TREATMENT TIME
45-60 minutes
LONGEVITY
4-6 weeks
ANAESTHESIA
Numbing cream
DOWNTIME
1-4 days
MICRONEEDLING
Microneedling is a cosmetic procedure which involves pricking the skin with tiny sterilized needles. The small wounds causes your body to react by making more collagen and elastin, which heal your skin and help you look younger. You might also hear it called 'collagen induction therapy'.
We use a microneedling dermapen which is a unique electronic mechanism allowing your practitioner to control the treatment intensity to best suit your needs. A mesotherapy serum solution is also applied to the skin, containing hyaluronic acid, minerals, vitamins and peptides, which stimulates cell proliferation and so reduces the skin’s contours and improves elasticity. The selection of revitalising serums targets your specific concerns or we can make a suggestion following a skin analysis.
A cocktail of vitamins and amino acids are delivered deep into the skin which combined stimulate the production of new collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid treating fine lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores and acne scars for firmer, smoother and hydrated skin.
Mesotherapy serums PURE / VITAMINS / BODY / BRIGHT / HAIR / SLIM can be used individually or combined.
PURE
Regenerate Texture & Tonality
PURE repairs and restructures the appearance of stretch marks, acne marks, scar marks and other skin imperfections.
VITAMINS
Revitalising & Illuminating
VITAMINS moisturises and provides nutrition to stressed skin, sun over-exposure, wrong diet and aged appearances.
BODY
Firm & Restore
BODY restores collagen by supporting and shaping skin to remove sagging and flaccidity from ageing and weight variations.
BRIGHT
Lighten & Brighten
BRIGHT lightens skin tone and reduces skin spots of deep pigmentation increasing freshness and glow to the skin.
HAIR
Repair & Restructure
HAIR nourishes the scalp and promotes hair growth by preventing new loss, stimulation of hair follicles and re-densification.
SLIM
Contour & Tone
SLIM breaks down localised excess fat accumulation targeting stubborn pockets of fat with a lipolytic and anti-cellulite formula.
MICRONEEDLING FAQ
WHAT IS MICRONEEDLING? Microneedling also known as ‘medical needling’, 'collagen induction therapy', 'Dermapen' or 'derma roller' – is the process of applying a roller or pen tipped with rows of tiny needles to the skin in order to create thousands of tiny holes in the epidermis. This isn’t just some dermatologist’s weird idea of fun, there’s actually a number of good reasons to try it, all backed by scientific research. There are a range of needle lengths and what microneedling can do for you depends on the length you use. Broadly speaking, there are two reasons to use microneedling: to increase the efficiency of skincare products and to stimulate growth factors and collagen production within the skin. Depending on the skin issue being treated or if you just want a general glow up, different depths can be used between 'shallow' microneedling (up to 1mm) and 'deep' microneedling (1mm to 3mm). A microneedling facial is a facial treatment that includes a session of microneedling. Perforating your delicate facial skin like this might sound like a terrible idea, but there are a couple of compelling reasons for doing it. The first reason applies to microneedling facials, while the second applies to hardcore microneedling. Here’s the first reason: making holes through the tough protective outer cells of the epidermis means that any skincare product that you slap on immediately afterwards can get direct access into the skin – so if that’s a high-tech serum with skin-repairing benefits, it will be more effective. The second reason has to do with collagen, the protein that gives our skin its structure and firmness and that forms the scaffolding of the skin. If the needling is done with long enough needles, it can stimulate a wound-healing response in the skin which floods the skin with growth factors and prompts the skin to create collagen, thus renewing and firming the skin.
HOW DOES MICRONEEDLING WORK? Microneedling (also known as skin needling or collagen induction therapy) is a type of treatment that uses small needles to cause tiny punctures in the skin. These small contact points encourage the body to create a wound healing response and renew the skin cells. As your skin repairs, the production of collagen and elastin is triggered to give an almost immediate plumping effect. It can also help tackle other skin damage such as scarring, dark marks, sun damage and ageing. A topical numbing cream is applied to the area before carrying out microneedling treatments to ensure that any pain is minimised. Variable treatment intensities allow us to further control the comfort of the treatment. The needles range in length from 0.1mm up to 3mm. At the lower end of the scale, the process is great for lightly perforating the outer layer of the skin. This allows any skincare products applied afterwards to sink into those holes and further into the skin, thereby increasing their efficiency. To do this, you only need to penetrate the stratum corneum, which is only 0.02mm thick, so a 0.1mm needle depth is plenty for that. Once you work your way up to 3mm, the needles drive down to the dermal-epidermal junction (also called the dermal-epidermal junction, and often abbreviated to ‘DEJ’) and causes pinprick bleeding that stimulates the wound-healing response. This triggers the production of a growth factor called TGFb3 (transforming growth factor beta 3) which in turn encourages the production of collagen I — and collagen I is the sort that you find in really young skin, as opposed to collagen II or collagen III, which is laid down in parallel lines and which is more akin to scar tissue. So there really is method to the madness. Combining microneedling with serums can treat a large spectrum of conditions and can be used on the face or body: Dull skin - Rejuvenate tired and dull skin and combat the initial signs of ageing. Wrinkles - Fine lines and wrinkles on the face can be visibly reduced, as microneedling triggers collagen production. Scarring - Scars from acne and Chicken Pox can be improved and an uneven texture can be smoothed out with microneedling. Pigmentation - Can help to fade dark patches such as pigmentation due to sun damage or ageing. Microneedling is a great treatment for you if you have darker skin because it doesn’t involve peels or lasers, which can cause pigmentation issues.
WHAT IS MICRONEEDLING GOOD FOR? Since the outer layer of skin is specifically designed to keep stuff out (like water, dirt, bacteria…), any skincare product applied directly to the outer layer of skin will inevitably have trouble penetrating to the lower layers where the active ingredients need to get to in order to make a difference. Microneedling allows the active ingredients to penetrate deeper without needing to first fight their way through the outer layer of skin, so they can get to work. Because shallow microneedling can increase the efficiency of the skincare products applied afterwards, you will often find microneedling works great paired with our Facials or even following a Chemical Skin Peel, which also allow you to get in under that tough, protective outer layer. Deep microneedling is used to stimulate the skin’s wound-healing response, which can help with wrinkles, scarring, stretch marks, sun damage, and ageing skin. From medical needling alone, you can gain a 205% increase in the thickness of the dermis, which is extremely helpful with fighting the signs of ageing and when you add Vitamin A to the mix, you increase collagen production by a whopping 658%. Microneedling can help with a variety of issues: Acne Aged appearance Cellulite Hair loss (also called alopecia) Dark spots or patches on your skin (hyperpigmentation) Dull skin Dry skin Flaccidity Large pores Pigmentation Reduced skin elasticity Sagging Scars Skin Imperfections Stretch marks Stressed skin Sun damage Fine lines and wrinkles
DOES MICRONEEDLING HURT? No – at least, usually not. When microneedling is included as part of a revitalising facial, it is done with the shorter 'shallow' needles (usually 0.5mm-1mm long) that really don’t hurt as they don’t sink far enough into the skin to hit the nerves or to cause bleeding. For such microneedling, you generally don’t need anaesthetic numbing cream beforehand. By contrast, microneedling intended to stimulate the production of collagen requires longer needles (up to 3mm long). Needles this long will cause pinpoint bleeding, unless you're tolerance to pain is very high we recommend you will need an anaesthetic cream beforehand.
IS MICRONEEDLING SAFE? Yes – your practitioner is using the device and will respect your skins limits. Usually we will work up to deeper lengths in increasing intensity each visit to ensure your skin can handle the treatment. All those sharp needles making holes in the skin open up the potential for infection, so the skin has to be prepared properly before treatment, and the tips of the needles to be sterile. We do this by using disposable needles which are opened fresh for each new treatment so there is no risk from cross contamination. Microneedling is a safe and effective skin-care treatment that’s approved for all skin tones. However, those with eczema, rosacea, active acne, psoriasis, unhealed facial wounds, or very sensitive skin types should avoid microneedling treatments. It’s also not recommended for those prone to keloids, on blood thinners, or for heavy alcohol drinkers.
WHAT ARE MICRONEEDLING RESULTS LIKE? Microneedling results can be amazing! Each individual case and skin differs however generally we recommend a course of 3-8 sessions with 4-6 weeks apart for skin that is noticeably firmer, clearer and smoother. Would it work for you? In short, yes. Microneedling has been proven time and again to stimulate the growth of new collagen in the skin. It’s a natural response that occurs in everyone’s skin, so you can be confident that your pain will not be without gain.
HOW LONG DO MICRONEEDLING RESULTS LAST? The effects of a microneedling facial normally last around 4-6 weeks. The better care you take of your skin, the longer you can prolong the effect. Shallow microneedling depend on the products used afterwards and are more of an on-going process. When you have deeper microneedling that gives you pinprick bleeding, this means you’ve hit the sweet spot for collagen production. The effects from this level of treatment last for several months, the exact duration depending on how quickly your skin cells renew, and the age and original condition of your skin.
DOES MICRONEEDLING AT HOME WORK? Due to the relative simplicity of the concept (lots of little needles on a dermaroller/dermapen device – there has been a rise in the popularity of home devices available. However you should approach home needling with caution as I have seen a lot of people tend to 'over do it' and are not performing the treatment correctly. This can lead to small micro tears in the skins surface, damage the skin barrier and potentially cause scarring! Another issue I've seen with the home devices is to manage cleanliness. They must be disinfected and sterilised scrupulously and most homes do not have the correct equipment to perform this task efficiently - just because it 'looks' clean with no visible debris doesn't mean it actually is and that bacteria accumulating will enter your skin the next time it is used, ergh. If you are going to microneedle at home please do it gently and use disposable one time use needles but leave the deeper treatments up to your practitioner who is professionally trained and dedicates their life to skincare! A professional microneedling treatment also uses high quality serums that's sole use is to penetrate deeper into the skin. The problem with a home-use device (other than being likely to cause unnecessary trauma to the skin), the majority of home skincare products are made up of many ingredients where some are meant to penetrate deep into the skin, however many are designed to sit on the surface. Using a product with fragrance, for example, after microneedling will invariably lead to irritation in the skin.
ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS TO MICRONEEDLING? The holes are tiny, so don't worry your face will not look like a colander when you’re done. That being said, I’d put aside a good three days after the treatment during which you should expect to have tight, red, slightly tender skin. It feels very much like sunburn and needs very gentle treatment for the first few days. I certainly wouldn’t do this a couple of days before a date, a party, or any other kind of social occasion incase you have more severe side effects - you don’t want to look like a walking tomato! Microneedling facials generally have minimal side effects. That said, obviously the deeper the needles are applied equates to a stronger treatment but this also means the severity of any side effects can increase. As you’d expect, any time you inflict even a small amount of purposeful damage to your skin, you’re going to experience a few side effects. Even scratching an itch can leave a faint mark; That being said, microneedling side effects are generally pretty mild and to be expected. Redness - Redness after microneedling is a common side effect, but this subsides within a few hours. Swelling - Some discomfort and swelling are also common, but these side effects don’t happen to all and should also subside within a few hours. Anti-histamines can be taken as required. Sensitivity - Additionally, after microneedling sessions, your skin is more sun-sensitive because it’s more exposed due to the tiny punctures from the needles. For that reason, it’s important to wear a broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Another microneedling side effect is that it can make your skin more sensitive when applying topical products. Stinging - In the 48 to 72 hours following your microneedling treatment avoid products with alcohol (which can cause stinging) and active ingredients, including retinoids, AHAs, and BHAs. These ingredients will be too strong right after microneedling is done. Instead, use a mild cleanser and hydrating serum and don’t exfoliate or scrub the skin too soon after your treatment. Good aftercare can make all the difference in your results.
ARE MICRONEEDLING FACIALS BETTER THAN OTHER FACIALS? There’s no direct answer to this question, because it depends on what skincare concerns you have and which other facials you’re comparing it to. A microneedling facial can be a great way to ensure that your skin can absorb skincare products and to give your skin a boost. Personally we love the results a microneedling facial gives and providing you don't mind a couple days downtime the results are 100% worth it.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I HAVE MICRONEEDLING? Your practitioner will discuss your individual treatment needs with you at your consultation, including the expected number of treatments and treatment intervals depending on your type of skin damage. A course of 4-8 treatments usually gives the best results every 4-6 weeks.