I would opt for nanoneedling or to choose our ‘Event Prep’ package.

Nanoneedling can be done weekly to exfoliate the skin while microneedling is only to be done monthly. The benefits of this serum infusion treatment include pigmentation reduction, increased cell turnover, skin rejuvenation, and an immediate glow with NO downtime. For best results we recommend coming in once a week for 6 weeks.

Have an event coming up?

If you’re short on time this is the BEST way to get your skin clear, radiant and glowing.

For absolute best results, I’d start doing monthly Micro sessions 3-6 months prior and then do the ‘Event Prep’ Series the month before the big day!

HOW MANY SESSIONS WILL I NEED?

This varies from person to person and depends on the type of problem you have.

Generally, longstanding chronic problems (hyperpigmentation, deeper wrinkles and scars, cystic acne) take longer to resolve, and more acute or recent problems respond quicker.

Having said that, it also depends on your underlying state of health. Some people look healthy, but really are quite depleted. Others have illnesses but strong underlying constitutions. It would be great if one or two treatments were all that was needed, and some times that’s all it takes but we generally recommend starting with a package of 5 or more to truly see results.

Again, consistency is key so coming in every month for Microneedling and every week for nanoneedling will give you the quickest and best results!

WHAT IS COSMETIC ACUPUNCTURE?

The nano and microneedling uses a pen-like device while Cosmetic Acupuncture simply uses acupuncture needles.

Super fine acupuncture needles are placed into muscular ‘trigger points’, problem areas like wrinkles or scars, or other targeted areas on the face, neck and scalp (as well as the rest of the body to heal your skin systemically). The needles stimulate muscles, increase blood flow and rejuvenate the skin to lift and refresh the face.

Just as in microneedling, the stimulation of the needles increases collagen production by creating small, non-invasive micro-traumas that will initiate cellular repair.

We place needlesin other parts of the body, just like ‘regular acupuncture’, to help reduce inflammation, promote blood flow and correct internal imbalances (heat, damp, qi deficiency, etc). Your skin is a reflection of your internal health and cosmetic acupuncture helps to treat the body from the inside out.

CONSTITUTIONAL or WHOLE-BODY BENEFITS:

• Improves acne (caused by hormonal imbalance)
• Helps thinning skin from menopause or pre-menopause
• Improves PMS and other GYN issues
• Alleviates sinus congestion
• Improves hyper- and hypothyroidism
• Reduces symptoms of toothache, TMJ, trigeminal neuralgia, and Bell’s palsy
• Helps headaches (except severe migraine)
• Treats diarrhea and constipation (most digestive issues)
• Reduces edema and puffiness
• Benefits eyes, ears and brain
• Can help insomnia and dizziness
• Helps depression and aids self-esteem
• Improves metabolism

FACIAL + AESTHETIC BENEFITS:

• Improves collagen production and muscle tone
• Helps reduce bags and sagging tendencies
• Helps eliminate fine lines and diminish larger wrinkles
• Helps reduce double chin and lift drooping eyelids
• Tightens pores and brightens eyes
• Increases local blood and lymph circulation
• Improves facial color

WHICH IS BETTER? MICRONEEDLING OR COSMETIC ACUPUNCTURE

If you have more ‘surface’ or textural issues…

I’d choose MICRONEEDLING.

It works best for fine lines, hyperpigmentation, dull complexion, and plumping the skin.

If you are looking for more of a lift or to help with saggy jowls…

Try COSMETIC ACUPUNCTURE.

If you’re really committed to making changes to your skin…

Do both!

Since microneedling can only be done once a month, cosmetic acupuncture is an awesome adjunct to do the other 3 weeks. We can still target hyperpigmentation and treat wrinkles with cosmetic acupuncture since it boasts many of the same benefits as microneedling and they work synergistically together.

Our BSE or ‘Best Skin Ever’ package is PERFECT if you’re ready to totally transform your skin.

It includes weekly sessions for 3 months. This includes one microneedling (or nano) session, followed by weekly cosmetic acu sessions.

If you’re tired of dealing with hyperpigmentation, stubborn hormonal acne, wrinkles or want to jumpstart an anti-aging program.

YOU’VE JUST MET YOUR MATCH!

Get the skin you always dreamed of and book now!

BOOK NOW!

Still got questions? Head over here to learn more about Microneedling, Nanoneedling and Cosmetic Acupuncture.