MICRONEEDLING

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

WHAT DOES MICRONEEDLING TREAT?

Microneedling is used to treat a variety of skin conditions such as acne scarring, surgical scars, other scars, burns, enlarged pores, wrinkles, and stretch marks. The skin is the largest organ in the body. Skin health and aging depends on:

• Intrinsic factors (physical aging, dermal thinning, loss of supportive fat, bone and muscle structures) result in thin, dry skin with fine wrinkles.

• Extrinsic factors (primarily UV exposure and sun damage; along with air pollution, smoking and poor nutrition) result in coarse wrinkles, loss of elasticity, laxity and rough-textured appearance.

HOW DOES MICRONEEDLING WORK?

Microneedling is a minimally invasive procedure that treats skin concerns by stimulating collagen production! It’s important to note that it takes multiple treatments and several weeks for your skin to transform, but the transformation will be incredible!

With Microneedling, there are three (3) phases of the wound-repair process:

• Phase I: Inflammation. Piercing the skin triggers your immune system to disinfect the wounds, remove debris, increase blood flow and begin to create new tissue through collagen induction.

• Phase II: Proliferation. The wound is rebuilt with new granulation cells, which are part of the extracellular matrix. Additionally, a new network of blood vessels develops.

• Phase III: Remodeling. The wound is replaced with new dermal tissues and blood vessels.

Once collagen production has been stimulated, the skin steadily improves over the course of several weeks. The improvement in tone, texture, pigment and skin buoyancy continues to improve for the next 9 months!

PRE & POST-PROCEDURE INSTRUCTIONS   

Pre-Procedure:

• Avoid sun exposure 24 hours prior to treatment.  

• Discontinue use of BHA, AHA’s, Retinol, Salicylic Acid or Vitamin A 24 hours prior to treatment.  

• You should not have an active breakout, active cold sores, or open lesions or wounds. If this occurs, your micro-needling treatment should be rescheduled.  

• Allow at least 12 hours after autoimmune therapies before having a micro-needling treatment.  

• Wait 6 months following isotretinoin (Accutane) use.  

• For darker skin tones, pigment may darken prior to lightening.  

• Wait at least:  

• 48 hours before or after Botox treatment to have a micro-needling treatment.  

• 1 week before or after any fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane, etc. 

• 1 month before or after laser treatments or chemical peels or Micro-dermabrasion treatments.  

Post-Procedure:

• Do not use any other skincare products (cleansers, moisturizers, or sunscreen) for 4 hours after your procedure. After 4 hours it is important to keep your skin moisturized after the treatment

• You may have mild swelling for 1-3 days after your treatment. You may apply an ice-pack (NOT direct ice) to the irritated area for 1-2 days in approximately 15- minute sessions 3-4 times per day.

• Redness for 1-3 days is common. After 12-hours post procedure, the patient may apply a hydrocortisone cream 3-4 times per day to reduce redness.

• Makeup can be applied 12 hours after treatment.

• Avoid prolonged sun exposure or use of tanning bed for at least two weeks after the treatment, as the skin that was treated will be more sensitive to the sun after your Secret RF microneedling treatment. .

• Days 2 through 4 post procedure – Use a gentle cleanser, hyaluronic acid serum, and a minimum of SPF 30 every single day.

• Avoid hot baths, massage, irritating skin care products or exfoliants, etc. The skin should be kept clean to avoid contamination or infection; any mechanical or thermal damage to the area must be avoided.

• Avoid exercise and heavy sun exposure for 3 days following the procedure.   

• Wait at least 3 days post-procedure to begin using Vitamin C, and Retinol or Vitamin A. 

• Call your VI providers if there is any blistering, excessive redness/swelling, grid pattern, etc.

What to expect in the days followinG: 

Day 1 - Mild to moderate redness and swelling, similar to a sunburn. No sunscreen or makeup. 

Day 2 - Some persistent redness and swelling may be present. May apply makeup. Very important to apply sunscreen daily.

Day 3 - Most redness, bruising, and swelling almost gone.  

Day 4 - Return to normal appearance. 

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Although it is impossible to list every potential risk and complication, the following are recognized as known contraindications to micro-needling. Furthermore, it is your responsibility to fully and accurately disclose all medical history prior to initial treatment, as well as to provide any necessary updates at all future treatment sessions. If you have any of the conditions listed below, you should bring it to the attention of your VI provider PRIOR to signing this consent form.

RISKS OF MICRONEEDLING :

Although the majority of patients do not experience any complications with micro-needling, it is important you understand that risks do exist. The micro-needling procedure is minimally invasive and uses a set of microneedles to inflict multiple, tiny, punctures/lacerations to the outermost layer of the skin. Because microneedling penetrates the skin, it inherently carries health risks, including but not limited to those listed below.

Please discuss any and all health concerns with your Venustas Immortalis provider prior to signing the consent form.

• INFECTION – Infection is very unusual. However, viral, bacterial, and fungal infections can occur any time the integrity of the skin is compromised. Should infection occur, you must contact or return to our office immediately, as additional treatment will likely be necessary.

• PIGMENT/COLOR CHANGE (hyperpigmentation) – Because the dermal penetration associated with micro-needling is so superficial it doesn’t extend into the layer of the skin containing melanocytes, hyperpigmentation is very rare. However, failure to follow post-treatment instructions can put you at risk for hyperpigmentation. You MUST avoid sun exposure for 1 to 2 weeks after a micro-needling treatment. You should also wear a daily SPF facial moisturizer, which your practitioner can recommend. Lastly, avoid picking and/or peeling the skin during healing period.

• SCARRING – Although normal healing after the procedure is expected, abnormal scars may occur in both the skin and deeper tissues. In rare cases, thickened or keloid scars may result, especially if you are prone to keloid scarring anyway. Scars may be unattractive and of different color than surrounding skin. Additional treatments may be needed to treat scarring.

• PAIN – There may be a very slight burning, scratchy, and irritated sensation to the skin. This is usually temporary and is gone within a few hours after treatment. A sudden reappearance of redness or pain is a sign of infection, and you should notify our office immediately.

• PERSISTENT REDNESS, ITCHING, AND/OR SWELLING – Itching, redness, and swelling are normal parts of the healing process. These symptoms rarely persist longer than 24 hours. However, treatments received less than 4 weeks apart may induce prolonged symptoms.

• ALLERGIC REACTION – Micro-needling is performed with a device whose head contains 12 sterile, hypodermic needles, which makes an allergic reaction nearly impossible. However, in conjunction with the micro-needling procedure a variety of products may be used on the face; those products could cause an allergic reaction. Additionally, since micro-needling increases the penetration of topical substances, it could cause you to become hypersensitive to products used on the face. If an allergic reaction were to occur, you must contact our office immediately, as it may require further treatment.

• LACK OF PERMANENT RESULT – Micro-needling will not completely or permanently improve skin texture, tone, elasticity, hyperpigmentation, or scars, or minimize fine lines and wrinkles. It is important that your expectations be realistic and you understand that the procedure has its limitations. Additional procedures may be necessary to achieve your desired effect.

• UNSATISFACTORY RESULT – Although rare from micro-needling, there is a possibility of a poor result from any cosmetic procedure. Micro-needling may induce undesirable results, including but not limited to skin sloughing, scarring, permanent pigment change, and/or other undesirable skin changes. There is always a possibility that you may be disappointed with the final results of micro-needling.