At some point in your life, especially as you grow older, most people look in the mirror and see skin they are just not happy with. For a long time, it seemed like the only way to fix it was to resort to injections, harsh chemicals, and other complicated procedures. But today, there is a different type of procedure available for aging skin, and it stimulates your body’s natural ability to rejuvenate itself. It is called micro needling.

What is micro needling?

Micro needling is a type of skin therapy that forces your body to produce more collagen, the protein needed to keep your skin looking young and supple. Your specialist will roll a device covered with tiny needles along your face, and the needles poke micro holes in your skin. While it may sound a bit on the medieval side, it is actually fairly quick and painless.

How does micro needling work?

As your body works to heal the micro holes, it produces more collagen. As it produces more collagen, your skin begins to look smoother and tighter. As your skin becomes plumper, fine lines and wrinkles begin to disappear. Not only does it work on aging skin, but it also helps to remove scars caused by acne or childhood diseases like chicken pox.

What to expect from a micro-needling procedure

When your specialist performs the micro-needling procedure, he or she will usually start by adding an anesthetic cream to your face for additional comfort. The next step is to glide the micro needling device over your face or whatever part of the body you want to rejuvenate. The entire procedure typically takes no more than half an hour.

If you follow doctor’s orders, the only side effect you will experience is a little redness to the face that could last up to a few days. Over the next few weeks and months, your face will begin to produce the collagen as it heals, and you are sure to see long-term results. Multiple procedures may be required, depending on the severity of your lines, wrinkles, and scars.

What about platelet rich plasma?

Another popular type of skin rejuvenation therapy is platelet rich plasma or PRP. Like micro needling, it uses your body’s own powerful rejuvenation abilities to reduce signs of aging from the skin. A specialist will draw blood from your body, and use a centrifuge to separate the platelets from the other blood cells. The platelets, which are essential for new cell growth, are then injected into your skin’s problem areas. Like micro needling, the procedure stimulates your body to produce more collagen. Unlike other types of injections, it can be used under the eyes and in more sensitive areas without risk. Over time, you will notice real results all over your entire face instead of just around the injection site.