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Microneedling

- Collagen Induction Therapy

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What is Microneedle - Collagen induction therapy?

Collagen induction therapy (CIT), also known as Micro-needling is a minimally invasive therapeutic procedure that aims to improve the condition and appearance of the skin by stimulating existing collagen and elastin. It has become popular with both clients and aestheticians because it is safe and effective.

 

In clinical trials CIT has been shown to provide long term results which often outweigh the results of using lasers and chemicals on the deeper layers of the skin.

 

It was initially introduced for skin rejuvenation, however, it has been found to be highly effective in treatment of a wide range of conditions including acne (and acne scarring), post-traumatic/burn scars, alopecia, skin rejuvenation, drug delivery, hyperhidrosis, stretch marks, and many more. It is a safe technique for dark skin types, where risk of post inflammatory pigmentation is very high with other techniques that damage the epidermis.

 

Technically, microneedling can be done at home using a roller (or other) device. However, results are minimal compared to clinical-grade treatment and the procedure can be painful. It’s also possible for complications such as infection or allergic reaction to develop because these environments are not sterile. CIT has come a long way in recent years. The old-style “dermaroller” is unwieldy, and its microneedles are a fixed length, so it lacks versatility. It also causes more trauma to the skin as it creates small tears in the skin, which defeats the objectives of CIT.

How does it work?

An electrical device (the ‘pen’) houses a sterile, disposable cartridge of minature fine needles. It is applied by stroking or using circular movements over the skin, while the machine produces vertical micropunctures at a very high speed, producing microscopic channels into the skin’s matrix. These micropunctures produce a controlled skin injury without actually damaging the layers of the skin, and stimulate a wound healing cascade response, with intense renewal repair and rejuvenation. Natural growth factors are released to stimulate reformation and deposition of fresh collagen and elastin reproduction. New skin cells literally repair the structure thus the skin becomes thicker, plumper and more youthful.

 

The channels made from the micro-needles allow topical serums and creams to be absorbed more effectively through the top layer of skin. According to your needs, your practitioner will apply a cocktail of hydrating gels, peptides and/or vitamins over the skin which will be penetrated into the skin during the treatment.

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What and who is it good for?

There are no major restrictions to Collagen Induction Therapy. So long as you have realistic expectations and are in generally good health the treatment is suitable for all skin types, unlike some laser or chemical peels procedures.

 

CIT rejuvenates skin and is an effective treatment for:

  • Ageing skin: poor skin laxity; lines and wrinkles, drop in skin strength and plumpness

  • Loss of skin lustre and radiance

  • Scarring from acne, chicken pox, injuries or surgery

  • Sun damage

  • Hyperpigmentation

  • Rosacea

  • Enlarged pores

  • Alopecia (we do not offer CIT for this - please see a dermatologist for this)

  • Stretch marks (we do not offer CIT for this - please see a dermatologist for this)

 

Any skin colour or type - CIT can be applied to any skin colour or type. This is particularly important because so many other treatment options are not appropriate for everyone.

 

Busy lifestyles - Many people have personal schedules that are filled with work, family, and other commitments. CIT procedures are short, and there’s virtually no downtime. 

 

Avoiding surgery - People who desire a non-surgical, non-invasive, or minimally invasive alternative, but want safe, effective results.

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Is there anyone who isn't suitable for this treatment?

Whilst Microneedling is ideal, of course there are a couple of important factors to mention:

  • Realistic expectations - No skin rejuvenation procedure produces “perfect” results because there is no such thing. If you're looking for significant super quick results on distressed, aged skin this may not be the right treatment for you. This treatment has most impact on the deeper layers of the skin which will take time to come to the surface 

  • Healthy foundation - The best candidates for this procedure are those who are in generally good health and who do not smoke

 

How does it feel? Is it painful?

The device used by Fusion-Southport aims to provide the best results without downtime, in the most comfortable way possible.

 

The sensation of treatment will vary according to the reason(s) that you have opted for treatment.

Skin tissue restructuring will require the use of longer needles / deeper penetration so may provide some discomfort.

 

Your pain threshold and stress levels will have an impact on the sensations you experience. Many clients receive the treatment without any need to numb the skin first however, at the time of booking your treatment your therapist will contact you to discuss whether or not a topical anaesthetic should be applied prior to treatment. This will minimise any pain and discomfort.

 

 

How long is each treatment?

Your treatment can take anywhere between 20 mins and 1hr 15mins, depending on the size of the area you are having treated, whether it’s your first visit, whether you require anaesthetic, and whether you opt for some add-ons such as LED phototherapy to promote healing.

 

Lisa (Fusion's aesthetic practitioner) will confirm the duration of your appointment at the time of booking.

 

 

How will my skin look immediately after treatment?

You should expect your skin to appear pink/red and patchy immediately after treatment. You may also get some bleeding and bruising, however this should be minimal and will depend on the length of the needle used during your treatment. The downtime with this treatment is very quick (we recommend that you take at least 1 hour to relax after the treatment) and your skin should have superficially recovered between 24-72 hours later.

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Are there any risks with this treatment?

The surface of the skin (epidermis) remains intact so the risks are very minimal, skin heals very quickly and there is minimal downtime.

 

You should expect the following, although not everyone will see this occur with their skin:

  • Scab formation

  • Flaking or dryness of the skin

  • The appearance of white spots, known as milia

  • The appearance of dark patches on the skin, known as hyperpigmentation

  •  An outbreak of cold sores in previous suffers

Any complications with this treatment are rare and can be easily resolved in most cases.

 

 

How fast will I see results?

Because the results of this treatment rely on kick-starting your body’s own collagen production, it can take between four to eight weeks before you start to fully see the benefits.

 

Whilst your skin will appear to be visibly healed after 24-72 hours the healing process will continue beneath the surface for several months. This natural healing process is what makes the treatment so effective.

 

Most people will begin to see improvement the day after their first treatment however a series of treatments is required to produce enough collagen and elastin to retain those benefits.

 

Clients who follow aftercare advice will observe faster and more long term results.

 

How many treatments will I need?

The amount of treatments needed vary. A series of between two and six treatments is usually recommended to achieve maximum results. Some clients might even choose to have this done on a very regular basis to reduce the effects of aging.

 

After a few months the new collagen will start to shorten. This leads to the slow tightening of the skin. Over time this healing process will lead to the formation of a thick layer of collagen, healthy elastin and improved blood flow at the initial injury site.

 

 

How much does it cost?

Upper lip £50

Full face £95

Add on mesotherapy £45

Course of 6 full face treatments £475 (with mesotherapy £745)

This includes base preparations used to hydrate and treat the skin, and LED phototherapy or a calming treatment mask.

 

Add-ons

You may choose to upgrade your treatment by opting for:

  • Mesotherapy cocktails are peptide solutions that feed the skin and dramatically enhance results of microneedling by encouraging tissue (skin) growth. All mesotherapy cocktails contain ingredients that restore and promote long lasting hydration and firmness caused by the degradation of your own native hyaluronic acid and collagen fibres, of the skin

    • ETG-Tightening contains a mixture of anti-wrinkle, skin soothing, rejuvenating and tightening ingredients

    • ETG-Refresh contains a mixture of skin rejuvenating, soothing and antioxidant ingredients that offers fast-acting soothing, skin rejuvenating and anti-wrinkle effects through intensive anti-ageing and hyaluronic acid hydration

    • ETG-Glow contains a mixture of anti-pigmentation, tightening and antioxidant ingredients to eliminate uneven skin tone (such as age spots, melasma and sun damage) and dehydrated skin

 

Block bookings (a course of six CIT microneedling treatments) start at £475. All you need to do is book your first appointment then pay the full amount for your course of treatment at the finish of your first appointment. Click the 'Book Online Now' button for all prices.

Recommended ~ Book a free skin consultation to discuss your needs and requirements and get the best advice from Lisa; Fusion's aesthetician

IMPORTANT.... Before your treatment

To ensure you get the best out of your microneedling, there's just a few things that you can do in the run up to your treatment day.

  • Do not have any microdermabrasion or skin peel treatments for at least 2 weeks prior

 

For at least five days prior to your treatment please try to avoid using any products on your skin that contain:

  • Vit A / Retinol

  • Vit C

  • AHAs (Alpha-Hydroxy acids): glycolic / lactic / tartaric / citric / malic / mandelic

  • BHAs (Beta-Hydroxy acids) such as Salicylic acid

 

On the day of your treatment do not apply any perfumed products to your face; just wash and apply an SPF.

Some Science

 Resting electrical membrane potential of cells is approximately −70 mV, and when needles come near the membrane, the inner electrical potential increases quickly to −100 mV. This triggers increased cell activity and the release of various proteins, potassium, and growth factors from the cells into the exterior leading to the migration of fibroblasts to the site of injury, and hence, collagen induction. Thus, the needles do not create a wound in a real sense, but rather body cells are fooled into believing that the injury has occurred.

 

The controlled microinjuries caused by CIT microneedling lead to minimal superficial bleeding and set up a wound healing cascade with the release of various growth factors such as platelet derived growth factor (PGF), transforming growth factor alpha and beta, connective tissue activating protein, connective tissue growth factor, and fibroblast growth factor.

 

The micro needles break down old, hardened scar strands and allow it to re-vascularise. Neovascularisation and neocollagenesis is initiated by migration and proliferation of fibroblasts and laying down of intercellular matrix.

 

A fibronectin matrix forms after 5 days of injury that determines the deposition of collagen resulting in skin tightening persisting for 5 to 7 years in the form of collagen (type III).

 

Histological examination of the skin treated with 4 micro-needling sessions 1 month apart shows up to 400% increase in collagen and elastin deposition at 6 months postoperatively, with a thickened stratum spinosum (layer of the dermis) and normal rete ridges at 1 year postoperatively.

 

Collagen fibre bundles appear to have a normal lattice pattern rather than parallel bundles as in scar tissue, after a course of CIT microneedling.

 

 

The expression of matrix metalloproteinases induced by micro-needling is speculated in reduction of hyperpigmentation.

 

The hyperproliferation of keratinocytes is downregulated by CIT micro-needling in acne patients because it overall balances out the cell equilibrium.

 

CIT Micro-needling enhances the delivery of various drugs across the skin barrier as it bypasses the stratum corneum (top layer of skin) and deposits the drug directly up to the vascularised dermis (deep layer of skin). It has also been shown to cause significant widening of the follicular infundibulum by 47%, which may partly explain the increased penetration of the medication across the skin barrier. In addition, it removes the scales and sebum (oil) residues in the neighbourhood of the infundibulum. Hence, this procedure extrapolates the body's own physiology of wound healing and the new collagen deposition results in skin tightening and filling-up of atrophic scars with an overall better aesthetic appeal since overlying epidermis is not ablated (removed).

Hair Loss Treatment

Mesotherapy & Microneedling for Hair Loss

30% of women under 40 will experience hair loss, increasing to over 50% of women over the age of 65.

 

The hair rejuvenation industry has invested heavily in research and testing of microneedling, nappage (hundreds of tiny injections) and mesotherapy over the years, and the outcome of trials have been seriously impressive.

Microneedling creates micro-channels on the scalp to absorb topical products, growth factors and stem cells. The treatment can be used in conjunction with other oral or topical treatments.

Let's get real...

This is not a miracle treatment - it will not bring hair follicles back from the dead and it will not instantly turn super fine, weak hair into luscious locks in just a few weeks. This is a progressive treatment that will promote hair growth through hair follicle stimulation and will target nutrition deep in the skin and hair matrix where it's most needed for growth.

 

It is ideal for thinning scalp hair to boost hair growth around the hair line and hair loss due to menopause related hair thinning and male pattern hair loss. It's also recommended by surgeons after hair transplants to promote healing and support the fresh hair growth. Loss of facial hair in men can also benefit from this treatment.

So what are the costs?

Treatments start at £158 per session with discounts and a homecare treatment kit included when booking a course of treatments.

 

Book a course of six treatments for £846. This includes specialist shampoo and conditioner for home use. You save £158 in comparison to booking single treatments.

 

If you are serious about investing in your scalp health book a consultation today.

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