Microneedling

Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that involves the use of a medical-grade microneedling pen to create tiny micro-injuries in the skin for the purpose of skin rejuvenation. The pen-shaped device features a head containing 12 ultra fine needles that break down old scar tissue and stimulate the growth of new skin cells, collagen fibers, elastin layers and improve blood supply.

Microneedling heads are gas-sterilized and designed for one-time use only. While this technique is not appropriate for certain people and certain conditions (see contraindications below), it is generally considered a safe and natural form of skin rejuvenation.

Side effects typically include the following:

• Skin will be pink or red and may feel warm like mild sunburn, or tight and itchy. All of this typically subsides in 12 to 48 hrs.
• Minor flaking or dryness of the skin, with scab formation in rare cases. 
• Crusting, discomfort, bruising and swelling may occur. 
• Pinpoint bleeding. 
• It is possible to have a cold sore flare if you have a history of outbreaks. 
• Freckles may lighten temporarily or permanently disappear in treated areas.
• Infection is rare but if you see any signs of tender redness or pus notify our office immediately.
• Hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin) rarely occurs and usually resolves itself after a month.
• Permanent scarring is extremely rare. 

Staying hydrated, avoiding sunlight and following the aftercare instructions in the days after your treatment can help prevent more rare side effects such as flaking skin, prolonged swelling or redness, infection or scarring.

Many western trained practitioners who perform microneedling do so at a 2.5mm depth in hopes of stimulating fibroblasts at the derma level. What we find is a bloody mess and overstimulated skin. Our clinical-grade microneedling pen uses 18,000 RPMs and a 0.5mm depth on most areas of the face. Not only is this less painful, but it keeps the epidermis intact while creating channels to the fibroblasts at the dermal level. There have been numerous studies available on pubMed.gov showing that this less painful and invasive method is more effective. For patients who are particularly sensitive, we will apply topical numbing cream prior to the microneedling treatment. 

While this procedure is commonly used on the face, neck and upper chest, microneedling can be used on any part of the body that has stretch marks, skin discoloration or could use a collagen boost including the abdomen, legs, hands and buttocks. 

Plan for at least four treatments to achieve the results you’re looking for, although gradual changes may be noticeable after the first treatment. It takes approximately two weeks to fully see the results from each treatment. The treatments build upon one another and should be administered once every 4-6 weeks, although nano-needling can be done weekly to increase and speed up results. We’ll take pictures along the way so you can see your progress.

Once you’ve achieved the results you’re looking for with microneedling, they can last from around six months to a few years depending on the condition we’re treating, your age, and the health of your collagen. Collagen health can be influenced by your diet and lifestyle, so avoiding sugars, consuming lean healthy proteins, refraining from smoking cigarettes, and limiting alcohol to one unit per day will be helpful. 

The FDA has cleared microneedling devices for use on women and men aged 22 and older. After age 22, there are no age restrictions on who can use microneedling to achieve healthier-looking skin. Starting microneedling in your 20s and 30s is ideal for targeting early signs of hyperpigmentation, fine lines, enlarged pores and acne scars since collagen health during these years is typically high and microneedling boosts collagen production. Those in their 50s and 60s will benefit from microneedling’s ability to reduce more visible signs of aging such as deeper wrinkles or skin laxity. 

Our Celluma low-level-light therapy device is incorporated into every microneedling treatment and uses LED (Light Emitting Diode)  technology for therapeutic benefits. The energy delivered by the LEDs has been shown to enhance cellular metabolism, accelerate the repair and replenishment of damaged skin cells, as well as stimulate the production of collagen, which is the foundation of healthy, smooth skin. Research has shown that LED light therapy may help smooth skin texture, improve skin firmness and resilience, increase lymphatic system activity, restore skin’s natural cellular activity, and reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and superficial hyperpigmentation. The treatment is for all skin types, and is non-ablative, non-invasive, painless, and requires absolutely no downtime. Patients or clients can return to their normal activity immediately after the treatment.

Nano-needling uses the same medical-grade pen as microneedling but only affects the epidermis (the upper .15 mm of the skin). This treatment approach is best for thinner skin types and mature skin. We also use nanoneedling on sensitive areas such as below the eyes or on the lips. 

The nano-needling cartridge head features microscopic hair-like cones that separate the cells within the epidermis to enable our serums to be pushed into the skin with 97% product absorption. The benefits of this serum infusion treatment include pigmentation reduction, increased cell turnover, skin rejuvenation and an immediate glow with no downtime. This treatment can be done weekly to exfoliate the skin.

Chemical peels work by removing the outer layers of the skin, creating a risk of color changes, infections, textural changes and loss of pigmentation (particularly for people with dark skin). Microneedling is more aggressive yet more controlled than chemical peels, and can provide more dramatic results for scars, wrinkles, fine lines and large pores compared to the average chemical peel. Microneedling also comes with less downtime and less risk of adverse outcomes or side effects compared to chemical peels. 

Laser surfacing uses beams of light to remove the outer layer of your skin (the epidermis) and heat the underlying layer (the dermis). This process can result in skin darkening or bruising and longer downtime due to post-treatment swelling and redness. Lasers can also flare certain medical conditions like herpes cold sores, and costs thousands of dollars per treatment.

Consumers can buy at-home microneedling (or derma-needling) rollers over the counter, but these devices are often painful and can cause scarring or skin damage if not done correctly.

For best results, microneedling should be administered by a licensed & trained professional using advanced equipment with a high RPM that can be appropriately adjusted by depth according to the area of your skin. 

Our professional microneedling pen features 18,000 RPM resulting in less drag over the skin and a more comfortable experience for the client. The at-home versions have significantly lower RPM or rely on you to manually roll the barrel over the skin to create the small punctures. At-home microneedling kits don’t include specialized serums or red-light therapy, which are essential for the treatment to be effective.

Let’s be honest…when it comes to needles, acupuncturists are the experts. Microneedling is a more modern application of a technique that acupuncturists have been using for over 3,000 years. What’s more, we start each microneedling treatment with constitutional acupuncture to tonify qi and blood throughout the body (not just your face), increase circulation, boost immunity and improve your energy. This is all happening while you’re resting comfortably under our Celluma light therapy device to enhance cellular metabolism, accelerate the repair and replenishment of damaged skin cells, as well as stimulate the production of collagen, which is the foundation of healthy, smooth skin. 

Microneedling involves the piercing of the skin, which is beyond the scope of a Florida-licensed cosmetologist or facial specialist. Only acupuncturists, MDs, nurse practitioners and licensed tattoo artists are allowed to perform it in the state of Florida.

Microneedling is not appropriate for those who are experiencing the following:

• Use of Accutane within the last 6 months (or six months after your microneedling procedure)
• Active acne
• An active skin infection
• Pregnancy or those who are nursing (nano-needling is a safe alternative)
• Local infection such as warts
• Moderate to severe psoriasis or eczema
• Blood dyscrasia or patients who are taking blood thinners
• Extreme keloid tendency or keloid scarring
• Those undergoing chemotherapy or radiation
• Open wounds in the areas being treated
• Scleroderma
• Collagen vascular disease
• Cardiac abnormalities
• Rosacea
• Blood clotting problems
• Platelet abnormalities
• Facial cancer (past or present)
• Dermatological diseases affecting the face (ex. Porphyria)
• Active bacterial or fungal infections affecting the treated area
• Scars less than six months old
• Botox or facial fillers within the last 2-4 weeks.

The prices for a microneedling treatment vary greatly depending on where you live, which areas of your body are being treated, and the products and treatments that are included in your session.

According to RealSelf member reviews from 2019-2022, the cost of microneedling in Florida averages $471 per treatment. At Family Tree Acupuncture, we’ve made the price of microneedling much more affordable while including constitutional acupuncture, Celluma light therapy, and custom serums in every treatment.

Professional, medical grade micro-needling supplies (including the microneedling pen, topical serums and the Celluma red-light therapy unit) are significantly more expensive than the cost of our basic acupuncture needles. Although facial rejuvenation can be achieved with acupuncture needles, it requires anywhere from 10-20 treatments administered over a short period of time to achieve noticeable results in addition to frequent follow-up visits for maintenance. Microneedling yields results in as little as 2-4 treatments and can last for more than a year once optimal results are achieved.

Microneedling treatments at Family Tree Acupuncture are very unique. Even if you’ve experienced microneedling from another provider, you might appreciate the more holistic experience that we offer.

Microneedling sessions last between 60-90 minutes. To begin, we will take a picture of the areas that we will be treating using controlled lighting and upload this into your patient chart so we can track your progress over time. 

Next, we will apply numbing cream to your target area (if requested), and this takes approximately 20-30 minutes to take effect. During this time, you will receive constitutional acupuncture to improve circulation throughout the body, boost energy, and improve immunity. Celluma low-level-light therapy will be positioned over your affected area during this time to enhance cellular metabolism, accelerate the repair of damaged skin cells, and stimulate the production of collagen.

The microneedling session will take 20-30 minutes depending on the size of the area we are treating. A custom topical serum blend will be applied during this process to help hydrate and repair the skin while building collagen and elastin (see “Which serums are used during a microneedling treatment?” below). 

Once microneedling is complete, we will apply an aloe mask to the treated area to reduce any redness or swelling. You will leave with a portion of your custom serum to continue applying between treatments.

On the day of your microneedling appointment, wash your face with a gentle cleanser and avoid wearing any lotion, perfume, serums or makeup. Avoid taking any anti-inflammatory medications (ex. aspirin, ibuprofen) within three days of your treatment as this can interfere with the inflammatory process that is important for your skin’s rejuvenation after a treatment. It is recommended to wait at least two weeks after a Botox injection or at least four weeks after a filler as the treatment before getting microneedling as it can affect how these products work. 

There are many types of microneedling devices available to consumers and the choices can be overwhelming. Some of the most popular include:

Mechanical microneedling uses a motorized pen with tiny thin needles that oscillate at 18,000 RPMs per minute to create thousands of channels in the skin. Because this type of microneedling creates the most channels per square inch of the skin, it is an excellent treatment for delaying the aging process, lightening pigmentation, and correcting wrinkles, crows feet, forehead lines, lip lines and scarring. It is also the most economical of the three types of microneedling treatments. We use mechanical microneedling at Family Tree Acupuncture. 

Fractional Radiofrequency (RF) Microneedling uses thicker needles to transmit heat deep into the skin and stimulate the breakdown of damaged collagen and the formation of new collagen. It treats similar issues as mechanical microneedling but tends to be a more expensive treatment. 

Microneedling with PRP (platelet rich plasma) uses a mechanical microneedling pen while applying platelets, which is one of the components of blood. The practitioner will take a blood sample from the patient and use a centrifuge to separate the platelets from the rest of the blood. The platelets are then applied to the face during the microneedling treatment. While we don’t offer PRP with microneedling at Family Tree Acupuncture, we feature custom hyaluronic acid (HA) as an essential base for most topical formulas used in our treatments. It is a substance found naturally in our skin that holds water and helps keep it properly hydrated and plump. Each HA molecule can hold 1,000 times its weight in water to ensure moisture is retained and keeps from evaporating into the air. When it’s in the right formulation, it can provide the skin with a younger, dewy appearance by improving the skin’s elasticity. It’s safe to use on any area of the body since it’s something our skin produces naturally. It even works well as an antibacterial agent and can help to heal wounds on the skin, such as ulcers and burns.

Mesotherapy is the least invasive of the three types of microneedling and only affects the topmost layer of skin. As a result, it is considered “cosmetic microneedling” versus medical microneedling.  It increases the absorption of skincare ingredients to enable them to be more effective, making this treatment similar to having a facial.

Dermarolling is a microneedling process using a hand-held rolling tool featuring a barrel with needles attached to it. It can be used at home with little to no training and carries a risk of side effects such as skin pigment changes, scarring, prolonged inflammation and infection. Dermatologists don’t recommend using the tools at home because the needles aren’t the right size to properly penetrate into the skin, leading to unnecessary damage to your face.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an essential part of our microneedling process and is the base for most topical formulas used in our treatments. It is a substance found naturally in our skin that holds water and helps keep it properly hydrated and plump. Each HA molecule can hold 1,000 times its weight in water to ensure moisture is retained and keeps from evaporating into the air. When it’s in the right formulation, it can provide the skin with a younger, dewy appearance by improving the skin’s elasticity. It’s safe to use on any area of the body since it’s something our skin produces naturally. It even works well as an antibacterial agent and can help to heal wounds on the skin, such as ulcers and burns.

Depending on what condition we’re treating, we may combine hyaluronic acid with other topical herbal extracts such as:

• Apple stem cells to promote the reproduction of facial cells under the epidermis.
• Hydrophilic zao lei (formulated algae from the coast of Spain) for moving blood and fluids in order to eliminate of age spots or hyperpigmentation.
• Hai zao (seaweed) to reduce fluid build up, dark circles or puffiness around the eyes.
• Orange stem cells to help mature or thin skin cells regain their ability to grow and divide.
• Poria mushroom to build collagen and elastin for greasy or acne-prone skin.
• Shiitake mushroom to build collagen and elastin for dry skin types.

Asiatic pennywort to speed up the facial repair process post-microneedling.

A few post-treatment precautions can help ensure a quick recovery

• You may be red for 8-12 hours (aloe vera can help reduce redness)
• Avoid exercise for the rest of the day after your treatment as sweat can cause irritation
• Stay out of the sun the day you get microneedling and use mineral sunscreen diligently a week after your treatment.
• Avoid wearing makeup the day of your treatment.
• Apply hyaluronic acid when you feel dry and before going to bed.
• Avoid using facial soap the day of your treatment; you can wash your face with just warm water.
• Return to your normal facial routine the day after your treatment. Your facial products will have a much higher absorption.

After a microneedling treatment, skin will be pink or red and may feel warm like mild sunburn. It may also feel tight or itchy. All of this typically subsides within 12 to 48 hrs. Our post-treatment also mask often reduces or even eliminates the redness, and our take-home custom serum blend should be applied when skin feels dry, tight or itchy.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an essential part of our microneedling process and is the base for most topical formulas used in our treatments. It is a substance found naturally in our skin that holds water and helps keep it properly hydrated and plump. Each HA molecule can hold 1,000 times its weight in water to ensure moisture is retained and keeps from evaporating into the air. When it’s in the right formulation, it can provide the skin with a younger, dewy appearance by improving the skin’s elasticity. It’s safe to use on any area of the body since it’s something our skin produces naturally.

Our HA serums are customized to your specific needs and will be used during your microneedling treatment. Your custom serum should be applied regularly for two weeks after your treatment in addition to your normal skincare routine. One great side-effect of microneedling is that it encourages absorption of facial products by 2000%, so those anti-aging serums that you have at home will work much more effectively after your treatment. 

We also recommend you stay out of the sun completely the day of your microneedling treatment, and apply a high quality mineral sunscreen to the treated areas religiously for at least two weeks following your microneedling session.

We recommend waiting between 1-3 days after your microneedling treatment to resume wearing makeup depending how long it takes your skin to heal. Remember, your skin is much more absorbent after a microneedling treatment, so using high-quality, non-toxic makeup brands is ideal.  

Absolutely. In fact, at Family Tree Acupuncture, our microneedling treatments include a constitutional acupuncture treatment during the first half of your visit while you’re relaxing under our Celluma light therapy device, which will be positioned over your target treatment area. While it’s perfectly ok (and helpful for circulation) to get a massage in our office before your microneedling treatment, we recommend avoiding massage on or around your treated area for at least 48 hours following your treatment.

Floridians will be happy to know that one of the most effective treatments using microneedling is the lightening and reversing of hyperpigmentation and sun damage. Microneedling breaks up the pigment below the skin’s surface while stimulating the production of collagen and skin cell repair.

Cellulite happens when enlarged fat cells press up against skin’s connective tissue causing an uneven outward appearance. Microneedling stimulates the body’s natural production of collagen and elastin for smoother, firmer, healthier skin and these processes also help to reduce the appearance of cellulite on the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, and upper arms. If done in conjunction with a healthy diet, exercise and improved water consumption, microneedling may help reduce the appearance of cellulite. However, safe, effective microneedling devices do not penetrate deeply enough to affect the deeper tissues, and treatment of the skin alone typically won’t be enough to effect a noticeable change.

Skin laxity refers to the sagging of skin, typically due to age, genetics, over-exposure to the sun, smoking, and environmental pollutants, which causes a loss of collagen and elastin in the skin.  Microneedling is excellent at stimulating the production of collagen fibers and elastin layers, the  growth of new skin cells, while improving blood supply to restore tightness and evenness to the skin. The number of treatments needed to achieve results depends on your age and the health of your collagen.

Melasma is a skin condition characterized by patches or or spots, usually on the face, that are darker than your natural skin tone. It is sometimes referred to as the “mask of pregnancy” and mostly affects women. Melasma is the result of an overproduction of melanin cells, which make the color of your skin. Microneedling creates channels that reach through the epidermis to the underlying dermis where the melasma is present. This helps get rid of the concentration of melanin while forcing the surrounding skin to create brand new skin cells to take their place, and the results can be seen across all skin tones.

Microneedling is excellent at stimulating collagen production, which can improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles anywhere on the body, including the neck. It reorganizes old collagen fibers, and lays down new collagen, elastin and capillaries resulting in a reduction of wrinkles and tightening of the skin.

Microneedling is excellent at stimulating collagen production, which can improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles anywhere on the body, including the lines on the upper lip that are due to smoking. It reorganizes old collagen fibers, and lays down new collagen, elastin and capillaries resulting in reduction of wrinkles and tightening of the skin.

Microneedling is excellent at stimulating collagen production, which can improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles anywhere on the body, including the lines around the mouth. It reorganizes old collagen fibers, and lays down new collagen, elastin and capillaries resulting in a reduction of wrinkles and tightening of the skin.

Microneedling is excellent at stimulating collagen production, which can reduce the appearance of scars anywhere on the body, including scars from chickenpox. It reorganizes old collagen fibers, and lays down new collagen, elastin and capillaries resulting in reduction of scars and the evening out of skin tone. For scar removal, whether it’s acne scars, thermal burn scars, surgical scars, or chicken pox scars, results can occur with as little as 2-3 treatments and you may never have to be treated with microneedling again to maintain those results.

Microneedling is excellent at stimulating collagen production, which can improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles anywhere on the body, including the decolletage (the upper chest or neckline area). It reorganizes old collagen fibers, and lays down new collagen, elastin and capillaries resulting in reduction of wrinkles, evening out of skin tone, and tightening of the skin.