Microchanneling (also known as Collagen Induction Therapy and Microneedling) is the perfect complement to cosmetic acupuncture for facial rejuvenation. This innovative treatment improves certain conditions and signs of aging in the skin with minimal down-time, encouraging collagen and elastin to firm and brighten.Â
Here's what you need to know!
The Road Process
Our comprehensive session at The Road incorporates this treatment into a healing acupuncture session. This is the Signature Experience you have come to rely on for youthful skin, with microchanneling expertly blended in. (see menu online for non-TCM related options).
Benefits can include:
Smoothing skin texture
Reducing fine lines, wrinkles
Improves dullness, dryness
Improving acne or other scarring
Enhancing effectiveness of exosome and other actives
Reducing occurence of hyperpigmentation
Firming slack skin
Minimize pores
Improves stretch marks
Results:
Some visible after one session
Maximum improvement over 4 to 6 montly sessions
Results last up to 5 years
Can be enhanced with regular nanoneedling (more shallow, safe for eye/lip areas)
Long lasting, non-invasive
What is it?
Microneedling/Microchanneling creates tiny micro-channels on the surface of the skin (epidermis).
The micro-channels stimulate a healing response in the skin that increases production of both collagen and elastin. Having more collagen and elastin causes the skin to become firmer, reduces scars gradually, and smooths wrinkles over time. Concerns such as loose, saggy skin, cellulite, and fine lines can be addressed with this collagen induction therapy.
How it works
Microneedling stimulates the body’s own collagen production and increases the absorption of any products applied to the skin. Having more collagen and elastin causes the skin to become firmer, reduces scars gradually, and smooths wrinkles over time. Collagen and elastin hold your skin up and keep it looking thick, firm, and elastic. As we age, our skin gets drier, thinner, weaker, and less elastic. The turnover rate of skin cells slows, so older skin can have discoloration and look dull.
As the microneedles penetrate the skin causing micro-wounds, they trigger an intense inflammatory reaction that begins a cascade of subsequent reactions. The immune system is stimulated, and the body’s wound-healing mechanisms are triggered. The skin’s nerve receptors and defense mechanisms sense these fine needle intrusions as a specific type of injury and heals accordingly. The wound repair process consists of these three phases:
• Phase 1, Inflammation: Piercing the skin triggers your immune system to cleanse the wound, remove debris, increase blood flow, and begin to create new tissue.
• Phase 2, Proliferation: The wound is rebuilt with new granulation cells that are
part of the extracellular matrix. Additionally, a new network of blood vessels develops.
Phase 3, Remodeling: The wound is replaced with new dermal tissues and blood vessels.
During the healing process, skin cells (within a 1- to 2-mm radius around the pricking channel) release growth signals to undifferentiated cells, known as skin stem cells. These signals also stimulate rapid growth of new fibroblasts and other wound-repairing cells. Many cell types, including new fibroblasts, rush to close the wound by migrating to the point of intrusion. These new fibroblasts then transform into collagen fibers that integrate with existing collagen in the upper dermis. The new collagen fibers thicken the skin, fill in wrinkles, and encourage growth of healthy new skin cells.
Nanoneedling is smaller pins, closer together, that do not penetrate as deeply. This technique is perfect for the delicate eye area, dry lips, and other sensitive areas. This can be done between the monthly microsessions as needed, or added on to the microchanneling session.
Why do I like it?
It treats the superficial level of the skin without heating or compromising the barrier.
It maintains a natural appearance of the skin, avoiding potential for deformation.
Does not cause long term damage to the skin.
Can be as effective as ablative treatments (laser resurfacing, IPL, CO2) in stimulating elastin and collagen.
Perfect for enhancing collagen stimulation and product absorption (choose your actives with this in mind).
Is it safe?
During the microneedling procedure, tissue damage is unlikely because the needles are very fine and thin. In fact, skin integrity remains intact, even though the skin reacts as if it had been injured. The tiny wounds caused by the microneedles are repaired and close very quickly. No tissue lesions can be detected, and infections are rare.
Keratinocytes, constituting 90% of cells in the epidermis, produce keratin, a key protein. In the past, they received little attention in cosmetic treatments and were often damaged during ablative procedures like microdermabrasion. Most facial rejuvenation approaches focused on targeting fibroblasts in the dermis. However, recent scientific developments are reevaluating
this perspective, with a new understanding that keratinocytes play a crucial role not only in thickening the epidermis but in communicating with fibroblasts, contributing to healthy collagen production.
Microneedling has emerged as a technique that promotes the proliferation of keratinocytes, leading to epidermal thickening and enhancing their communication with fibroblasts for optimal collagen synthesis. Importantly, microneedling achieves direct access to fibroblasts in the dermis while minimizing damage to keratinocytes in the epidermis. This procedure is particularly effective in accessing the dermal layer without compromising the integrity of the epidermal keratinocytes.
In terms of skin layers, the uppermost stratum is the stratum corneum, which is affected during nano-needling. For reference, the epidermis is around 0.1 to 0.15 mm thick. At approximately 0.15 mm deep within the skin is the stratum basale layer where new skin cells are produced through mitosis. This layer contains stem cells that continuously generate keratinocytes, the building blocks of the epidermis. Furthermore, at approximately 0.5 mm deep is the dermis, where minor trauma triggers fibroblasts to induce collagen production as part of the wound-healing process.
Yes or No:
Stretch marks, yes
Hair thinning, yes! This is a scalp session (book as an add-on)
Rosacea, yes, except for pustular rosacea. Must have a consultation to approve.
No: active rosacea, open sores, wounds, eczema/psoriasis, blood thinners, pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Acne
Acne scars, yes
Overactive sebum, yes
Clogged pores, yes
Product penetration, yes
Collagen, yes
Skin texture, yes
Active pustules, cysts, no
Scar tissue, yes
Keloids, no
Contraindications
Pregnancy
Blood thinners
Cancer therapies/active cancer diagnosis
Skin sensitivity (ask)
Skin conditions
psoriasis, rosacea, eczema, active acne, infection, sunburn, warts, herpes
Other recent procedures - laser, peels
Meds: anti-inflammatory, drinking alcohol, fish oil
If you are not sure, let's have a consultation before you sign up! If you sign up for this session and it is not appropriate, we will adjust to an appropriate session and adjust the price accordingly.
See the benefits of adding the home care of VENN Skincare Exosomes in the next blog.
Recommended monthly (allowing the skin to heal and repair, building collagen), at least 4 sessions. Some might prefer 2 more sessions (more sun damaged skin, crepe-y skin). Results are thought to last up to 5 years. My session is comprehensive for acupuncture, microcurrent, red light therapy in line with my Signature Experience,. I recommend this combination for best results! Other options are available that exclude Chinese medicine consideration (acupuncture).
See you soon,
Brooke