The benefits of healthy nutrition, regular exercise, and quality skin care are undeniable. However, the beautifying effects after skin rejuvenation treatments are faster and more apparent. That’s why millions of men and women undergo cosmetic treatments that help them look younger and feel a boost of self-esteem.

Microneedling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a newer addition to non-surgical treatments. It provides smooth, glowing skin with minimal downtime.

Read on to learn how microneedling with PRP works and what benefits to expect from the treatment.

What Is Platelet Rich-Plasma (PRP)?

PRP is a small sample of the patient’s blood centrifuged to remove red blood cells and leave plasma with a high concentration of platelets – tiny blood cells that aid in blood clotting. Medical professionals use PRP to help support wound healing after surgery and treat joint injury and baldness. In cosmetics, it is increasingly used with microneedling to enhance its effects.

How Does Microneedling with PRP Work?

The treatment consists of the following steps:

1. The medical provider applies a numbing cream to your face.
2. While you wait for the cream to take effect (approximately 30 minutes), your medical provider draws a small sample of your blood and places it in a spinning device called a centrifuge to separate PRP from the rest of the blood.
3. The provider then uses a microneedling pen with hundreds of tiny needles to make controlled punctures on your skin’s surface. They move the device in all directions for approximately ten minutes.
4. After microneedling, your medical provider applies PRP to enhance the effects of the treatment.

Microneedling prompts the body to produce collagen to heal the micro-injuries. PRP contains platelets, growth factors, and cytokines that penetrate deep into the dermal layers and further boost skin rejuvenation.

Note: Microneedling with PRP can be used as a corrective procedure after fillers go wrong.

What Skin Conditions Can Microneedling with Platelet-Rich Plasma Treat?

Microneedling with PRP effectively improves various skin concerns, including:

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Hyperpigmentation
• Dark under-eye circles
• Acne scars
• Large pores
• Uneven skin tone
• Loose skin
• Stretch marks
• Spider veins

Results of Microneedling with PRP: Before and After

Microneedling with PRP provides gradual results that appear within several weeks after the treatment. There is a high satisfaction rate with the procedure among patients. They notice reduced signs of aging and scarring, a more even tone, and refreshed, younger-looking skin.

The treatment’s effectiveness depends on the severity of the patient’s skin issue, their expectations, and the number of sessions.

One microneedling with PRP treatment can permanently eliminate or reduce certain skin issues, like acne scars and dark under-eye circles. For other issues, such as wrinkles, you need regular microneedling treatments.

Note: Learn about the differences between microneedling and microdermabrasion.

Benefits of Microneedling with PRP

The benefits of adding PRP to microneedling therapy include:

• Faster healing process.
• Enhanced microneedling results – tighter and smoother skin.
• Fewer risks of infections and other side effects.
• Visibly rejuvenated skin.

Risks and Side Effects of Microneedling with PRP

Most healthy people can undergo microneedling with PRP. However, the following conditions may compromise the safety of the procedure:

• Pregnancy
• Active acne
• Skin conditions like rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis
• Herpes
• Blood clotting disorders
• Recent surgery
• Recent skin treatments

Let your medical provider know if you are taking medications or suffering from any health issues.

The common side effects of microneedling are typically mild and resolve after several days. They include:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Sore or tender skin

Rare side effects include scarring and infection. Since the process involves the use of your own blood, the chances of infection are minimal.

Patients report that PRP helps reduce the side effects and speed up recovery after microneedling.

How to Prepare for a Vampire Facial

Patients are advised to follow a few simple rules before the treatment to ensure its effectiveness and minimize side effects.

A Few Weeks Prior

For one or two weeks before the treatment, medical providers recommend avoiding the following:

• Sun exposure and tanning beds
• Facials
• Chemical peels
• Laser resurfacing
• PDO threading
• Potent skincare products with retinoids, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid

Several days before the treatment, don’t use:

• Aspirin
• Fish oil
• Cod liver oil
• Vitamins A and E
• NSAIDs
• Omega-3s
• St. John’s Wort
• Gingko
• Garlic

Also, avoid waxing, bleaching, tweezing, and other hair removal methods in the treatment area.

Appointment Day

Follow these tips on the appointment day:

• Avoid alcohol and caffeine for 24 hours leading to the treatment.
• Drink 4-6 cups of water and eat a healthy meal in the morning.
• Don’t wear any make-up, lotions, moisturizers, and other topical products.

The medical provider cleans your skin and applies a topical numbing cream 30-60 minutes before the treatment. Some providers ask patients to have the anesthetic applied at a pharmacy before they come to the med spa.

What Not to Do After Microneedling with PRP

The aftercare process for microneedling with PRP involves the following steps:

• Avoid exposure to direct sources of heat.
• Wear sunscreen outside.
• Avoid activities that increase sweating, such as exercise, saunas, etc.
• Don’t rub, scratch, or apply pressure to the treated area.
• Minimize your skincare routine.

The Cost of Microneedling with PRP

The cost of microneedling with PRP depends on your chosen medical provider’s location, their experience, and the number of required treatments.

One microneedling session at Vibrant Skin Bar costs $300. The addition of PRP may increase the price. Contact our Vibrant Skin experts to discuss your skin goals and how we can help.

Conclusion

Microneedling with PRP provides a range of benefits that few cosmetic treatments can rival. Whether you want to hide dark circles, minimize acne scars, or reduce aging signs, we highly recommend you experience the rejuvenating effects of microneedling with PRP.

For more on PRP treatments read our article and find out how PRP for hair loss works and how it can regenerate hair follicles and stimulate new hair growth.

Technological advancement has brought new ways to tweak our appearance. People are showing increasing interest in minimally invasive cosmetic treatments because the risks are much lower than with surgery. Microneedling is especially popular because it treats various skin conditions.

Let’s see how microneedling works and what benefits it provides.  

What Is Microneedling?

Microneedling is a cosmetic treatment that uses an FDA-approved medical device with small needles to puncture the top layer of the skin. The procedure boosts collagen and elastin production, rebuilding the skin and making it plumper, tighter, and smoother. It can be used on the face, scalp, and body.

Note: Microneedling is commonly used to tighten the skin on the legs and reduce the appearance of cellulite. Learn more about how to tighten the skin on your legs via microneedling and other methods.

How Does Microneedling Work?

The needles in a medical microneedling device make tiny, controlled punctures on the skin’s surface without damaging the epidermis.

The controlled wounds stimulate the body’s natural healing response to injury and increase collagen and elastin production in the deeper layers of the skin. Microneedling creates a new layer of fresh, smoother-looking skin and reduces scars, wrinkles, and blemishes.

Microneedling Benefits

Microneedling improves existing cosmetic issues by stimulating collagen and elastin production and angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels from old ones). The resulting benefits of the treatment are:

• Skin tightening
• Wound healing
• Skin rejuvenation
• Tissue remodeling
• Reduced hyperpigmentation and brighter skin
• Enhanced delivery of active ingredients (from creams, serums, drugs) into deeper skin layers
• Reduced acne scars, burn scars, and blemishes

Microneedling can be combined with other treatments, such as PRP therapy (microneedling with PRP, also known as the "vampire facial") or radiofrequency therapy (Vivace microneedling), for enhanced effectiveness and powerful results.

Note: For more information on how microneedling benefits specific areas and skin concerns, refer to our guides:

• Microneedling for Acne Scars
• Microneedling Under Eyes
• Microneedling Stretch Marks

How to Prepare for Microneedling?

Microneedling providers advise their patients to follow these guidelines before the treatment:

• Avoid exfoliation, laser treatment, and facials for two weeks.
• Stop using acne medications for weeks or months.
• Stop using retinoid products.
• Avoid blood-thinning and anti-inflammatory medications for one week.
• Skip tanning for two weeks.
• Don’t drink coffee or alcohol for 24 hours.
• Avoid fish oil for 48 hours.
• Drink plenty of water for several days.

Microneedling Procedure

The first step of the microneedling treatment is a consultation with your medical practitioner. They will evaluate your eligibility for the treatment. If you’re pregnant or taking certain acne medication, you may not be eligible.

The microneedling specialist first applies topical anesthesia to the treatment area. The cream can take up to one hour to become effective.

The specialist then rolls the microneedling device over the patient’s numbed skin several times in each direction. The device has tiny, short needles that puncture the skin, creating superficial wounds.

Your skincare specialist may apply a serum right after microneedling to utilize your skin’s enhanced receptiveness to rejuvenating ingredients. Post-treatment serums such as PRP, hyaluronic acid, growth factor serum and/or lightening serum enhance the treatment’s effects.

The whole microneedling treatment session may take up to 90 minutes.

Is Microneedling Painful?

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the pain level ranges from completely painless to painful but tolerable. In many cases, patients only feel a mild tingling sensation. The pain level depends on the individual’s threshold and the needle size.

Microneedling Results

Microneedling has a delayed effect because it takes time for the new collagen to form. The results appear gradually three to six months after the final procedure. During that time, you will notice a reduction in wrinkles, scars, and blemishes and an overall improvement in skin tone and texture.

How Long Do Results from Microneedling Last?

The longevity of the results depends on the patient’s unique skin condition and how many sessions they’ve had. They usually last between several months and one year. Some effects of microneedling, such as tightened skin, may last for several years.

How Do You Maintain Microneedling Results?

To maintain the effects of microneedling, patients are advised to properly care for their skin and implement skin-friendly lifestyle habits, including:

• Following a daily skincare regimen.
• Getting enough sleep.
• Avoiding alcohol and inflammatory foods.
• Protecting the skin from UV rays.

Note: The most effective way to protect the skin from UV rays is to wear protective clothing and apply sunscreen vigilantly. Check out our guide on how to choose the best sunscreen for your skin.

Microneedling Aftercare

For the best results, avoid the following products and activities:

• Direct exposure to the sun.
• Strenuous exercise, saunas, and other activities that increase sweating.
• Rubbing and scratching the skin.
• Harsh skincare ingredients and makeup.
• Cosmetic treatments, such as laser, chemical peels, photofacials, etc.
• Excessive alcohol and smoking.

Microneedling Side Effects

No serious risks are associated with microneedling. The procedure is considered safe for people in good health when performed by licensed medical professionals using FDA-approved medical devices.

The most common side effects of microneedling are mild and include redness, bruising, swelling, and inflammation. The side effects usually go away after two or three days but may persist for up to two weeks.

When Should You See a Doctor?

If the side effects are more severe, persist for over a week, or you experience bleeding for more than 24 hours, seek help from your medical provider.

Note: Microneedling does not appeal to you? You'd like to learn about all your options before deciding on a treatment? Find out how microneedling compares to other noninvasive treatments:

• Microneedling vs. Laser
• Microneedling vs. Chemical Peel
• Microneedling vs. Botox
• Microdermabrasion vs. Microneedling

How Much Does Microneedling Cost?

The total price of a microneedling treatment depends on the required number of sessions. At Vibrant Skin Bar, one microneedling session costs $300.

Microneedling at Home: Should You Try It?

Microneedling devices for home use are available. They are less expensive than professional microneedling sessions and save time.

However, at-home derma rollers aren’t as effective as professional treatments. For safety reasons, the DIY devices have shorter needles that don’t penetrate as deeply, so the results are less noticeable. Most at-home devices don’t allow you to change the needles after each session, so the risk of scarring and infection increases.

Even with less invasive needles, the risk of damaging the skin exists. A trained professional knows how to properly switch the needle size depending on the area being treated. At home, you may press the skin too hard and cause more harm than good.

Conclusion

Microneedling is a quick, safe, and often painless way to improve skin issues that don’t respond to topical treatments. It’s important to understand that the treatment provides improvements over time. For the best results, opt for professional microneedling services performed by experienced medical practitioners.

Next, find out if microneedling and Botox can be used together, and who is a good candidate for this combination.

Many women and some men struggle with stretch marks. The condition is medically harmless but may lower one’s self-esteem.

Plastic surgery permanently removes stretch marks but involves risk, requires weeks of recovery, and isn’t affordable. The safest treatments for stretch marks are lotions and creams, but they don’t always provide the desired results.

Between lotions and surgery, there is an optimal alternative – microneedling. This article explains how microneedling helps reduce stretch marks.

How Does Microneedling for Stretch Marks Work?

Stretch marks are unappealing lines across the skin of varying sizes and colors, typically appearing on the thighs, buttocks, and abdomen. They can’t be eliminated with diet or exercise alone, but there are treatments that can help. Microneedling is a procedure that provides impressive results thanks to its collagen-boosting properties.

The treatment involves the use of a hand-held, FDA-approved microneedling pen with hundreds of barely visible needles of varying lengths that make tiny punctures into the skin. These tiny wounds don’t damage the skin, but they trigger the body’s natural healing response to injury and stimulate collagen production.

This healing process after microneedling consists of three stages:

• Inflammation – This is the body’s initial response to micro-injuries caused by the microneedling pen, involving increased blood flow, immune cell activation, and removal of damaged tissue. This phase usually lasts up to one week.
• Proliferation – The increased synthesis of collagen and elastin helps form new tissue to replace the damaged area. This stage can last several weeks.
• Remodeling – The new tissue matures and strengthens, resulting in smoother and firmer skin. This phase can last from a few weeks to several months.

The newly created collagen fills the gaps between stretch marks, smooths the skin’s texture, and evens its tone. As a result, microneedling reduces the visible appearance of stretch marks.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Microneedling Stretch Marks?

Most healthy adults with stretch marks can undergo a microneedling treatment. It is effective on all skin types and stretch marks of any depth.

The provider will examine your medical history and determine whether you are a good candidate. If you are pregnant or have a skin infection, you should wait until the condition passes.

Microneedling Stretch Marks: The Procedure

The treatment provider first applies a numbing cream to the treated area. After the cream takes effect, they move the microneedling pen over the affected area repeatedly for 20-30 minutes – depending on the size of the treatment area.

Providers sometimes infuse the treated skin with hyaluronic acid, stem cells, or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to enhance the results.

Note: Learn more about microneedling with PRP.

A soothing cream is applied as the final step to minimize dryness and itching.

The whole session takes up to one hour and doesn’t require downtime.

How Deep to Microneedle Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks appear in the dermis, which is between 0.6 and 4 mm thick. Since the microneedling device uses needles with adjustable lengths between 0.5 mm and 3.5 mm, it successfully targets stretch marks of any depth.

What Is the Best Needle Length for Stretch Marks?

Microneedling providers typically use needles that are between 1.5 and 2 mm long for stretch marks.

Is the Procedure Painful?

Microneedling isn’t painful because the treatment involves the use of a topical numbing cream. Patients may feel some discomfort, including a sensation akin to sandpaper rubbing against the skin.

Microneedling Stretch Marks: The Results

Microneedling significantly fades or eliminates stretch marks. Patients usually notice an improvement after two to four sessions, and the final results show within six months after the final session.

Though most patients are satisfied with the treatment, its effectiveness varies depending on the severity of the condition, the number of treatments, and patients’ expectations.

How Many Microneedling Sessions Are Needed for Stretch Marks?

Most patients require a series of three to six treatments for a visible reduction or full elimination of stretch marks. The treatments are spaced four to six weeks apart. The results are gradual because it takes time to build new collagen.

How Long Do the Results of Microneedling for Stretch Marks Last?

For some patients, the results of microneedling stretch marks are permanent. Others need maintenance treatments once or twice a year.

The treated stretch marks don’t resurface unless you experience the same conditions that resulted in your skin stretching in the first place. Those conditions include pregnancy, weight gain, and hormonal imbalances.

Note: If you are struggling to reach your ideal weight, maybe it’s time for a personalized approach. Reach out to our medical weight loss experts in Phoenix, who can help improve your health and reach your desired weight.

Microneedling Stretch Marks: Aftercare

To ensure optimal results with microneedling, follow your provider’s post-treatment instructions.

Here are some general aftercare tips:

• Avoid direct exposure to the sun at least two weeks after the treatment.
• Use SPF if you can’t avoid sun exposure.
• Avoid activities that cause perspiration, such as exercise and sauna, for three days after the treatment.  
• Don’t apply makeup for 24 hours post-treatment.  

Microneedling Stretch Marks: Side Effects

Microneedling stretch marks is a generally safe and effective procedure, but many patients experience mild side effects, such as bruising, redness, and swelling. Though rare, some patients experience allergic reactions.

The treatment can go wrong in the hands of an untrained provider, damaging the patient’s skin and causing an infection. This typically doesn’t occur if you get the treatment with a reputable provider.

How Much Does Microneedling for Stretch Marks Cost?

The cost of microneedling depends on the severity of the stretch marks and how many sessions are required. Note that patients usually need multiple treatments for significant results.

One microneedling session at Vibrant Skin Bar costs $300.

Can You Perform Microneedling on Stretch Marks at Home?

At-home microneedling kits are available, but health experts don’t recommend them. These at-home kits use non-regulated derma rolling devices that could potentially cause scarring.

If you use a DIY derma roller at home, make sure you properly disinfect the device before and after every treatment. Note that home treatments are not as effective as professional microneedling because of the difference in needle size and your microneedling skills.

Here at Vibrant Skin Bar, we use an FDA-approved microneedling pen. The needles vary in size, and our skin experts adjust the device’s needles depending on the size of the treated area and skin sensitivity.

Conclusion

Stretch marks are harmless, but they may negatively affect our self-esteem, especially during the summer.

Fortunately, microneedling provides a quick and safe cosmetic solution for stretch marks. If the procedure fits your needs, you can permanently reduce the appearance of stretch marks in just a couple of months. Contact our expert team at Vibrant Skin Bar to learn more about the procedure and book your appointment.