Microneedling: pre-care advice, downtime, how long it takes to see results

Microneedling is a cosmetic procedure that uses microscopic needles to puncture tiny holes in your skin. This process stimulates your body to produce more collagen, a protein vital for maintaining the structure and shape of your skin. Some microneedling treatments will also insert a blend of healthy vitamins in these micropunctures to boost the benefits of the treatment. Microneedling can improve the tone and texture of your skin whilst also reducing the appearance of imperfections such as fine lines, wrinkles or scars.

In this blog we’re going to take a look at the steps you should take before a microneedling appointment, whether there’s any downtime after the procedure, and how long it takes to see results from the treatment.

Microneedling pre-care instructions

You don’t have to do anything too dramatic to prepare for your procedure. Microneedling is a pretty straightforward process that normally takes less than an hour. However, there are still a few things to bear in mind to make sure you get the most from the treatment.

In the week of your appointment try to avoid other skin treatments such as IPL skin rejuvenation, laser skin resurfacing or peels. These treatments can be quite harsh on your skin, so it’s best to avoid them before microneedling.

In the 48 hours prior to the procedure you should leave your skin alone. Avoid using your normal moisturisers and cleansers, as these can hinder all the good work that the treatment is going to do. However, you should make sure the target area of skin is clean before the appointment by washing it in warm water.

On the day of your procedure, it’s also a good idea to avoid shaving and drinking alcohol.

Is there downtime after microneedling?

In the vast majority of cases there’s little to no downtime after your treatment. Most people will experience some reddening of the skin around the treated area, but this tends to subside 12-24 hours after the procedure.

To help your skin through the treatment, you should avoid a few things in the 24 hours following your treatment:

• Applying makeup
• Exposure to the sun
• Harsh cleansers and moisturisers
• Rubbing the treated area

In the week after your procedure, it’s also a good idea to avoid taking anti-inflammatory medications. Although you have to take care in the 24-48 hours after the treatment, your skin will reap the rewards of microneedling for the next two months.

How long does it take to see results from microneedling?

Many patients will see results after their first microneedling treatment. However, it could take up to two months to see (and feel) the full benefits. Most patients will need 4-6 microneedling sessions, each one spaced 4 weeks apart.

After this initial run, we generally advise our patients to have a follow-up treatment every 2 months to maintain the good results. You may need more treatments or more regular check-ups if you’re treating more serious skin conditions, such as deep-rooted wrinkles, sagging of the skin, scarring, sun damage or stretch marks.

However, if you only want to use microneedling to see general improvements to your skin’s tone and texture then 4-6 initial sessions should be plenty. We would always recommend regular maintenance treatments regardless of your initial reason for coming to the clinic. Microneedling goes deeper and does more than any over-the-counter skincare product can, and there’s no real substitute for it.

Summary

In the week before your microneedling treatment you should avoid other cosmetic procedures and harsh skin cleansers. Cleanse your skin in warm water instead. In the 48 hours after the treatment try to avoid overexposure to the sun, strong moisturisers and applying makeup. Most people will see results after their first procedure, but it could take up to two months to see the biggest changes to your skin.