A Recipe for Smooth, Plump, and Bright Skin – Microneedling and Fractional CO2 Laser with a Little Pinch of Stem Cells and Growth Factors
Smooth texture, even skin tone and plenty of collagen – that’s the dream, but can it be the reality? Perfection is rarely obtainable but dramatic improvements in skin texture, tone and firmness are! With the expanding choices of skin care treatments and the use of combination therapies, you can get improvement in your skin and maintain it with minimal effort.
Microneedling and fractional CO2 are a great combination because they work in similar ways and will improve results over either therapy alone. One of the main benefits of microneedling is its ability to stimulate the growth of collagen and elastin. It is a powerful way to prevent the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with minimal downtown. Microneedling creates tiny microchannels in the skin which activates the skin’s natural wound healing process. There is no heat used with this treatment, so it can be used for all skin tones, light or dark.
Fractional CO2 lasers use a combination of heat and the creation of microchannels to induce the growth of collagen and elastin. The results are more intense than that seen with microneedling and therefore more downtime. However fractional CO2 is a dramatic improvement over older traditional laser resurfacing therapies that required as much as 4 weeks of healing time in addition to months of redness. With fractional CO2 treatments, there is noticeable redness and swelling for about 48 hours. The skin may appear pink for a week or so after treatment. Dryness can be seen with both microneedling and fractional CO2 laser treatments but it easily remedied with moisturizers.
Microneedling and fractional CO2 laser therapy will minimize fine lines and even out differences in skin tone whether due to scarring or sun damage. They break up scar tissue and improve the appearance of scars from acne or other skin trauma. Both treatments improve blood flow and tissue rebuilding by allowing the formation of new collagen and blood vessels. Microneedling can be used before or after fractional CO2 lasers to provide continued collagen and elastin stimulation. Microneedling can be done any season of the year, making it a great to use throughout the summer months.
Stem cells are frequently used after microneedling and CO2 laser to improve healing time and results. Stem cells are the building blocks of your skin and promote ‘skin-fitness’. They have the unique ability to replace damaged and diseased cells. However, with age, our stem cells lose their potency and the skin isn’t able to repair itself as readily. Stem cells enhancing serums provide the extra “battery juice” our skin cells need to function efficiently. Day after day, stem cells keep our skin and actually every cell in our body running like a well-tuned engine. But remember, stem cells function best in a healthy environment. This environment is a direct result of our lifestyle choices. Proper diet, exercise, stress reduction and nutritional supplementation allow our stem cells to provide the anti-aging effects that keep us looking and feeling our best.
PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, is an add on therapy for microneedling and fractional CO2 laser treatments. PRP significantly improves results because it is loaded with growth factors and cytokines that act as fertilizer for the collagen and elastin. PRP will also speed healing along with stem cells. PRP is completely natural and is obtained by collecting blood which is then centrifuged, removing all components of the blood except for the PRP layer. This PRP layer contains a variety of growth factors like platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor. These growth factors regulate and induce cell migration, attachment and proliferation. They will speed healing and enhance results of microneedling and fractional CO2.
Both microneedling and fractional CO2 treatments can be tailored, with adjustments to the depth of penetration and intensity being made as needed. Typically these treatments will be done every 4-5 weeks. Fractional CO2 may only be done once or twice, while microneedling usually requires a series of 3 to 6 treatments. Remember, collagen and tissue repair takes time. Results will be visible about 5 to 8 weeks after treatment. Stem cells and PRP are like adding spice and flavor to the recipe! They add another level of stimulation to the skin, speeding up the repair process and maximizing results. Although fractional CO2 has a few days of downtime, both CO2 and microneedling are quick and easy skin care therapies to improve skin tone, fade fine lines, sun damage and scarring.
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