Medical Needling — Skin Rejuvenation in Alabama

Medical needling is an effective treatment for facial lines and wrinkles; scars from acne, surgery or other causes; and stretch marks. The procedure is also a skin rejuvenation alternative to laser therapy for people with thin skin, and is safe for skin of any type or color. Medical needling creates a series of tiny puncture wounds that stimulate the production of new collagen and allow topical medications to reach the dermis, which lies underneath the epidermis (the top layer of skin) and gives your skin its firmness, strength and elasticity.

• What is medical needling?
• How is the medical needling procedure performed?
• What will I look and feel like afterward?
• What kind of follow-up care will I need?

What is medical needling?

During medical needling, a roller with a series of fine, sharp medical needles is used to create small punctures in the skin. These punctures extend into the dermis, or deep layers of the skin, to create micro-trauma and stimulate the production of new collagen. The punctures do very little damage to the epidermis, or top layer of skin, allowing it to heal rapidly.

The tiny wounds created by medical needling allow topical medications to reach into the deep layers of skin for about 5 days after treatment.

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How is the medical needling procedure performed?

In general, aspirin, Vitamin E and medications that thin the blood should be avoided for 2 weeks prior to treatment to avoid excessive bruising. Your physician at Hedden Plastic Surgery will provide you with specific instructions.

Medical needling is usually performed with the patient lightly sedated using a nitrous oxide/oxygen combination or medication. Then, the area to be treated is numbed with a local anesthetic and the roller is rolled firmly over the skin. The entire outpatient procedure usually takes about 1/2 hour. After the procedure, an antibiotic ointment is applied to the skin and patients can go home immediately.

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What will I look and feel like afterward?

Medical needling usually causes some short-term bleeding, redness of the skin and bruising for the first 2 days. However, the skin heals rapidly because minimal damage is done to the outer layer of skin. Most patients can return to normal activities, including their jobs, in 2 to 3 days.

Patients should wash their skin three to four times a day in the first few days following the procedure and apply an antibiotic ointment for the first 2 days. Your physician at Hedden Plastic Surgery will provide you with specific instructions tailored to your personal needs.

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What kind of follow-up care will I need?

Although noticeable improvements can be obtained with a single medical needling treatment, multiple treatments may be necessary to achieve the best results. The effects are cumulative as new collagen production is stimulated in the deep layers of the skin. New treatments can be administered every 6 to 10 weeks.

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To find out more about skin rejuvenation with medical needling, contact Hedden Plastic Surgery in Birmingham, Alabama today.