Collagen gives structure to your skin, providing the firm and smooth qualities associated with a youthful appearance. Over time, however, your body’s collagen production may slow, causing your tissues to lose some of their elasticity and to sag. As the years pass, your skin may also change in texture, develop scars, and show sun damage.
Dr. Vu performs microneedling for Huntington Beach and Orange County patients to address these aesthetic concerns in a non-invasive way. The technology can improve the skin’s texture, exfoliate dead cells, reduce the appearance of acne scars, and promote collagen development. Dr. Vu can use microneedling to treat the face and neck as well as limited areas around the chest.
Dr. Vu’s Approach to Microneedling
For more than twenty years, Dr. Vu has guided Huntington Beach and Orange County patients in achieving their personal aesthetic goals. As a board-certified plastic surgeon, he brings a specialist’s knowledge and experience to the care of each person he treats. Patients who choose non-surgical approaches such as microneedling benefit from Dr. Vu’s knowledge of facial anatomy, gentle and precise technique, and comprehensive experience.
Dr. Vu and his team perform microneedling for Huntington Beach and Orange County patients who want to improve the texture, thickness, and overall quality of their skin. He uses the Rejuvapen™, a well-established brand of the technology, to conduct his treatments.
How microneedling works
- A handheld device uses tiny needles to create micro trauma on the surface of the skin.
- This damage is minor and focused, and it causes the skin in these areas to begin healing.
- The healing process and collagen development replace skin that had been aged and damaged with new, healthy tissue.
As a result of treatment, you can expect your skin to be firmer, more elastic, and more youthful.
Comparing Microneedling to Alternatives
Microneedling can be an effective non-surgical way to rejuvenate your skin. Our Huntington Beach and Orange County patients describe the experience as relatively pain-free, and you should see an immediate difference in the quality of your skin. Most patients are able to tolerate treatments with a topical anesthetic agent.
During your consultation with Dr. Vu, he will discuss the treatment in detail and help you understand the advantages that microneedling offers. He is committed to keeping Huntington Beach and Orange County patients at the center of their care, and so he will typically review alternatives to the treatment he recommends so that patients can decide the best approach for themselves. In the case of microneedling, patients may also consider the options below.
Laser Resurfacing
Laser resurfacing applies thermal energy to the skin instead of needles like those used in microneedling. The cells that receive this energy peel and flake away in the days that follow, and new collagen and skin cells develop in their place. Laser resurfacing tends to affect skin at a deeper level than microneedling because of the intensity of the energy it delivers. This may mean a longer period for healing but also a more noticeable effect. Treatments are performed with either a topical anesthetic agent or conscious sedation depending on your needs.
Fractional Laser Resurfacing
A fractional laser applies energy in columns instead of as a single broad beam. Like the needles of a microneedling device, these beams penetrate the skin, but they tend to go to a deeper layer of tissue. Because the laser is fractioned, it can deliver similar beams of energy to a limited area of the skin. The benefit for you is a faster healing time and collagen stimulation. Dr. Vu will typically use fractionated laser resurfacing for a smaller treatment area.
Intense pulsed light (IPL)
Intense pulsed light can help Huntington Beach and Orange County patients reduce the appearance of sun damage and skin pigmentation as well as provide a small degree of skin tightening. The technology uses pulses of light energy rather than laser energy, targeting the melanin of damaged skin cells. While your body expels these pigments, it repairs the treated areas with new, smoother skin. Dr. Vu can advise you whether IPL or microneedling is a better option for your needs.
Your Experience With Microneedling
During your initial consultation with Dr. Vu, the two of you will have a chance to discuss the aesthetic issues you want to treat and the different approaches available to you. He will spend time talking with you about your goals, examining the areas that you want to address, and learning about your expectations for the results. If you are a good candidate for microneedling, you can typically receive treatment on the same day as your initial consultation.
Dr. Vu and our staff prioritize the comfort, safety, and satisfaction of our Huntington Beach and Orange County patients. We take steps during your visit to reduce sensation and healing time so that you can enjoy the results of your treatment as soon as possible. Here is a basic overview of how microneedling works:
- We will apply a numbing cream to the skin we will be treating. This topical anesthetic will desensitize these areas temporarily so that you can be more comfortable during your appointment.
- After an appropriate amount of time, we will remove the numbing cream and then apply a peptide serum to the surface of your skin. This step will help promote collagen development and healing. Dr. Vu may use one of several different growth factors.
- Vu will perform microneedling in the areas you have decided to have treated. He will use a careful and gentle approach, adjusting the depth of the device for each feature.
By the day after your treatment, you should begin to see a difference in the quality, tightness, and thickness of your skin, and this improvement should increase for several weeks. Dr. Vu advises Huntington Beach and Orange County patients to return for retreatment on a monthly basis so that they can maintain their results.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT MICRONEEDLING
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WHAT IS THE RECOVERY TIME LIKE?
There is no downtime after microneedling. However, Dr. Vu recommends that patients not wash their face for several hours following treatment. This will allow the skin’s healing agents and growth factors time to work.
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HOW SOON AFTER TREATMENT CAN I BEGIN TO WEAR MAKEUP AND USE SKIN CARE PRODUCTS?
The day after microneedling, you can get back to your normal cosmetic and skin care routine.
Explore a range of non-invasive options for firmer, younger skin. Learn more about microneedling and other solutions through our Orange County practice by contacting us online or by calling (714) 848-1133 in Huntington Beach.