As the relaxing, sunny, long summer days come to an end you may find that you're transitioning into fall with beautiful sun-kissed skin that is perfectly hydrated without any sun spots, lines or wrinkles. And if so, I salute you! However, if you're over the age of 30 (sigh) and living amidst the chaos of 2020, your skin (like your patience) has been put to the test! Either way, keep reading. If your skin is already fabulous, great. Read on for great tips on how to keep it that way. If your skin is struggling or, perhaps, changing and no longer responding to the same old routine, you'll want to know these scientifically proven ways to get your skin looking and feeling GREAT!
My favorite treatment to recommend is microneedling...AKA Collagen Induction Therapy. Say that out loud and think about it. Collagen. Induction. Therapy. Collagen is an essential protein that helps keep the skin looking youthful, with a firm, smooth, and stretchy texture. After the age of 25, you lose about 1% of your collagen per year. WHAT??? It's sad, but true. What can you do to help your body keep making it? MICRONEEDLING!!
It is safe for all skin types (Fitzpatrick skin types I-VI) and I haven't met a client yet that wouldn't benefit from it. That doesn't mean I think my clients have terrible skin. It means that everyone would benefit from kickstarting their skin to produce more collagen! Add in PRF (platelet rich fibrin) and it becomes a game changer!
What is Microneedling?
Microneedling is a clinically proven, non-ablative skin rejuvenation treatment that allows for treatment to deeper parts of the skin without removing or damaging the top layers. Microneedling provides unparalleled collagen induction to help re-grow, rejuvenate and repair your skin.
How does it work?
Microneedling utilizes the skin's own self-repair process by creating thousands of precise micro channels under the top layer of the skin. These controlled micro injuries trigger new collagen and tissue fibers to the treated area, as well as directing new blood flow to the skin. Collagen is an essential protein that helps keep the skin looking youthful, with a firm, smooth, and stretchy texture. In addition, microneedling allows for temporary penetration of topical treatments to the lower layers of the skin where they normally have difficulty penetrating. The result of the treatment is the filling in of wrinkles, fine lines and scarring without damaging the top layer of the skin.
The procedure typically takes 30-45 minutes depending on the size of the area treated, number of areas and the severity of damage on the skin. After one treatment, patients see marked improvement in scars, wrinkles, skin discoloration, stretch marks, or large pores. More importantly, with the SkinPen microneedle, there is little or no downtime following the procedure.
Types of Microneedling
There are two types of microneedling, cosmetic needling and medical needling. Cosmetic needling can be done at home using a store bought device or roller. Cosmetic needling uses short needles (less than .5 mm long) to fractionally stimulate the epidermis and upper-dermis, your skin’s outer layers.
Medical needling uses longer needles (.5 mm and longer) to stimulate the dermis, your skin’s deeper layers. The longer needles (up to 2.5 mm) reach the deep dermis, making it possible to treat acne and other scars by breaking up scar tissue and inducing skin remodeling. Medical needling is overseen by a licensed practitioner and offers minimal risk of infection and scarring when performed properly.
What is different about the SkinPen™?
SkinPen™ microneedling device creates a series of hundreds of vertical microscopic channels in the dermis using straight needles of variable depth (0.25 to 2.5 mm) to penetrate at a 90º angle. The SkinPen Advanced Microneedle Cartridge is a single-use disposable tip that features a patented Bio-Sleeve technology to prevent cross-contamination, an exhaust port to prevent suction and reduce risk of broken capillaries, and 12 sterile 32-gauge medical-grade steel needles.
What is Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF)?
At Vita Aesthetics, we are excited to offer the most advanced, effective options to our clients. Blood concentrates have become a very popular part of aesthetics since it was scientifically proven that using your own blood would help regenerate skin, restoring a fresher and smoother overall appearance. You may have heard of the traditional concentrate known as PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma). Well, PRF is a second-generation version of it. PRF is made up of smart blood concentrates including platelets, fibrin, growth factors, leukocytes and mesenchymal stem cells.
How is PRF different from PRP?
Although there are some basic similarities between PRP and PRF, it is the differences between these two products that makes PRF stand out as a superior treatment option. Below are important points to note when considering treatment with either PRP or PRF. PRF is an effective treatment option for skin rejuvenation with longer lasting results than PRP.
Both require blood to be taken from the client. However, PRP requires a larger sample to be drawn than PRF.
Platelet Rich Plasma is collected in tubes containing an anticoagulant which prevents clotting of the blood.
PRF is 100% natural with no additives in the tube. Without anticoagulant, the natural clotting cascade can start, which creates a spongy fibrin matrix that activates the platelets and allows for a slow release of growth factors that starts the tissue healing process.
Platelet Rich Plasma releases its growth factors immediately and only for a few minutes after treatment.
PRF has a constant, slow release of growth factors over 10-14 days which promotes collagen production, and accelerates tissue healing and the skin's regeneration process.
PRF contains leukocytes and stem cells, which are NOT found in PRP.
Platelet Rich Plasma is spun at a faster speed which creates very distinct layers as the heavier contents fall to the bottom of the tube, leaving the platelets at the top.
PRF is spun at a slower speed which allows the stem cells and leukocytes to remain within the platelet level and causes less trauma to the individual cell. The slower spin speed also contributes to a higher concentration of platelets within the final product.
PRF contains fibrin that is dense in platelets held in place by a fibrin mesh which acts as a scaffolding for the new collagen formation.
PRF Injections
Collagen is the skins supportive structure that, unfortunately, diminishes with age. PRF injections for people who want to rejuvenate and refresh their look. PRF can be injected in the same areas as most dermal fillers. It improves by correcting some of the most common problems:
˚ Tear troughs
˚ Thin lips
˚ Sunken, hollow cheeks
˚ Marionette lines
˚ Under-eye dark circles
˚ Lip lines
˚ Smile lines
Depending on your condition and what you want to achieve, PRF injections can be combined with some dermal fillers for smooth, subtle results. PRF injections can also be used alone.
For most people, more than one injection session is recommended. In fact, 3-5 treatments may be necessary to get the desired result. These sessions will be spaced about one month apart.
Why PRF? Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) is a 100% natural way to help rejuvenate the appearance of skin and provide volume to your face by using a sample of your own blood.
How do you get the PRF?
PRF is obtained by drawing a sample of your blood in the office and then using a centrifuge machine to separate the fibrin matrix complex from the red blood cells. The PRF is then used topically during a microneedling procedure or for facial injections
PRF is used to accelerate the wound healing process and reduces scarring. PRF is used alone or in combination with microneedling to treat:
Hair loss
Dark circles
Acne scarring
Wrinkles and fine lines
Tear throughs and deep folds
Brown spots (face, neck, décolleté)
Volume loss and symmetry adjustment
Microneedling + PRF
Using PRF with microneedling allows for the penetration and absorption of the PRF into deeper layers of the skin. Using the micro channels created by the SkinPen, the PRF can have maximum effect on the skin causing an increased production of collagen, activating platelets and growth factors, and enhance repair of the skin creating an overall improvement in skin hydration, texture and tone.