Microneedling

Conveniently located to serve the areas of Lake Oswego, Portland, OR and Woodburn, OR

Woman Microneedling

Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure involving the use of tiny needles to create controlled micro-injuries on the skin’s surface. Microneedling treatments, when combined with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) application, make for a powerful punch in the fight against aging. This substance- extracted from your blood- contains a variety of bioactive proteins that support cellular regeneration and growth in the skin. Microneedling harnesses the power of your body’s own natural rejuvenating capabilities by creating microchannels in the skin that kick your skin’s healing response into overdrive.

It is non-surgical, safe, quick, and convenient, with minimal downtime. With microneedling treatments, you can address dull skin, minor skin blemishes, and discoloration, and achieve skin tightening for a refreshed appearance.

Microneedling is now available at Aesthetic Laser Center in Portland. To learn more about this advanced anti-aging treatment, schedule a consultation online today. You can also reach our offices in Lake Oswego at (503) 353-0888 or Woodburn at (503) 951-1622. Dr. Quita Lopez is an experienced cosmetic surgeon and the medical director of Aesthetic Laser Center.

About Microneedling

You can fight back against the signs of aging that leave your skin looking dull and worn. At the forefront of anti-aging technology, microneedling treatments can give you the edge you need to look as young and refreshed on the outside as you feel on the inside. The microneedles create “micro-injuries” to stimulate more collagen-creating fibroblast cells and improve blood supply, essential to revitalizing the skin.

What are Collagen and Elastin?

Collagen is a protein that exists in all our body’s tissues and provides our skin with structure and strength. It is especially important in maintaining skin firmness, which is what keeps our skin looking smooth and youthful. Elastin is a fiber that supports the skin’s elasticity to provide it with more recoil and stretch. Unfortunately, collagen production slows down as we age- beginning between the ages of 35 to 40- which is what contributes to the development of wrinkles, fine lines, and a more aged appearance. (1) Microneedling treatments can counteract the symptoms of aging by boosting collagen production, which in turn erases fine lines and acne scars. More fresh collagen gives your skin a renewed structure.

Benefits of Microneedling

Microneedling has been shown to be effective in delivering these major benefits to patients:

  • It reduces fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating the body’s natural elastin and collagen production.
  • It is more cost-effective than laser treatments.
  • Patients can diminish the appearance of pockmarks and scars from acne, surgery, and other trauma by breaking up the fibrosis under the skin.
  • It reduces the appearance of stretch marks, especially when combined with certain laser treatments.
  • It prevents new fine lines and wrinkles from forming, particularly when patients are faithful about using antioxidant serums.
  • This non-surgical procedure only takes about 45 minutes (which includes the time for numbing the face) and provides immediate results.
  • It reduces pore size and blackheads, especially when patients use topical vitamin C consistently.
  • Though it is not as effective as dermaplaning, treatments exfoliate the skin by sloughing off the dead skin cells on the epidermis.
  • Treatments reduce hyperpigmentation, which is blotchy and uneven skin from excessive melanin in certain spots.
  • Patients typically experience mild side effects that require little downtime and produce results long after treatment.
  • The addition of PRP amplifies the results of microneedling and does not pose any risk of a negative reaction since it comes from the patient’s own blood. (2)

Microneedling with PRP (Aka the Vampire Facial)

For a comprehensive anti-aging facial, we can combine microneedling with PRP treatments. While microneedling alone provides a multitude of benefits, microneedling with PRP is a hyper-charged version, taking facial rejuvenation to the next level. Clinicians formulate PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, by drawing a small amount of blood from your arm and putting it into a sterile tube. They then place this sample into a centrifuge to separate your plasma from your red and white blood cells.

The platelet-rich plasma- which contains a high concentration of platelets and growth factors- is what is used in the treatment and acts as a supercharged, anti-aging serum. Having been used for years in dentistry, orthopedics, and other medical fields to aid in healing, skin care professionals have unlocked PRP’s incredible anti-aging benefits. The PRP helps to address dark circles and under-eye puffiness and, because it comes from your own blood, it is an all-natural treatment.

Personal Consultation

Woman Microneedling

During your consultation at Aesthetic Laser Center, Dr. Lopez will thoroughly assess your skincare concerns and provide you with more details regarding the microneedling procedure. She will help you find out if microneedling is right for you and if you would benefit from an additional PRP serum to boost your results. She will outline how to prepare your skin, the treatment session itself, and how to care for your sensitive skin afterward. She will give you a clear idea of the results you can achieve and how many sessions you will benefit most from.

Attaining the beautiful complexion of your youth is possible with microneedling. To schedule your first appointment at Aesthetic Laser Center, inquire online or visit one of our locations in person. Call (503) 353-0888 to get in touch with our Lake Oswego office or (503) 951-1622 for our Woodburn office.

Microneedling and PRP Treatment Process

First, Dr. Lopez will apply a numbing cream to the area and give it time to take effect. Then, she will move the microneedles across the skin with the use of a handheld device. If the treatment plan includes PRP, Dr. Lopez will apply the pre-prepared serum onto the skin. About half an hour before your treatment, she will take a sample of your own blood to place into a centrifuge for processing and purification to extract PRP.

The microchannels created by the needles quickly fill with lymphatic fluid and because they are so small, they also close quickly. The microchannels and PRP stimulate collagen production in deeper skin layers and set your skin’s healing processes into action. They heal and replace with fresh tissue, collagen, and growth factors, providing long-lasting effects. Any redness from the process should disappear within a few hours.

Recovery

There are some things you can do to ensure success with your microneedling treatment. They are as follows:

  • On the day of treatment, avoid applying makeup, sunscreen, tanning lotion, facial peels, or other products that can contain toxic ingredients or irritate the skin.
  • Avoid direct sunlight for 2-7 days, depending on how your healing is going.
  • For the first 24 hours post-treatment, make sure you avoid any abrasive skin care products or anything else that can cause skin irritation.
  • Avoid alcohol-based products on the skin as well, as these can be overly drying.
  • Redness and slight swelling can happen, so it is best to avoid scheduling social engagements within 24 hours of your treatment.

Results

Your skin should look refreshed and feel tighter after even just one treatment. You will likely experience a slight plumping effect on the skin as well. The boost in collagen production will kick in about 48-72 hours post-treatment and may continue for a few weeks. Your skin will continue to firm and you will notice a decrease in fine lines and wrinkles.

One study found that skin treated with four microneedling sessions spaced about one month apart led to a 400% increase in elastin and collagen 6 months after treatment. (3) You will also see a visible reduction in hyperpigmentation, skin texture improvement, UV damage reduction, and tighter skin.

Microneedling v.s. Other Treatments

There are many skin rejuvenating and anti-aging skin treatments available. Topical creams, lasers, and chemicals can all achieve certain results, but the right treatment will depend on your body and your goals.

Laser Skin Rejuvenation

Laser treatments use light and energy to rejuvenate your complexion. These lasers target broken red veins and brown spots while leaving the surrounding tissue unaffected. Laser treatments can remove specific types of skin blemishes such as age spots, cafe-au-lait stains, tattoos, and unwanted hair. However, some laser treatments have limitations based on skin type.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are a classic skin rejuvenation technique where a provider applies a specialized blend of acids to your skin’s surface for a powerful exfoliating effect. Chemical peels can clear dead skin and refresh a dull complexion, but may not be ideal for those with sensitive skin. Redness and discomfort are common with chemical peel treatments, but these effects will fade as the skin heals. Chemical peels are formulated with varying strengths to provide both superficial and deep exfoliation.

Cost of Microneedling in Portland

The cost of your microneedling treatment will vary based on your unique issues and the number of sessions chosen based on those needs. Whether PRP application is included or not will also affect the cost of a treatment package. After sharing your goals during your consultation and coming up with a treatment plan with Dr. Lopez, she will provide a quote for this customizable procedure.

To request your consultation today and/or discuss your financing options at Aesthetic Laser Center, fill out our online form or call (503) 353-0888 (Lake Oswego) or (503) 951-1622 (Woodburn). Dr. Lopez and her staff are ready to help you address your concerns and help you feel confident in your skin and natural beauty. If you would like to explore your other options before scheduling your appointment, read through our blog.

References

  1. Rousseaux I, Robson S. Body Contouring and Skin Tightening Using a Unique Novel Multisource Radiofrequency Energy Delivery Method. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. 2017;10(4):24-29. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5404777/
  2. Jain NK, Gulati M. Platelet-rich plasma: a healing virtuoso. Blood Research. 2016;51(1):3. doi:https://doi.org/10.5045/br.2016.51.1.3
  3. Pająk J, Szepietowski JC, Nowicka D. Prevention of Ageing—The Role of Micro-Needling in Neck and Cleavage Rejuvenation: A Narrative Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022;19(15):9055. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159055