Microneedling

Microneedling

Induce Collagen for More Youthful-Looking Skin in Chicago and Winnetka

Wrinkles and fine lines are prime targets for a treatment known as microneedling at Chicago and Winnetka’s Whole Beauty^® Institute. These lines are largely a consequence of a loss of collagen and a depletion of hyaluronic acid content in the deeper layer of the skin. Microneedling therapy, also known as microchanneling, offers a relatively simple way to address these issues with minimal downtime.

How Does Microneedling Work?

The microneedling device uses 12 incredibly fine needles to produce tiny pinpricks in the skin with very little discomfort. The resulting miniscule holes produce two beneficial effects:

First, the holes themselves stimulate the body’s healing and repair mechanism, so that the deeper level of the skin is plumped up with new collagen and other substances. This microneedling process is the same that occurs with many radiofrequency treatments, microablative laser treatments, and other methods of fractional skin resurfacing.

Second, the holes made by microneedling allow us to deliver products to the cells in the deeper layers of the skin so we can “supercharge” our treatments for wrinkles, fine lines, excess pigmentation, scars, and stretch marks.

What Can Microneedling Treat?

By activating collagen, microneedling can tighten and smooth lax and wrinkled skin. The microneedling treatment can also minimize large pores and can often improve the appearance of scars, including scars from acne, burns, injuries, and surgery. The mechanical benefits of microneedling are enhanced by formulations specifically designed to diminish scars.

We have also found that microneedling is very helpful as part of the treatment for patients with areas of excess pigmentation. Microneedling, also called microchanneling, allows us to deliver agents that calm the pigmentproducing cells that reside in the deeper layers of the skin.

For some patients, microneedling technology can reduce the appearance of stretch marks. We apply a combination of peptides and growth factors to the area bearing stretch marks right after we have created the microchannels. Although it is impossible to make stretch marks disappear completely with any existing technology, many patients will experience a significant reduction in their appearance after microneedling, in that they blend in better with the surrounding skin.

Microneedling therapy can also be a helpful component of a general program of skin rejuvenation. As we age, our skin becomes thinner, drier, and less resilient. The stimulation of fibroblasts and the ability to deliver rejuvenating compounds to the deeper layers of the skin produce a fresher, more youthful appearance. Our team of clinicians in Chicago and Winnetka can design a skin rejuvenation program that combines microneedlingwith Whole Beauty^® Institute products and other treatments that are customized for each patient’s lifestyle and needs.

What Happens After a Microneedling Session?

The skin will appear red and feel irritated in the first 24 to 48 hours after a microneedling treatment. Remember that the skin is especially “open” during this time, so avoid applying sunscreen, skin products with “active” ingredients, and makeup. Try to prevent sweating, because perspiring opens the pores and can allow bacteria to enter the channels created by the device. It is especially important to avoid sun exposure, as ultraviolet radiation can damage the skin and cause pigmentation irregularities.

To improve comfort and results after a microneedling session, drink plenty of water, use an antioxidant serum and peptides, and wear a cooling face mask.

In the weeks and months after a microneedling treatment, increasing collagen levels will gradually improve the general look of the skin, as well as the appearance of specific marks.

Why Choose the Whole Beauty^® Institute for Microneedling?

Some time ago, Dr. John Q Cook became familiar with the pioneering work of Dr. Desmond Fernandez, a South African plastic surgeon who developed a device that was essentially a small rolling pin with needles on its surface. Dr. Fernandez showed that a person’s skin could be improved by a series of treatments in which the device was rolled across the skin.

Dr. Cook worked with the device and found that his patients noticed a rejuvenating effect when he treated their skin with the roller. That said, he found there to be several practical disadvantages to this early form of microneedling. First, the treatment itself was a bit intimidating for most patients. Second, the treatment was relatively uncomfortable. Third, the potential of the device to deliver beneficial compounds to the depth of the skin was not fully realized.

With the development of new microneedling technologies, Dr. Cook is able to draw on his experience and history with the treatment while allowing patients to benefit from the improvement over previous methods.

The first improvement is the device itself, which allows for the production of tiny perforations in the skin without the “fear factor” of previous generations of devices.

The second improvement is the great reduction in discomfort when compared to earlier methods. We have much better types of anesthetic creams that can be spread over the treated area ahead of the treatment. Also, the device itself produces less discomfort than older “pinwheel” versions.

The third improvement is the ability to combine a microneedling session with serums that target specific skin conditions.

Are There Options Beyond Microneedling?

Our clinical team often combines microneedling with other treatments such as Whole Beauty^® Skincare Products and medical-grade peels to provide enhanced benefits. Beyond microneedling, our patients benefit from a wide range of technologies that help to reduce fine wrinkles, diminish pore size, even out pigmentation, and reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks. Our team has extensive experience with IPL (intense pulsed light), microdermabrasion, and more.

We also offer our patients more powerful technologies, such as Fractora^® radiofrequency resurfacing, Morpheus^®, and fractional laser therapy with HALO^® and Moxi^™. Like microneedling, radiofrequency resurfacing produces tiny holes in the skin, but at much deeper levels and with much greater power. For patients with extensive aging changes in the skin, fractional radiofrequency micro-channeling will produce a more powerful result, but also involves greater down time. Other treatment methods, such as fractional laser therapy and deeper peels, can produce a powerful response, but also have a longer recovery period. The appeal of the microneedling therapy model is that it delivers good results for a variety of skin conditions with extremely low down time. It is a nice introduction to the range of procedures that we offer at the Whole Beauty^® Institute.

Every treatment that we offer has been carefully vetted by Dr. John Q. Cook and his experienced team. We have decades of experience in advanced techniques of plastic surgery and nonsurgical aesthetics. The breadth and depth of our knowledge is one of the benefits we offer patients who come to us in consultation. We pride ourselves in offering our patients highly individualized therapy that takes into account each person’s goals and circumstances.