Stunning facial rejuvenation doesn’t always require surgery. Non-surgical procedures, such as mirconeedling, induce the body’s natural production of collagen and elastin, providing a natural rejuvenation process with incisions or sutures. Men and women who experience mild signs of aging or are just looking to renew their skin’s vibrancy may find great benefit from microneedling treatment without without Platelet Rich Plasma.

To find out if you are a good candidate, contact Dr. Joshua Korman to request a consultation at either our San Jose, Carmel, or Mountain View location today.

What is Microneedling?

Microneedling can fall under a variety of different names, such as dermaneedling, skin needling, collagen induction therapy, or the newly popular term for microneedling +Platelet Rich Plasma combo – the vampire facial. They all have the same goal – natural skin rejuvenation. Dr. Korman uses the Eclipse MicroPen to perform his microneedling treatments.

This procedure can be performed on its own; however, Dr. Korman likes to combine microneedling with Platelet Rich Plasma treatments to provide even better results.

This pen uses state-of-the-art technology to provide flawless results. Microneedling makes a series of microchannel punctures within the epidermis to aid in the correction of lines, wrinkles, discoloration, and more. These micro injuries induce the body’s healing response, stimulating the production of collagen and elastin within the skin to repair the damaged cells. As the tiny injuries heal, the skin will rebuild stronger than before, leaving a firmer, smoother, more youthful appearance.

What is Platelet-Rich Plasma (Platelet Rich Plasma)?

Platelet-rich plasma, otherwise known as Platelet Rich Plasma, is a concentrate of platelet-rich plasma protein that derives from whole blood. Your blood sample is placed into a centrifuge to separate the plasma from the rest of the blood’s components. This concentrated plasma, when placed on the skin, increases blood flow to the designated area and also stimulates collagen production.

A study conducted in May 2010 published by The Journal of Drugs in Dermatology shows the benefits that Platelet Rich Plasma treatments can add when combined with standard skin rejuvenation procedures like microneedling. The patients within this study received Platelet Rich Plasma treatments once a month and were extremely satisfied with their results. They were asked to come back one month after the treatments were complete to evaluate their skin’s transformation. The added Platelet Rich Plasma treatments provided further skin rejuvenation. These proteins helped repair damaged skin better than ever seen before.

Benefits of Microneedling with Platelet Rich Plasma (Vampire Facial)

Combining microneedling with platelet-rich plasma offers even further repair to the skin. The platelet-rich plasma penetrates the skin through the tiny microchannels that have been created through mirconeedling. The Platelet Rich Plasma will, essentially, supercharge the microneedling benefits while also addressing dark under-eye circles and puffiness to provide patients with a more rested, youthful look.

The Eclipse MicroPen Difference

The Eclipse MicroPen is the first completely cordless fractional microneedling device that helps to treat various dermatological indications; it is Dr. Korman’s microneedling pen of choice. The cordless feature provides Dr. Korman the ability to move freely and efficiently throughout the treatment. The Eclipse MicroPen is a safe and effective alternative to the more commonly known resurfacing tools, such as lasers and dermal rollers.The MicroPen is comprised of 12 fractionated turbo safety needles which are designed to cause very minimal trauma to the skin while keeping the surrounding tissue unharmed. These fine needles will cause the necessary mechanical injuries to the skin to stimulate collagen production. The depth of penetration into the skin can be adjusted by Dr. Korman to ensure optimal results for a wide variety of conditions and skin types. The pen uses a process called percutaneous collagen induction therapy to cause tiny micro-injuries in the epidermis, resulting in the production of collagen and elastin for effective skin rejuvenation results.

Treatment Areas

Mirconeedling with Platelet Rich Plasma treatments can be performed on multiple areas of the body to provide complete skin renewing results. The most commonly chosen areas that this treatment is performed on include:

  • Face
  • Neck
  • Décolleté
  • Arms
  • Hands
  • Legs
  • Abdomen
  • Back

Over time, collagen and elastin begin to break down faster than the body can make the needed repairs. As a result, skin begins to sag and wrinkle. The use of the microneedling with Platelet Rich Plasma replenishes collagen and elastin levels and provides numerous benefits to improve the overall quality of skin.

Good Candidates

Good candidates for mirconeedling with Platelet Rich Plasma are men and women who are looking to reverse mild signs of aging and skin degeneration. This treatment is designed to help improve subtle signs of aging. Therefore, patients who have excessive skin laxity and deep wrinkles may be better suited for a surgical procedure such as a face. What this particular treatment does is it gives the skin the added help it needs to restore itself. Patients who have skin that is past the point of self-correction will require a more invasive cosmetic procedure to provide the desired results. Those who are considering this treatment should be in good health and have no underlying medical or skin conditions that can negatively affect the body’s ability to heal itself. Because this treatment stimulates the body’s healing process, the results will not be seen immediately. We ask that patients have realistic expectations for the results and practice patience during the recovery stage.

To best determine candidacy, we ask that patients contact their local office and schedule a consultation today.

This treatment is ideal for all skin tones because, unlike other skin rejuvenating procedures such as lasers, darker skin tones are not a contradiction. Mirconeedling combined with Platelet Rich Plasma is not only for those who are looking to treat damaged skin but also for anyone who is looking for a good “pick me up” for their skin’s tone and texture for a continuous glow. Dr. Korman may recommend additional or alternative treatments depending on the severity of the patient’s case.

Consultation

During the initial consultation with one of our skin experts, the patient will have the opportunity to explain their skin particular skin concerns and what they are hoping to achieve through this mirconeedling treatment. They will then review the patient’s medical history to ensure this is a safe and viable option to meet their aesthetic needs. As the last step in determining candidacy, they will examine the skin within their desired treatment area to identify the concerns and build a treatment plan to help their receive their desired results. The patient will be given the opportunity to schedule their treatment before leaving the office; however, there is no obligation to do so. Almost anyone can be a candidate!

The first step is calling into our office and scheduling to meet one-on-one with Dr. Korman.

The Treatment

The skin expert will adequately clean the patient’s face or other treatment areas. A numbing agent can be applied to the skin to help alleviate any possible discomfort, although this is typically not necessary. Before beginning the microneedling process, the doctor will draw an allotted amount of blood from the patient to obtain the platelet-rich plasma. The blood will then be placed into a centrifugation device that separates the platelets from the rest of the components which will be later used topically once the microneedling step has been completed. The expert will use the Eclipse MicroPen over the entire surface of the treatment area. This will create a series of tiny puncture wounds within the epidermis to stimulate the body’s healing capabilities, including the production of collagen and elastin. They will then cover the entire treated area with the platelet-rich plasma, allowing it to seep into the skin to help rejuvenate the skin further. Once this is complete, the patient will be able to leave the office soon after.

Recovery

While the treatment area may appear red immediately after the session, there is no downtime whatsoever. It is recommended that patients do not wash their face for four hours following their treatment to allow the skin to adequately absorb the Platelet Rich Plasma and additional serums while the microchannels are closing. Dr. Korman will provide patients with specified skincare information to ensure optimal recovery. Patients should avoid the use of makeup for at least three days after their treatment. After this time, a light foundation powder can be applied to the skin to hide any mild redness.

Results

Results can be seen as quickly as 48 hours after the treatment. The skin may begin to flake during the healing stage; however, this will remedy itself and dissipate on its own. The skin will appear even-toned and smooth, leaving a brighter complexion in only a matter of days! For the best results possible, Dr. Korman recommends that his patients return for recurrent treatment every month. Patients typically undergo four to six treatments to receive the best results.

Cost

Depending on the extent of treatment needed, the cost of a microneedling treatment will vary. The cost of the treatment may also be affected if additional treatments or procedures will be formed in conjunction with the microneedling to achieve the patient’s aesthetic goals. Upon evaluation during the initial consultation, the doctor build a treatment plan designed towards the needs of the patient, through which he will provide the patient with their custom treatment quote. To obtain an individualized quote, please contact the office of Dr. Joshua Korman and schedule an appointment at either the San Jose, Carmel, or Mountain View location.