What is Collagen Induction?

Collagen induction therapy, also known as microneedling in the beauty world, is a skin treatment designed to stimulate fresh collagen growth and repair the skin from the inside-out. At our office, we use the MD Needle Pen to complete your microneedling treatment. This handheld device includes tiny, sterile needles in its head that create micro-wounds in the top layers of the skin.

As soon as your skin is treated, your body begins its comprehensive healing process in response to the micro-wounds. This includes an increase in collagen production to tighten and repair the skin. Over the course of several weeks, this new collagen growth helps correct a number of common skin conditions and concerns. Repeated treatments can help you maintain your ideal image by keeping your skin smooth and bright for years to come.

A normal microneedling appointment lasts 30-60 minutes, depending on the areas treated. Once the collagen induction therapy process is complete, you have the option of combining treatment with a nourishing serum or skincare product to further target your specific concerns. Even better, your favorite at-home skincare treatments will be more effective thanks to the small channels created into the lower layers of the skin.

How Long Does It Take to See Results?

Each patient’s experience and results are unique, but the vast majority of candidates for collagen induction therapy achieve noticeable, attractive results from their treatment plan. Due to the collagen growth process that begins after treatment, final results typically take 4-6 weeks to appear. These results can often be enhanced by follow-up sessions and targeted skincare products to meet all your cosmetic needs.

How Can Collagen Transform My Skin?

It’s no secret that collagen is one of the most important parts of smooth, youthful skin. This essential protein helps create an interior framework in the multiple layers of your skin, keeping the surface of the skin firm and lifted. In combination with elastin, collagen helps your skin maintain its structure and natural glow.

During the aging process, collagen and elastin production levels drop and the existing framework in the skin begins to break down. This can lead to the development of fine lines, wrinkles, folds, and skin laxity. These concerns only worsen over time and may begin appearing in the skin as early as the mid to late 20s, prompting patients to seek out an easy, non-invasive treatment option that can help manage signs of aging even before middle age.

Collagen induction therapy helps naturally raise your body’s collagen production levels and creates a new framework in the target skin. Your results from a single treatment could last for months, while a personalized treatment plan can offer you indefinite skin rejuvenation benefits as you return for regular treatments. Over time, regular collagen production triggered by your treatment can improve your skin concerns and keep signs of aging at bay.

Which Areas Can Be Treated?

This treatment can benefit almost every area of the body. The most commonly treated regions are the face–including the forehead, nose, midface, and jawline–and the chest. However, you may also see excellent results on the neck, hands, thighs, and various problem areas on other parts of the body.

Which Skin Concerns Can You Address?

The body’s healing process can improve a wide variety of skin and aging-related concerns. Here are several of the most popular skin concerns we treat at our office:

Acne

While acne breakouts typically first appear during puberty, this skin condition can affect patients well into their 30s. There are many different root causes for acne, but almost every type can be significantly improved with microneedling treatments. In addition, the micro-channels in the skin help anti-acne products reach the lower layers of the skin and target acne breakouts at their source.

Lines, Wrinkles, and Skin Laxity

Fine lines and wrinkles are a common side effect of collagen breakdown in the skin. They can develop in the skin all over the body, but most patients are most concerned by lines and wrinkles on the face, neck, and chest. Similarly, skin laxity can cause the skin to sag in certain areas, making you appear older or more tired than you actually are. Microneedling treatments can improve mild to moderate lines and wrinkles as well as mild skin laxity.

Sun Damage

While most patients think that sun damage only entails temporary issues like sunburn, the reality is that sun damage can worsen approximately 90% of all common skin concerns. It may accelerate aging and can lead to the development of serious conditions like skin cancer.

While the best way to prevent sun damage is to practice healthy sun protection habits, microneedling can improve some types of sun damage, including discoloration.

Tone and Texture

Many patients find themselves dissatisfied with the overall tone or texture of their skin. This could be due to conditions like rosacea or hyperpigmentation, which cause discoloration in the skin. It could also be connected to acne, dryness, or oil levels in the skin.

An uneven skin tone or dull texture can be difficult to address with topical treatments, but microneedling gets beneath the surface to promote regeneration and achieve a more even appearance.

Scars and Stretch Marks

Imperfections like scars and stretch marks can appear anywhere on the body. While the appearance of these concerns may improve with time, collagen induction therapy can help accelerate the healing process and fade scars and stretch marks in a matter of months.

Depending on your specific concerns, we can treat acne scars on the face and neck, old scars from previous injuries or surgeries, and stretch marks on the thighs or abdomen.

How Long Will My Results Last?

The longevity of your treatment depends on several factors, including your personalized treatment plan, skin type, and areas of concern. Some issues, including sun damage, scars, and stretch marks, could be permanently improved after treatment. Other progressive issues, such as signs of aging, may require ongoing treatments to maintain your ideal image.

On average, each appointment produces results lasting 6-12 weeks. After this time period, you may notice your signs of concern returning. Ongoing treatments can help build on the success of each previous appointment and reinforce collagen structure in the skin.

Am I an Ideal Candidate?

If you are a man or woman over the age of 18 with general concerns about the appearance, texture, or health of your skin, you could be an ideal candidate for treatment with microneedling. In order to receive treatment, you should be generally healthy and free from signs of infection or irritation in the target skin.

Treatment is considered safe and effective for most skin colors, types, and sensitivities, but it may not be ideal for those with severe sensitivity issues. This treatment may not be ideal for patients with diagnosed bleeding disorders. It may not be recommended for patients with cystic acne or active acne breakouts.

Finally, microneedling may not be ideal for patients with certain skin conditions like eczema, which may be exacerbated by the treatment process. If you’re not sure whether this treatment is for you, our doctor can help you evaluate your concerns during an initial consultation.

What Does a Typical Treatment Process Include?

Consultation

To begin your treatment process, you’ll meet with our skilled doctor for an initial consultation. During this appointment, our doctor will examine your areas of concern, review your medical and skincare history, and ask you about your ideal results from treatment.

Once you are approved for microneedling, our doctor will recommend a personalized treatment plan and give you instructions for preparing for your first appointment.

Preparation

This treatment requires your skin to be as clean and healthy as possible. You should avoid irritating products and treatments like exfoliants, peels, laser resurfacing, and some forms of hair removal for at least 1 week before treatment.

You should also limit your sun exposure and avoid sunburn and tanning prior to your first appointment to minimize irritation in the target skin. Our doctor may ask you to stop taking some blood-thinning medications 1-2 weeks before your appointment to reduce your risk of bruising during recovery.

You should also stop drinking alcoholic beverages at least 24 hours before your treatment. Any other instructions provided by our doctor should be followed carefully to ensure the best results possible from your first microneedling session.

Treatment

Before your appointment, you should wash and dry the target skin and avoid applying any makeup or skincare products. Once you arrive at our office, one of our trained staff members will cleanse your skin and apply a topical numbing cream. They will then activate the MD Needle Pen to begin the microneedling process. Most patients report that their treatment is virtually pain-free.

Your session may last between 30-60 minutes in total, but this will depend on the number and sizes of the areas treated. Once our staff has completed the treatment process, they will apply a post-treatment serum or moisturizer to flush the skin with nutrients as it begins to heal. They will also provide you with instructions for your recovery. After your appointment, you can return to your normal activities with zero downtime.

Recovery

As your skin begins to heal, it’s important to protect the treated areas from irritation. This includes limiting your time in direct sunlight and avoiding treatments that could cause inflammation. In general, most patients report that their skin feels back to normal within 1-2 weeks of treatment. Over the next several weeks, you should notice that your areas of concern continue to improve as new collagen lifts and smooths the skin.

Results

Your final results should be visible within 4-6 weeks of your first treatment. Depending on your original concerns, you may notice that your skin is smoother, brighter, and clearer than before. Signs of aging should be noticeably improved, and imperfections like scars, discoloration, or acne should be faded.

Final results usually last 6-12 weeks, with the added benefit of a new collagen framework lasting several months beyond this. Once their results begin to diminish, most patients schedule their first follow-up appointment to maintain their ideal image.

Contact Our Office to Learn More!

If you’re ready to learn more about collagen induction therapy, contact our team of professionals at ICT Eye in Wichita, KS, to schedule your initial consultation today! We look forward to helping you achieve your cosmetic goals!