Keep your skin clean before needling, avoid using lotion or make-up, and clean your face in-office if feasible. Inform your doctor of any adjustments you've made that may have an impact on microneedling. 45 minutes before the surgery, your doctor will apply topical anesthetics to your face.
Before you start needling your skin, apply enough hydrating serum on the area of concern. This is to help lubricate the skin and ensure the pen glides across the skin while maximising the benefit of microneedling treatment. Use serums such as Hyaluronic Acid serum, peptides, ceramides, or EGF for microneedling.
Immediately after your micro-needling procedure, we will apply moisturizer and/or sunscreen topically. Avoid sun tanning and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
Preparation Guidelines
Prolonged sun exposure, including exposure to tanning beds, may cause skin irritation during your treatment. You will also need to temporarily stop using certain skincare products, particularly retinoids and acid-based products, such as azelaic acid, glycolic acid, or salicylic acid.
As a rule of thumb you want to use a product with moisturizing ingredients and a good quality sun block containing zinc oxide. Stay away from retinol, retin A, glycolic and lactic acids that will irritate your skin.
If there's dense hair present in the treatment area, shave the day before you arrive for your appointment. If you're prone to cold sores, take an antiviral agent for 2 days prior to and the day of the treatment. Avoid blood thinning agents for one week prior because bruising is a common side effect of microneedling.
The average cost of microneedling in the US is about $640 per session, according to over 300 patient experiences on RealSelf. This can vary between $300 to $700, however, depending on: Your location: Prices may be higher in major cities or upscale clinics.
If you were to drag the pen along your skin without a serum in place, your skin would be far more prone to irritation and damage from the pen pushing too hard into your skin unevenly. But with serum, the pen can glide easily.
Skin that is pink and a bit sandy-looking is common for some clients in days 2 – 4 after the treatment. Just like any time you're kick-starting cell turnover with a treatment or skin exfoliation, your skin will be sensitive to UV rays.
Applying moisturizer after microneedling helps lock in moisture and provides a protective barrier for your skin. Choose a gentle, non-comedogenic moisturizer that suits your skin type, whether it's dry, oily, or combination. Remember, well-hydrated skin will heal faster and yield better results.
Step 1: Numbing cream
Some clients may opt for numbing cream, and some may not. It helps to lessen the stinging sensation to nothing more than just a vibration on the skin. If you'd like numbing cream, we help you into a headband to restrain any wayward hair and then apply it your face.
Providing more dramatic results than microneedling on its own, RF microneedling has been shown by researchers to be effective in tightening the skin on various body parts, including the face, neck, chest, arms, and stomach.
Before you start needling your skin, apply enough hydrating serum on the area of concern. This is to help lubricate the skin and ensure the pen glides across the skin while maximising the benefit of microneedling treatment. Use serums such as Hyaluronic Acid serum, peptides, ceramides, or EGF for microneedling.
Prepping before your microneedling
In general, we want you to wash your skin with a gentle skin cleanser and remove all makeup and dirt. We also request you not use any lotions or creams on your skin.
Skin damage is a risk that commonly occurs with microneedling devices. The damage may include bleeding, bruising, redness, tightness, itching and peeling, and these typically go away without any treatment after a few days or weeks.
Myth: sun is the enemy of microneedling!
This is why we'd never recommend microneedling during the day. To keep your skin happy and healthy, always microneedle in the evening – this means your skin has the whole night to restore itself, and you can wake up to sensational skin.
Most reputable sources will recommend using a hyaluronic acid, or HA serum, during and after microneedling. This is because hyaluronic acid is naturally occurring in our bodies already and is less likely to be rejected or trigger an adverse reaction.
Hyaluronic acid serums are the best and most commonly used type for microneedling because of their hydrating properties. Other great alternatives include peptides, ceramides, and EGF. Just make sure to avoid retinoids, Vitamin C, and other serums that contain acids (AHA, BHA, and lactic acid).
It is recommended to do the peeling first, to exfoliate the skin, and then a few weeks later the microneedling.
Lidocaine, Prilocaine & Epinephrine Numbing Cream
This combination is widely regarded as the best numbing cream for microneedling, laser treatments, and other cosmetic procedures like injectables. Numbing lasts up to 3-4 hours after removal.