Needling - DermaPen

With the increasing demand for minimally invasive yet highly effective procedures, plastic surgery must explore the possibility of using new techniques. Patients seek rejuvenation treatments, improvement of photoaging or abnormal pigmentation, wrinkles, and skin laxity.

Currently, there are various treatment options available, including laser resurfacing and chemical peels. However, these treatments are ablative and result in the destruction of the epidermis and, most importantly, the basal membrane, which is replaced by a new epidermis lacking dermal papillae and is thinner. The destruction of the epidermis triggers an inflammatory response that stimulates fibroblasts to produce new collagen, but this collagen has a different orientation from that normally found in the epidermis. The new skin is more sensitive to sunlight and may develop discoloration. Furthermore, there is a possibility of developing disabling scar tissue after the use of ablative methods.

On the other hand, microneedling is proposed as a methodology that initiates the cascade of events allowing wound healing through collagen synthesis, without scarring. Percutaneous collagen induction creates thousands of microtraumas through the epidermis into the papillary dermis. These tiny wounds in the papillary dermis create a zone of superficial bleeding, which represents a powerful stimulus for initiating the normal wound healing process.

Patients who are suitable candidates for this technique have facial wrinkles, scars (acne, chickenpox, burns), or skin laxity (face, abdomen, arms, legs, thighs). The treatment area should be thoroughly prepared at home for at least three weeks, preferably longer, using specific products.

Microneedling is usually performed with topical anesthesia combined with mild sedation. The healing period can range from 4 to 5 days. After the treatment, patients must strictly follow the doctor's prescriptions. Collagen neosynthesis is not immediate, of course, and requires time. Results will become visible after a few months, and sessions can be repeated as needed.

Microneedling represents an excellent tool in the hands of a plastic surgeon to combat signs of aging. This technique is practically free from complications, relatively inexpensive, and requires minimal commitment from the patient.