Microneedling with a Plastic Surgeon vs. an Aesthetician”

Microneedling procedures continue to grow in popularity. Furthermore, the category has expanded to include a range of options that combine microneedling with radiofrequency (RF) energy. The benefits are far reaching. Patients like the fact that this is a non-surgical procedure that can deliver noticeable improvement in both skin tone and texture. The former is somewhat like finding the holy grail. Lifting skin and tissues without performing a facelift or neck lift has long been elusive. But at Boston Center for Plastic Surgery (BCFPS), we pride ourselves on our unique ability to deliver surgical like results with zero incisions. While the internet has considerable information on microneedling, many potential patients are still confused about microneedling with a plastic surgeon vs. microneedling with an aesthetician. It’s important to understand the difference so that you can decide if the benefits of seeing a plastic surgeon for your micorneedling procedure are worth it for you.

Benefit of a Plastic Surgeon

Personally, I think that one of the biggest benefits of seeing a plastic surgeon for improving the look of your face and/or neck is that we offer the full spectrum of rejuvenation options from non-surgical, to minimally invasive, to surgical. When you come in for your initial consultation, we will spend a lot of time talking about what bothers you about your appearance. I will also conduct an in-depth physical exam to assess your:

• Skin texture
  
• Degree of ptosis or sagging in the tissue
• Volume loss
  
• Muscle laxity, if any

A procedure will not make you happy if it is not the right one to deliver your desired outcome. However, if you go to a med-spa that only offers non-surgical options, for example, then that is what you’ll be told you need even if it’s not really the best choice. At BCFPS, we pride ourselves on being very honest about what a procedure can and cannot achieve on your unique anatomy. This may mean surgery. Some patients, however, do not want an incision no matter what and are willing to accept the compromise in terms of their outcome. But one of the foundations of a happy result is realistic expectations, and you can only have the latter if you have all the facts.

Microneedling with a Plastic Surgeon in Boston

The benefit of seeing a plastic surgeon for a microneedling procedure is that I can use much longer needles. The advantage of this is that they penetrate deeper into your dermis, inducing collagen and elastin production in the underlying tissues as well as the surface of your skin. This can produce a much more dramatic result. Furthermore, as a surgeon, I am able to combine microneedling with other procedures such as radiofrequency (RF). As one who’s had the privilege of introducing microneedling, then known as Percutaneous Collagen Induction Therapy, to the United States, I have had a front row seat to its evolution. I can say with certainty that a procedure such as Profound®, that combines longer needles and RF energy, may produce a serious improvement in a single session. Furthermore, my considerable experience with this cutting-edge treatment allows me to customize the exact right plan for your needs.

Aestheticians Can Perform Certain Microneedling Procedures

The potential downsides of having a more intense microneedling treatment with a plastic surgeon is:

• Cost
  
• Longer downtime

A Profound® procedure, for example, will cost more than an aesthetician delivered treatment with a SkinPen®. But the latter is not going to deliver as “wow” of a result and will require multiple sessions. All of these microneedling cost considerations will be discussed with you in detail during your initial meeting. Not every patient needs a more intense treatment, however. For this reason, our qualified team of aestheticians can perform a range of microneedling procedures such as:

• SkinPen®
  
• DermaRoller®
• MatrixRF®

While the SkinPen® is sometimes described as the microneedling equivalent of a facial, the DermaRoller® is a procedure that I use quite often. But, as mentioned, I can utilize much longer needles than those used by our aestheticians. The nice thing about visiting our Boston area offices for your microneedling needs is that we are one stop shopping. A patient may start with a more mellow aesthetician administered microneedling procedure in her 20’s or 30’s to improve skin texture and then move on to a more robust procedure with myself to address the deeper wrinkles and sagging skin that inevitably develop with age.

To find out more about microneedling, or any other surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Leonard Miller at the Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, contact us today or call (617) 402-2768 to schedule a consultation at his Boston or Chetsnut Hill offices.