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Microneedling and laser treatments are both popular medspa options for reversing the signs of aging. However, they have their differences. The best treatment choice depends on your skin type, what type of correction you’re searching for, the amount of downtime you can tolerate, and what your goals are.
What Is MicroNeedling?
Microneedling is a procedure where a physician uses a medical device with multiple fine needles to puncture the skin. This creates tiny injury sites that stimulate collagen production and skin healing. Treatment sessions last about 30 minutes. You may feel mild discomfort during treatment and experience mild swelling, redness, and bruising for one to two days after treatment.
Microneedling can be used to treat a variety of skin conditions such as:
- Acne scars
- Stretch marks
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Hyperpigmentation (also known as sun damage)
The length of time it takes to see results will depend on the severity of your skin condition and the number of treatments you have. Most patients see improvement after one or two treatments, with up to four treatments spaced out at least three weeks apart often needed for optimal results.
The Hochstein Medspa offers microneedling with PRP and microneedling using the Lutronic® Genius™ Radiofrequency Microneedling system.
What Is a Laser Treatment?
Laser treatments, also known as laser resurfacing, use laser energy/heat to remove damaged skin cells and stimulate the growth of fresh skin cells. It is a non-surgical and effective treatment that helps to remove fine lines, deep wrinkles, and discoloration from your face and neck.
The procedure is not painful; however, depending on the type of laser used, it may be more uncomfortable than microneedling.
There are two different types of laser treatments:
- Ablative laser resurfacing – Ablative laser resurfacing involves removing damaged outer layers of the skin or epidermis by vaporizing them using lasers. Because this eliminates the top layer of skin, it will leave you with a pinkish appearance for several days or weeks until the surface heals itself.
- Non-ablative laser resurfacing – Non-ablative lasers address aging signs in the upper layers of skin; however, they do not remove the skin the way ablative lasers do. Instead, non-ablative lasers heat the underlying tissues to stimulate collagen and cellular production.
So Which One Should I Choose?
Both microneedling and laser treatments are used to address surface-level concerns by essentially stimulating the body to heal itself (through collagen production or removal of the damaged layers of skin).
The right treatment for you will depend on your primary concern. For instance, if you are looking to minimize your acne scars, then microneedling will most likely be the treatment for you. Alternatively, if you are looking to address age spots caused by sun damage, a laser treatment may be more appropriate.
Can They Be Used Effectively Together?
While these treatments cannot always be performed at the same time, undergoing both treatments can have significant benefits.
For example, if you have deep wrinkles in addition to smaller wrinkles around your eyes, microneedling might work well to reduce the deep wrinkles, while laser treatment works on the smaller ones.
When combined with lasers, microneedling increases the penetration of the laser energy into the dermis (the second layer of the skin), where it can repair deeper layers.
If you are considering having either of these procedures performed on your face, consult a reliable cosmetic practice first. You will want to ask them if they have experience with these two treatments and how they go together.
Where Can I Find a Reliable Medspa in Miami, FL?
No matter what cosmetic improvement you’re looking for, the Hochstein Medspa, under the leadership of Leonard M. Hochstein M.D., is the place to go for skin treatments in Miami, Florida.
Fill out the request form or contact us at (786) 802-6699 to learn more and schedule your consultation with our medical staff.