What is Microneedling and Nanoneedling?

Microneedling is the insertion of very fine short needles that penetrate the skin to trigger the body’s natural ability to rejuvenate and repair tissue.

Using a microneedling pen or dermaroller, these tiny needles create controlled micro-injuries in the skin’s surface, which stimulate the body’s natural healing process.

This healing process leads to an increase in collagen production and elastin, the key building blocks of firm, smooth, and youthful-looking skin. As a result, microneedling improves skin texture, tone, and elasticity over time. It also enhances the absorption of serums and active ingredients applied during or immediately after the procedure.

Microneedling is suitable for most skin types and can be safely performed on the face, neck, décolletage, and even certain areas of the scalp. It’s a popular option for those seeking a non-invasive, natural approach to enhance skin care and overall skin quality with minimal downtime.

What Does Microneedling Do?

Microneedling stimulates the body to produce collagen. Depending on the depth of the needle penetration, microneedling can offer skin rejuvenation levels from the simple enhancement of product absorption to the clinical treatment of scars and wrinkles.

What Does Microneedling Treat?

Microneedling addresses acne scars, fine lines and wrinkles, skin laxity, large pores, melasma, lip wrinkles, age spots, stretch marks, and hair restoration, as well as areas that are hard to treat with facial acupuncture such as crow’s feet.

What Are the Benefits of Microneedling?

Microneedling is a low-risk, minimally invasive, effective treatment. The recovery time after treatments is typically 12-24 hours, sometimes even a few hours.

Treatments are comfortable with minimal pain, and results can last up to 5 years.

How Does Microneedling Work?

The needles create tiny micro-channels on the surface of the skin (epidermis). The micro-channels stimulate a healing response in the skin, which increases production of both collagen and elastin. The increase of collagen and elastin causes the skin to become firmer, reduces scars gradually, and smooths wrinkles over time.

1. Zao Lei (algae): Clears melanin pigmentation from the skin. Gets rid of age spots and melasma. Improves luminosity and decreases visibility of hyperpigmented areas to balance out the skin tone.
2. Hai Zao (seaweed): Helps clear bilirubin and fluid buildup around the eyes. Gets rid of eye bags, dark circles & puffiness.
3. Ping Guo (apple stem cells): Promotes the reproduction of facial cells under the epidermis.
4. Tian Men Dong (formulated asparagus tuber): Helps cells regain their ability to grow and divide. Best for mature, older, or thin skin.
5. Fu Ling (poria cocos): Natural collagen and elastin builder. Best for damp, acne-prone, greasy skin and older thinning skin.
6. Xiang Gu (lentinus edodes extract or shiitake mushroom extract): Improves the structure, organization, and quality of collagen, all of which are associated with a firmer, smoother complexion.
7. Ji Xue Cao (formulated asiatic pennywort herb): Helps speed up the facial repair process post-microneedling.

Microneedling is most effective when performed as a series of treatments rather than a one-time procedure. Here’s what to expect in terms of session frequency and results:

• Recommended number of sessions: Most people see the best results with 4–6 monthly microneedling sessions, depending on skin concerns and individual response to treatment.
• When to expect results: Subtle improvements often begin to appear within 2 weeks after the first session, but results are cumulative—each treatment builds on the progress of the previous one.
• Boosting progress with nanoneedling: To accelerate outcomes, nanoneedling can be done between microneedling sessions. It’s a gentler, no-downtime option that enhances absorption of serums and supports faster skin renewal.

Both microneedling and facial acupuncture are based on the Traditional Chinese medicine principles of moving qi, blood, and engendering flesh to increase collagen and elastin production. Microneedling is better at treating wrinkles, age spots, scars, skin tone, and acne. Results are visible days after the treatment and last 3-5 years!!! Microneedling increases serum absorption by 3000%. The serums used during microneedling treatments use apple stem cells and other herbs inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Facial acupuncture is better at lifting, firming, and tightening the skin. It is best for treating sagging neck, cheeks, or eyelids. By addressing the body as a whole, facial acupuncture treats the constitutional causes of aging at the source. On average, results are noticeable after 12-24 treatments.

Treatment includes microneedling on the face and neck paired with a Chinese herbal facial serum, LED light, and full-body acupuncture.

Nanoneedling uses the same oscillating motion as microneedling to treat the skin, but the cartridge encompasses 81 silicone tips.

These microscopic hair-like cones separate the cells within the epidermis to allow active products to be pushed into the skin. Nanoneedling only affects the epidermis, treating within the upper 0.15 mm of the skin. The benefits of nanoneedling with serum infusion include pigmentation reduction, increased cell turnover, skin care support, enhanced ability to rejuvenate the skin, and an immediate glow with no downtime. This treatment can be done weekly to exfoliate the skin.

Microneedling is best for targeting deeper wrinkles, scarring, and pigmentation, whereas nanoneedling allows for skincare products to be absorbed better and will give you more of an instant glow.

What Does Nanoneedling Do?

Nanoneedling enhances the skin’s ability to absorb active ingredients by creating micro-channels on the skin’s surface without actually puncturing it. These channels allow nutrients and serums to reach deeper layers of the epidermis, boosting hydration, improving tone, and stimulating mild collagen production.

The result is a brighter, smoother complexion with enhanced product efficacy and improved overall skin care performance. It’s especially useful in maintaining skin health between microneedling treatments or prepping the skin before an event.

What Does Nanoneedling Treat?

Nanoneedling effectively addresses several surface-level skin concerns, including:

• Dullness and uneven skin tone
• Mild hyperpigmentation and dark spots
• Dry or dehydrated skin
• Deep wrinkles
• Mild textural irregularities
• Scarring
• Lack of radiance or “tired-looking” skin

Because nanoneedling doesn’t penetrate the skin beyond the outermost layer, it’s safe for use around delicate areas like the lips and eyes, and suitable for sensitive or reactive skin types.

What Are the Benefits of Nanoneedling?

• Non-invasive and pain-free with no downtime
• Can be performed weekly for ongoing rejuvenation
• Increases cell turnover and boosts skin hydration 
• Improves absorption of serums by up to 97%
• Creates an instant glow for a refreshed, radiant appearance
• Supports natural collagen production over time
• Safe for all skin types, including sensitive skin
• Nanoneedling is a great maintenance treatment and is often used between microneedling sessions to prolong results and keep the skin looking its best.

How Does Nanoneedling Work?

Nanoneedling uses an oscillating device fitted with soft, cone-shaped silicone tips that gently separate cells in the stratum corneum without puncturing the skin. This creates temporary micro-channels that enhance the skin’s permeability, allowing potent serums and nutrients to reach deeper into the epidermis.

Although it doesn’t reach the dermis, the gentle stimulation still activates skin renewal processes such as increased cell turnover and mild collagen production, helping to rejuvenate the skin over time with continued use.

How do I prepare for a session?

Avoid taking anti-inflammatory medication, drinking alcohol, or taking fish oil tablets for 3 days before your microneedling treatment. This will help minimize bleeding.

What should you expect after a session?

• You will be red and peel/flake for 8-24 hours.
• You may soothe your skin with aloe.
• You may use hyaluronic acid when you feel dry and before you go to bed
• Avoid using makeup.
• No exercise because sweat can irritate the face.
• Avoid sun exposure.
• Do not use facial soap to wash your face. Please only use warm water.
• You may return to your regular facial routine 24 hours after your first session. Facial products have a much higher absorption rate the week after microneedling.

Who should avoid microneedling?

• Patients on blood thinners.
• Patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation.
• Patients with moderate to severe skin conditions such as psoriasis, rosacea, eczema or active acne or infection, warts, or herpes.
• Patients with severe keloids.
• Patients that are pregnant.