Erase The Past – How Microneedling For Scars Fades Surgical Marks

Are you tired of living with surgical scars that act as a lasting reminder of a past injury or medical procedure? While scars are a natural part of healing, they can give your confidence a knock, particularly when they’re visible to other people. Fortunately, modern cosmetic procedures like microneedling can help fade the appearance of scars and restore smooth, healthier-looking skin. Continue reading to learn how microneedling works for scars and why it’s a perfect solution for those looking to ‘erase the past’ of surgical scars. 

What is microneedling?

Microneedling is a minimally invasive treatment that utilizes a ‘pen’ containing thin needles to make tiny punctures in the top layer of the skin to create a controlled skin injury. The damage causes the body to respond by triggering a healing process enabling it to produce more elastin and collagen. It’s these proteins that help keep your skin smooth and firm. 

While the treatment was originally developed to rejuvenate the skin, it’s increasingly used for a variety of skin issues, including surgical scars, alopecia, acne scars and stretch marks. Microneedling is particularly effective for surgical scars because it breaks down the scar tissue encouraging new healthy skin cells to grow. 

Why treat scars?

Scarring isn’t just a mark on the body, it’s an ongoing reminder for many people of an injury or medical procedure that affected them both physically and emotionally. Although scars are a testament to the body’s ability to heal itself, they can often interfere with clothing, and depending on their location, cause discomfort when you move. Microneedling can change the appearance of a scar’s texture, size and color, restoring a person’s confidence and easing discomfort.

So how does it work?

As we mentioned earlier, your aesthetician will use a hand-held device containing tiny needles to create small, controlled injuries to the skin that trigger an inflammatory response from the body.  

This action leads to the release of growth factors, promoting the development of fresh collagen and elastin within the papillary dermis, while also encouraging the formation of new blood vessels. A study of the cells seen under a microscope of skin treated with 4 microneedling sessions spaced 1 month apart showed a 400% increase in collagen and elastin production six months postoperatively. The combination of neovascularization and neocollagenesis resulted in noticeable improvements to the scar.

Benefits of microneedling for treating scars

Enhanced collagen production – One of the primary ways microneedling helps reduce scars is the promotion of collagen, a vital protein essential to the skin’s firmness and elasticity.  As the micro injuries caused during the microneedling process are healed by the body new collagen is produced and over time smoother, more evenly toned skin emerges. 

Improved skin texture – Microneedling works by breaking down the dense, fibrous tissue commonly found in scars, including hypertrophic or keloid scars. With repeated sessions, this process softens the scar tissue, leading to a smoother texture and reducing the tightness associated with the scar.

Better absorption of topical creams - Microneedling forms small channels in the skin, greatly improving the absorption of topical treatments. As a result, when your clinician applies specialized products after the procedure, they can penetrate deeper layers of the skin, enhancing their effectiveness.

Reduced hyperpigmentation: In cases of scars with hyperpigmentation, microneedling can assist by distributing melanin more evenly across the skin. This helps diminish the darkened appearance of the scar over time.

Affordable and effective – Microneedling is relatively affordable when compared to other cosmetic procedures and offers amazing results for many skin concerns, including surgical and acne scars.

Microneedling Recovery and Risks

Microneedling is generally safe when performed by trained professionals, but there are some risks and side effects to be aware of:

Skin irritation and redness: Mild irritation, redness, and swelling are normal post-treatment and typically subside in a few days, though they may be more intense with deeper treatments.

Pain and discomfort: Some patients may feel mild discomfort during the procedure, but topical anesthetics can help minimize this.

Skin sensitivity: Increased sun sensitivity is common. Use sunscreen and avoid sun exposure post-treatment to prevent hyperpigmentation.

Bruising and swelling: Bruising and swelling may occur, particularly in those with sensitive skin, but usually resolves within a week.

Peeling and dryness: Skin peeling and dryness may occur as part of the healing process but typically clear up in a few days.

Infection risk: Tiny skin channels close quickly, but proper aftercare is crucial to avoid infection, especially for those with weakened immune systems.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH): Darker skin tones may be at risk for PIH. Proper aftercare and sun protection reduce this risk.

Allergic reactions: Some may react to topical creams or serums, so inform your practitioner of any allergies.

Unpredictable results: Microneedling results vary, and some scars or skin conditions may not respond as well as expected.

Is microneedling right for you?

If you’re unhappy with the visibility of a surgical scar and are exploring your options, microneedling might be the right solution for you. A large prospective study of microneedling for scars involving 120 patients with a variety of scars in different areas of their bodies showed an improvement of at least 50% over an average of 2.5 treatments. More than eighty percent of patients saw an improvement of between 50-75% and 65% of those patients demonstrated an improvement that exceeded 75%.

To find out if microneedling is right for you, why not schedule a consultation with Gilded Leaf MedSpa? Our team is highly experienced in providing SkinPen microneedling treatments and can create a personalized plan to help you achieve the best results. Call us today at 314 936 3621 or use our online booking system.