Skin Pen
Where do you possibly start with the countless skin care options on the market today? Creams, lotions, lasers and facials — so many of them tout being just the thing to fix any skin problem. As we age, and after cumulative exposure to sun and other environmental factors, the skin is left appearing rough, uneven and less-than-radiant. Much of the reason behind your skin’s inability to bounce back from damage is the decrease in natural collagen and elastin production that comes with age. These components give the skin healthy fullness, hydration and bounce.
What if you could remove old and tired skin cells and stimulate the skin to boost its production of these healthier components? That’s exactly what the Bellus® SkinPen procedure can accomplish. Administered by board certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Robert DeFatta, this microneedling treatment is designed to address fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars and hyperpigmentation. SkinPen is the first and only FDA-approved microneedling device available.
How Does it Work?
The SkinPen procedure gently pierces the top layers of your skin using a device equipped with tiny sterile needles. These punctures are barely visible but are just the stimulation your skin needs to wake up your body’s injury response, resulting in a boost in new collagen and elastin production. This process not only reverses visible signs of aging, but also slows down further aging by promoting cells to continue remodeling.
Each microneedling treatment plan is highly individualized and depends on factors such as the nature of your skin concern, age and skin type. Younger patients can maintain a youthful appearance and/or improve acne scars, enlarged pores and uneven skin tone. Microneedling is also a great way to keep monthly breakouts at bay when combined with our medical quality DeFatta Acne Skin Care line. Older patients can address all of the same issues, as well as curb advanced signs of aging, and use SkinPen to help maintain the results achieved by other cosmetic procedures. It’s reassuring to know: 90 percent of patients studied would recommend the procedure to family and friends.
Plotting the optimal microneedling treatment and skin care maintenance plan is the most important step. This is why consulting with a highly trained and experienced skin care professional such as a board certified facial plastic surgeon is of paramount importance.
What Is Involved with the Procedure and Recovery?
Dr. DeFatta begins by applying a topical numbing cream to your skin to maximize your comfort. Next, a protecting layer of SkinPen’s Skinfuse® Lift HG hydrogel is applied. The SkinPen is glided gently and uniformly across the treatment area creating the tiny piercings and stimulating your skin to activate collagen production and tissue makeover. The SkinPen treatment takes about 30 minutes, and once complete, you can resume your normal activities with few restrictions; avoid strenuous exercise and sun exposure for at least 24 hours following your treatment. Do not to wear makeup or sunscreen during that time.
You’ll want to note, you may experience some mild redness for a day or two during the healing process, but that will resolve on its own. You will receive specific aftercare instructions from Dr DeFatta and his care team. He will also recommend our ultra-pure and ultra-hydrating face mask to nourish your skin during this critical time.
As the new collagen rebuilds healthy tissue, your results will continue to improve with the increased collagen and elastin production resuming for up to six months. In most cases, more than one session is needed to provide optimal results, with most patients requiring a minimum of three, spaced at least a month apart. To maintain your skin’s firm and youthful texture and appearance, we recommend a regular schedule of SkinPen microneedling treatments.
How Can I Supercharge My Microneedling Treatment?
For some patients, combining the microneedling treatment with the application of platelet rich plasma (PRP) can enchance the treatment results. This super rejuvenating booster is designed to use your body’s own growth factors to help the skin from the inside out.
PRP is used in many medical fields as a tool to assist in tissue regeneration, wound healing, scar revision, skin rejuvenation and even hair loss. Our blood is made of two main parts: red blood cells and plasma. Plasma, the action ingredient in this treatment, contains white blood cells and platelets. Platelets are typically responsible for your blood’s ability to form a clot after a cut, but they also contain growth factors, which act as messengers to signal various cell types to carry out their designated function. When used in facial plastic surgery, growth factor-rich PRP helps repair blood vessels, promote cell growth and wound healing, and stimulate collagen production for younger looking skin.
Click here for more details on our PRP treatment.
