Microneedling (aka Vampire Facial)

Microneedling (aka Vampire Facial) is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that is used to treat skin concerns by way of promoting collagen production.

Also known as collagen induction therapy, this treatment may help those looking to reduce the appearance of acne scars and stretch marks.

Microneedling is most often used on your face to target:

• Acne scars
• Age spots (also called sun spots)
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Large pores
• Other types of scars
• Reduced skin elasticity
• Uneven skin tone

Although microneedling is primarily used on the face an awesome benefit of microneedling is that this treatment is not exclusive to the face. It can be done on any area of skin that needs to be repaired - particularly areas that display stretch marks or acne scars, like the legs, chest, back, and butt. As few as four to six sessions could make a difference in these problem areas.

On top of microneedlings ability to smooth and correct damaged skin, it also has the added bonus of tightening loose skin, which makes it great for older men and women. (Remember: The older you are, the less collagen you are naturally producing.) Microneedling is also suitable to be used in certain other anti-aging procedures, such as eyelid surgery and sun spots.

You may be an ideal candidate for microneedling if you are in good health and have certain skin concerns that have not responded to home treatments or other types of dermatological procedures, such as peels.

Microneedling with PRP (the Vampire Facial)

PRP is an abbreviation for platelet-rich plasma. Platelet-rich plasma is your blood plasma that has a higher concentration of platelets than normal and a high concentration of natural growth factors.

In micro-needling with PRP, the physician pricks the skin to stimulate collagen production and then inserts your own platelet rich plasma to stimulate the normal growth of new skin cells, such as those needed to smooth out scar tissue.

Since it is your own blood that is used in the treatment, the chances you will experience serious adverse reactions are very small. As with other types of injections, the chance you may experience infection or damage to nerves or tissue are about the same as cortisone injections.

Microneedling with PRP, aka vampire facial, is available at SkinSense in Vanuatu. In addition to the standard microneedling treatment charge the cost of drawing your blood and extracting the PRP incurs an additional charge.

How is Microneedling Administered

During the microneedling procedure, your clinician makes small pricks under the skin with a pen-like tool. The clinician will move the tool evenly across your skin so that the new skin that rejuvenates will be even too.

Before getting started your clinician will use a topical anesthetic to reduce the chances of pain. This is done about a half hour before your treatment.

At SkinSense all microneedling treatments are performed by our qualified aesthetic clinician who has been trained, and examined, on the procedure at the National Laser Institute in Phoenix, U.S.A.

How Does Microneedling Work

Microneedling works by encouraging your skin to make more collagen.

The idea is that pinpricks from the procedure cause slight injury to the skin and that the skin responds by making new collagen-rich tissue. This new skin tissue is, in turn, more even in tone and texture.

It�s normal for the skin to lose collagen via age or injury. By encouraging the skin to make new tissue, there may be more collagen to help make the skin firmer, too.

Concentrated serum, that promotes and speeds up the generation of new collagen, will also be applied during Microneedling procedure.

After microneedling, your skin works fairly quickly to rejuvenate new tissue. In theory, you should see pleasing and positive results within a couple of weeks.

Proven Benefits of Microneedling

The primary appeal of Microneedling (aka vampire facial) is its ability to stimulate natural growth of collagen and elastin, both of which are the keys to new, youthful looking skin.

Collagen is arguably the most vital way to improve the look of skin, and this goes far beyond reducing wrinkles. By stimulating collagen growth with microneedling, you can also reverse sun damage and discoloration, including the hyper pigmentation that comes with melasma.

With microneedlings ability to trigger the generation of new skin cells and collagen, just a few sessions of microneedling will noticeably reduce fine lines, crow�s feet, and deep wrinkles on the forehead. Some doctors would even go so far as to say that the procedure is the most powerful way to stop aging in its tracks and prevent new fine lines and wrinkles from forming.

A recent study on the effects of microneedling, determined nearly 100 percent of acne-scarred participants reported a marked improvement in the visibility of their acne scars with at-home microneedling using a 1.5-mm handheld deramroller. However, for severe acne scars, you may need even longer needles for maximum results and you�ll want to find a dermatologist or clinician (like those at SkinSense) who are properly trained to perform Microneedling therapy treatments.

Professional grade microneedling devices can be as long as 3mm, which is twice as effective and will treat deep acne scars that occur beneath the surface of the skin.

In case you are wondering how microneedling compares to fractional laser treatments when it comes to resolving acne scars, a head-to-head comparison published in the journal Dermatological Surgery in 2016, found both treatments to be comparable and effective, but gave credit to microneedling for being better tolerated, with fewer side effects and less downtime.

Microneedling Side Effects and Risk

Like all cosmetic procedures, microneedling is not without risk. The most common side effect is minor skin irritation immediately following the procedure. You may also see redness for a few days.
Microneedling is not invasive like plastic surgery, so the recovery time is minimal. Most people require very little downtime, if any at all.

You may notice skin irritation and redness within the first few days following the procedure. This is a natural response to the small �injuries� made by the needles in your skin.

You can go back to work or school after the procedure if you�re comfortable. Some people apply camouflaging makeup during the first few days as the redness dissipates.

Your skin will also be more sensitive to the sun, so sunscreen is a must.

During your pre-treatment consultation our medical aesthetician will discuss the treatment in detail with you, determine how many treatments may be required and offer alternative treatment should you not be a good candidate for microneedling.

How Many Treatments are Required

To maintain the results of your microneedling treatment, you�ll need multiple sessions and perhaps other complementing treatments as well.Your SkinSense clinician will discuss and advise you on the best plan of action based on your individual goals.

Cost Of Microneedling

The cost of your microneedling treatment entirely depends on the body area, the damage to be treated and time taken to do that.

Click Here to view treatment area costs and to book your pre-treatment consultation or here to view real before and after microneedling treatment photographs..