Microneedling, microdermabrasion, microblading... maintaining smoothness is very difficult, but some experts say microneedling is unlike anything else in this category.
If you have a yard, you might want to know how to aerate your lawn (stick with me). This involves using a propeller to spread small soil samples in a grid pattern every three inches or so. The holes left behind allow water and oxygen to enter the root zone, helping the grass to grow stronger.
The same principles apply to microneedling. During the procedure, your doctor uses a micro-puncture device with hollow needles to make thousands of tiny holes in your skin where the extracted "pulp" is sucked out. Wow, huh? But fear not, with local anesthesia, experts say the procedure is relatively painless.
"This technique grew out of research into how the surrounding skin expands and contracts when small pieces are removed," says Hardik Doshi, MD, a facial plastic surgeon in Long Island, New York. “The skin's natural healing processes begin to close these pores,” resulting in a firmer, smoother appearance. I wonder if micro quills don't? Yemen
"When you hear the words 'micro' and 'needles', it's reasonable to think there's a similarity, but the micro-patch technique is very different from micro-needling," says Dr. Doshi. Both treatments use microneedling to puncture the skin and stimulate collagen production, but the added benefit of microneedling is that it removes skin tissue rather than moving it. The idea is that this should allow the skin to contract and stretch.
According to dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali MD, microneedling is similar to a fractional laser treatment that uses heat to create microscopic holes in the skin. But with partial correction, he says, "you get the same result without the heat or heat damage" or many burn recovery processes involved.
The Ellacor microkernel system, developed by medical technology company Cytrellis, entered the field last year after receiving FDA approval in 2021. Since its inception, the microkernel has been in the news newspapers as a "non-invasive alternative to facial treatments". And while it can remove excess skin (up to 8% of the treated area), our experts say it's not suitable for traditional facial resurfacing.
We talk to several plastic surgeons and dermatologists to get to the bottom of microtubules. Here's what it can and can't do.
Meet the experts.
Konstantin Vasyukevich, MD, is a facial plastic surgeon in New York City.
Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, FAAD, is a New York-based dermatologist.
Jamie DeRosa, MD, is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon based in Boston and Palm Beach.
Dr. Hardik Doshi is a facial plastic surgeon based in Long Island, New York.
Dr. Melissa Doft is a plastic surgeon in New York.
in this story.
What is a microkernel and what are its benefits?
Is microcorrection painful?
What is the recovery process?
How much does an exact correction cost?
What is a microkernel and what are its benefits?
To tighten the skin, a microdermabrasion patch uses hollow needles to scrape small columns of skin in a grid pattern across the treatment area, usually the cheekbones, cheekbones, cheekbones or chin. The Ellacor handheld device, which is the only device capable of performing the procedure, is supervised by a doctor as it creates thousands of tiny holes in the skin and sucks out the removed tissue. These "micronuclei" in the skin are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
The procedure removes approximately 4-8% of the skin from the treated area. The hollow needles are less than half a millimeter in diameter, which is about the size of a regular ear piercing needle. The holes they leave (about 10,000 of them) are so small that "the skin closes almost instantly, allowing full healing within days," says Dr. Doshi.
In theory, an inflammatory and healing skin response could lead to increased collagen production and firmness, says Jamie DeRosa, MD, a plastic surgeon and reconstructive surgeon in Boston and Palm Beach. how tight? Unfortunately, we don't know the answer. There is currently no information on the compression results you can expect.
However, clinical trials funded by Cytrellis (the company that makes Ellacor) showed that 90% of patients improved on the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale, a five-point scale used in clinical trials to clinically assess the improvement in a patient's appearance during treatment. A New York board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. "The scale is a patient-based rating system that assesses whether patients feel the treatment has improved their skin," says Melissa Doft. It's a validated measure, but it's also riddled with potential biases. In some studies using this measure, patients have been observed to overestimate results from untreated areas, indicating improvement when left untreated." In this study, participants were treated two to three times, removing 7-8% of the skin.(Yes, it takes several treatment cycles to see results, more on that later.)
Compared to thermoelectric devices, which can cause irreparable thermal damage, Microbody offers minimal scarring and downtime. "According to the scientific literature, the downtime is about three days, but some patients may experience more flushing," says Dr. Doft. Although the needles are very small, they persist. Treatment is not recommended for patients with darker skin that heals more than light skin, and for patients with thick, raised keloid scars or hypertrophic scars. (Currently, the microorganisms are only removed for fair-skinned patients, but not for Fitzpatrick V and VI skin types. Cytrellis says more clinical studies are needed to assess the effects of Ellacor on skin types. darker.)
Experts also say you shouldn't consider microneedling if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, have an autoimmune skin condition (such as psoriasis), are prone to infections, or have very rough skin. thin or thick. If "skin thickness" isn't a measurement you know how to do, your doctor can help you decide if microdermabrasion is the right treatment for you.
When patients ask about microcorrection, professionals usually say they are looking for a minimally invasive way to treat wrinkles and laxity in the middle and lower face. But some plastic surgeons, Dr. Doft, they haven't added the device to their practice; "We don't increase because we offer facelifts and micro-lifts that make a noticeable difference."
Is microcorrection painful?
Skin piercings can seem a bit invasive, but our experts say it's not as bad as it sounds. The treatment is done under local anesthesia, so it is relatively painless. Experts say most patients experience little or no discomfort.
The micro patch treatment takes about 30 minutes from start to finish. You can certainly catch up on your lunch break, but our experts don't recommend it. Instead, dr. You need to make sure you don't have anything important on your schedule for at least a week, says Bhanusali (see the standard recovery process below).
Most patients need more than one treatment to see full benefit. "For best results, patients generally need three treatments spaced out each month," says Dr. DeRosa. "And it takes about four to six months to see the full effect of the treatments." The results you get will vary depending on the skin removed, the depth of needle used by your doctor, the number of treatments, the depth and length of the wrinkles, your unique skin treatment process, and the thickness of your skin. Your doctor will help you create a treatment plan based on your skin and your goals.
Microtubes are recommended for medical spas, but you may want to consult your doctor. You want anyone who puts those small but very real holes in your face to know exactly what they're doing.
What is the recovery process?
“Typically, patients experience redness that lasts for a few days,” says Dr. Bhanusali. Because the holes left by the microperforation are so small, the remaining scars are microscopic and not visible to the naked eye. However, says Dr. Doft, "Anytime the skin is punctured and the skin is removed, there is a risk of scarring." The treatment also carries other risks, such as pain, swelling, bruising or infection.
To reduce these issues, our experts recommend keeping your skin well hydrated (Dr. DeRosa recommends Aquaphor), using gentle facial cleansers, avoiding retinol, and using mineral-based sunscreen for at least less than two weeks after treatment. avoid make-up for a week so as not to block the holes caused by the treatment; Then, says Dr. Doshi, you can use mineral makeup to cover up any redness from the solution.
Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Lotion
$17.00, Amazon
How much does an exact correction cost?
Still relatively new to the plastic surgery scene, the price of micro-correction varies by provider and treatment area. In general, you can expect each treatment to cost between $2,000 and $3,500. Keep in mind that a typical treatment consists of three treatments, so the budget is between $6,000 and $8,000.
More information on non-surgical cosmetic procedures:
The complete routine of a plastic surgeon, from lifting to surgery.
Originally featured on Allure