Welcome to our guide to Vancouver microneedling where we delve into the different types of microneedling devices and procedures that are available on the market. We created this guide because we know that decision fatigue can settle in when you are faced with choosing from a range of Vancouver microneedling treatments; this process can be overwhelming, and it can be difficult to decipher which treatment is best for you. Trying to understand the differences between the devices and the expected outcomes may even prevent you from taking the next step to improve your skin. If this has been your experience, read on for simplified explanations and key points of interest that will help you feel confident in taking advantage of this incredible skin health tool.
Vancouver microneedling guide: Understanding microneedling and its benefits
While microneedling is an incredibly popular treatment, you may not be clear as to why it is so effective. In this section we explain how it works and why it is such a beneficial skin treatment.
The principal of microneedling is quite simple. A tip with multiple surgical steel needles is glided over the skin, creating millions of microchannels in the skin. This process harnesses the skin’s natural ability to regenerate itself by creating tiny, precise puncture wounds. These micro-injuries activate a wound healing cascade, repairing the existing tissues and triggering the production of new collagen and elastin fibers. As a result, microneedling can improve the overall texture, tone, and firmness of the skin with little to no risk or downtime.
The main benefits of microneedling include:
- Stimulates collagen production: By inducing controlled skin injury, microneedling greatly increases the production of new collagen, which helps improve the elasticity and structural thickness of the skin.
- Improves skin texture: Microneedling can reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, pores, and uneven skin texture.
- Reduces the appearance of scars and stretch marks: Microneedling can help break down scar tissue and stimulate the growth of new, healthier skin cells, reducing the visibility of many types of scars (including acne scars), and stretch marks.
- Treats pigmentation disorders and sun damage: Following specific treatment protocols, microneedling can help manage melasma, vitiligo, and fade pigmentation related to sun damage.
It’s important to note that individual results may vary, and multiple sessions may be required to achieve optimal results.
Vancouver microneedling guide: Microneedling devices
You may have noticed that the word ‘microneedling’ has become a catch-all phrase for treatments and devices with different features and benefits, and varying degrees of efficacy. The following list includes some of the most common treatments that fall under the microneedling umbrella. We’ll delve into what each device does as well as the results you can expect.
Dermarollers
What it’s known for:
- enhanced product penetration
Dermarollers are the first iteration of microneedling tools created by a South African Plastic Surgeon, Desmond Fernandes in the early 2000s. These hand-held roller tools have a cylinder tip that is embedded with needles that can be manually rolled over the skin’s surface. There are many draw-backs to this kind of tool:
1. Many of the commercially produced dermarollers on the market are not made with surgical steel needles, and therefore they pose a greater risk to damage the skin and cause infection.
2. They lack precision. The design of the cylinder itself means that the angles and depth of needle penetration cannot be carefully controlled which can cause undue trauma to the skin.
3. Results cannot match a mechanized device. The manual application of dermarollers means that a very small amount of microchannels are created in the skin when compared to a motorized device that can create thousands of microchannels per second. The difference in the quantity of microchannels that are produced equates to a dramatic difference in treatment outcomes.
4. Risk of contamination. Some dermarollers are designed with single-use needle cylinders, but many are not and require disinfection in between treatments.
5. Limits to needle depth. The design of the roller means that needle depth cannot be safely administered beyond 0.5mm without causing undue trauma to the skin.
Nano Needling
What it’s known for:
- enhanced product penetration
- improved skin texture
- improved skin tone
- skin glow
Nano needling is different from microneedling in that there is no damage caused to the skin via the insertion of needles. Instead, the nano needling device has a tip composed of either silicone or steel pin-like projections that disrupt the surface keratinized cells as the device is glided over the skin. This promotes exfoliation and creates nano channels that allow for improved penetration of treatment serums. There is no downtime for this procedure and the expected results include improved skin tone and texture, along with an overall glow and radiance. The good news is that nano tips are single-use, so there is no risk of contamination and the gentle nature of this treatment does not pose any risk of trauma to the skin. NOTE: this treatment encourages collagen production, but it does not compare to the collagen producing power of microneedling.
Mechanical Microneedling
What it’s known for:
- skin firmness
- reduction in depth of wrinkles and fine lines
- scar revision
- improved skin tone and management of pigmenation disorders (melasma and vitiligo)
- improved skin texture
- pore refinement
Mechanical microneedling refers to pen-like devices such as SkinPen®, which is considered to be the gold standard to deliver safe and effective treatments for collagen induction therapy, scar revision, and improved skin tone. Microneedling pens are mechanized devices featuring a tip containing microneedles that are rapidly and repeatedly penetrated as the device glides over the skin’s surface. Different depths of needle penetration can be chosen to achieve specific results for treating pigmentation disorders (solar lentigo, melasma, and vitilogo), repairing scars, and initiating collagen synthesis on both the face and body. When considering Vancouver microneedling treatments with pen devices, look for the following:
1. Cleared by Health Canada and the FDA. This ensures that the treatment you receive has been vetted for the highest standards of safety and accuracy.
2. Precision. SkinPen® is a motorized device that is designed to penetrate needles exactly to the depth set by the treatment provider. This means that the needle depth does not deviate when the device is glided over tissue with varying degrees of density (ie: cheek vs jawline). Many microneedling pen devices do not boast this feature and instead, rely on a spring mechanism which cannot accurately respond to variations in tissue density. This lack of precision can result in greater trauma to the skin and longer healing times.
3. Safe for all skin types and creates healthy, bountiful collagen I. Mechanical microneedling creates millions of microchannels in the skin to initiate a natural wound healing cascade that repairs damaged tissues and creates new, healthy layers of supportive collagen fibers in the dermis. Because the microchannels are created precisely and there is no heat involved, the wound healing process is incredibly fast which eliminates risk of trauma to the skin and makes this treatment safe for all skin types.
RF Microneedling
What it’s known for:
- skin tightening and firmness
- reduction in depth of wrinkles and fine lines
- scar revision
- even skin tone
- improved skin texture
- pore refinement
RF Microneedling stands for radiofrequency microneedling. You may have heard of the brand name device Morpheus8 which has popularized this type of treatment. The word microneedling is somewhat of a misnomer in relation to this treatment, as it does not involve creating millions of microchannels in the skin. Instead, the needles in these devices work as a delivery system for radiofrequency / heat energy. Once the microneedles are stamped into the skin, the heat energy is sent into the skin’s depths. Heating up the tissues deep in the skin has a shrink-wrap effect. This is why this treatment can be very effective for skin laxity — it essentially tightens up the elastic fibers in the dermis. Some things to consider with this treatment:
1. The treatment is fairly uncomfortable.
2. There is more downtime involved than with mechanical microneedling (microneedling pens).
3. Poses some risk. It is very important to work with a highly skilled and qualified practitioner when undergoing a RF microneedling treatment. Whenever a treatment involves the delivery of heat energy into the skin, if the treatment is not performed correctly there are potential complications that can arise related to facial fat loss and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Guide to Vancouver microneedling: How to choose a practitioner
When choosing a Vancouver microneedling clinic, you will want to consider the following:
- What are the qualifications of the person administering your treatment? In many instances, the Vancouver microneedling clinic you choose will be overseen by a medical director, however the treatment providers may not be credentialed. Be sure to ask about the qualifications of the person who will be administering your service.
- What kind of microneedling device will be used? The device that is being used can make a big difference in your comfort, the healing process, and the quality of the outcome you can expect.
- What level of client care is provided? Does the clinic provide aftercare products and instructions for how to properly care for your skin after your treatment? Will the service provider follow up and be available to you should you have questions post-treatment?
We hope this guide to Vancouver microneedling has provided you with some clarity on which treatment is best for you, and what to look for when considering a Vancouver microneedling clinic. If you’d like to learn more about the SkinPen® microneedling treatments we offer, we invite you to book in for a consultation. We charge a nominal fee for this which can be put towards a microneedling service.
