Microneedling has become one of the most popular skincare treatments because of its effectiveness and safety profile. It can repair or minimize a wide variety of cosmetic issues by naturally stimulating an immune response within the skin. Potenza microneedling, which we offer here at InVogue Rejuvenation in El Paso, TX, uses heat to enhance these effects, leading to revitalized skin and quicker results.
For most conditions, normally more than one session is needed, though we’ll space your appointments out to give the skin time to repair itself while it removes dead skin cells and replaces them with healthy ones. So if you’re currently experiencing a cosmetic issue, whether it’s acne scars, sagging skin, lines, wrinkles, or another issue, here’s how this therapy works and how often you’ll be able to return for additional treatments.
How Often Can You Get Potenza Microneedling?
After your first treatment session, you can safely return for additional sessions once per month, though this entirely depends on your preferences and what type of condition we’re treating. Some cosmetic issues improve or completely resolve much more quickly than others and therefore don’t require as many sessions.
Most patients return for at least three or more sessions with eight sessions being the average time it takes to see improvements for most treatable issues. Some return for back-to-back treatment monthly sessions until their conditions improve, while others, who may have busier schedules, prefer to schedule their appointments every two to three months.
What Is Microneedling?
Microneedling is a popular form of therapy that’s used in the treatment of various skin conditions and other health issues. It has proven to be an effective option for treating issues such as stretch marks, enlarged pores, fine lines, wrinkles, dark patches of skin, and other conditions that are often caused by aging and a reduction in collagen levels, as well as sun damage and other factors.
As we age, our bodies produce lower levels of collagen and elastin, both of which are crucial for the health of our skin. This therapy uses very small needles to puncture the upper layer of the skin, and this can then stimulate a natural immune response where higher levels of collagen and elastin are produced again. The result is brighter-looking skin, fewer blemishes, and a radiant, youthful appearance.
Potenza vs. Traditional Microneedling
While both Potenza and traditional microneedling use tiny needles to penetrate the skin, Potenza microneedling uses a device that has the additional benefit of radiofrequency (RF) energy. As the needles enter the skin, this energy produces heat waves that can reach more cells within the dermis, which is the middle layer of skin just below the epidermis.
The combination of both microneedles and RF energy can lead to greater collagen and elastin production, which normally results in greater effects that are noticeable much sooner. Both forms of therapy can be highly effective, but treatment with the Potenza device can work more quickly to improve skin texture and cosmetic issues.
What Issues Can Potenza Microneedling Treat?
This therapy can be effective at minimizing or even eliminating many types of cosmetic conditions, including:
- Acne scars
- Surgical scars
- Sagging skin
- Fine lines
- Wrinkles
- Discolored skin
- Stretch marks
- Enlarged pores
- Sun damage
What Happens During the Treatment?
To begin your treatment session, we’ll normally apply a numbing ointment to your skin before we start the needling process. Tiny punctures will then be made in the skin with the Potenza device, which uses only small-gauge needles. Depending on the condition we’re treating, we have different microneedle sizes available that range in diameter from 0.5 to 2 millimeters.
Because the punctures we make in the skin are extremely small, the skin recovers quite quickly afterward. The process itself normally takes around 10 to 20 minutes, but if you have multiple conditions or areas that need to be treated, this may require more time.
Is There Any Downtime?
The recovery period with this therapy normally lasts about a week, but there is no downtime, and you’ll be able to resume your regular daily routine immediately. However, we will recommend a few precautions, such as not wearing makeup for 48 hours after your treatment session, just to ensure that the skin remains clean and with optimal conditions to heal quickly. You also shouldn’t rub the treated area for at least a few days for the same reason.
How Soon Will Results Be Seen?
As this therapy is based on your body’s immune response, it can take some time for the effects to become noticeable, and at least three treatments are normally needed. However, this can vary widely based on the conditions we’re treating and other factors. On average, most patients can expect to see results within three to six months, though some may experience improvements in as little as a few weeks.
Once the collagen-stimulating effects begin, dead skin cells are removed and you may notice softer, smoother skin as one of the first noticeable effects. As the skin continues to repair itself, and with repeated treatments, issues such as lines, wrinkles, discolored patches of skin, and scars typically begin to improve and become less visible over time.
How Long Will the Results Last?
How long the results of this treatment last depends upon different factors, such as your age, your overall health, the type of condition, and how much collagen your skin naturally produces. For conditions related to aging, the effects typically last up to a year, while improvements with other conditions, such as scars, may last forever.
With repeated treatments, the beneficial effects are often cumulative and increase over time, so you may not need to return for additional treatments for up to a year when this happens. After each session, your skin should start producing more collagen and elastin, which is the main mechanism that leads to most improvements. It’s this process that can lead to long-term benefits where the body naturally starts to produce collagen at healthy levels again with regularly scheduled treatments.
What Are Some of the Benefits?
This therapy can be beneficial in many different ways, depending on the conditions being treated and other factors. The following are just some of the many benefits it offers:
- Eliminates scars
- Reduces cosmetic issues
- Smoothens lines and wrinkles
- Softens rough patches
- Brightens skin
- Tightens skin
- Stimulates collagen production
- Delays the signs of aging
- Improves self-confidence
Is There an Ideal Age to Start Treatment?
This therapy can be used to both correct and prevent cosmetic issues, so adults of all ages can benefit from it, and it can be started at virtually any age. However, if you’re planning on using it for its preventative benefits, it may be more beneficial to start as early as possible, before lines, wrinkles, and other issues appear.
When choosing a preventative approach, most patients schedule treatment sessions once a month or every few months to stay proactive and on top of their cosmetic goals. If you’re strictly using it as a corrective treatment, then you can schedule treatment sessions whenever any new cosmetic issues appear. Regardless of your age, it’s never too late to start a preventative approach, since the aging process never stops and new issues can appear at any time throughout life.
Who Is a Good Candidate for This Treatment?
Regardless of your age, if you’re dissatisfied with your skin or if you simply want to use this treatment as a preventative measure to delay the signs of aging, you may be the perfect candidate for Potenza microneedling. Since this approach relies on your own immune system, which can detect damaged skin cells and repair them, this therapy is diverse in what it can treat.
If you currently have any medical conditions or allergies to anesthetics, you may not be a good candidate for this therapy, we’ll want to know about this before starting treatment. If you have active acne, a bleeding disorder, or any current skin infections, we’ll want to assess this beforehand to determine if this treatment is right for you or if we need to explore other options.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
Potenza microneedling is a safe and effective treatment option for many different cosmetic issues as it boosts collagen production and restores healthy skin cells. To see if this therapy is right for you, contact us today at InVogue Rejuvenation in El Paso, TX so we can assess your skin and answer any questions you might have during your initial consultation.
