SkinPen® Microneedling

Microneedling improves the appearance of acne scars and wrinkles without lasers or other abrasive treatments. At Koch & Carlisle Plastic Surgery & Spa, we offer SkinPen microneedling in West Des Moines, Iowa, for people from Ames, Ankeny, and other nearby areas looking for an alternative to more invasive skin tightening and anti-wrinkle treatments.

To learn more about SkinPen microneedling or other skin care options, please request a consultation or call our office at  (515) 277-5555. Our team of clinically licensed aestheticians looks forward to meeting with you to discuss how to achieve your cosmetic goals.

About Microneedling

The SkinPen microneedling device uses the body’s natural healing process to repair and tighten skin. Clinically proven to be safe and effective, microneedling is used to treat the following skin conditions:

• Acne scars
• Wrinkles
• Fine lines
• Burn scars

Unlike some laser skin tightening treatments, microneedling requires little downtime and can be safely used on all skin types.

Microneedling

The SkinPen microneedling device is about the size of a felt-tip marker. Sterile disposable tips that ensure safety contain an array of 11 steel microneedles. Other microneedling devices reuse the same needles, increasing the chance of contamination. During the microneedling procedure with the SkinPen, the device is moved over the skin in the treatment area, and the rapidly rotating needles create thousands of micro-punctures. Each of the tiny wounds triggers the body’s healing process, which produces new collagen to fill the micro-punctures.

We perform microneedling treatments at our surgery clinic in West Des Moines. Both the speed and puncture depth of the treatment are adjustable to enhance the results for individual patients. The number of treatments required depends on skin condition and the aggressiveness of each treatment. Most patients undergo from 4 to 6 treatments for optimal results.

Depending on the significance of your concern, we may enhance your microneedling procedure with platelet-rich plasma therapy. This unique, minimally invasive treatment uses the healing properties of your own blood platelets to regenerate collagen and support your skin. We might recommend INTRAcel RF microneedling as an alternative to the SkinPen. The INTRAcel device combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy to produce more dramatic results.

SkinPen Microneedling Cost

At our West Des Moines practice, the price of SkinPen microneedling starts at $185.

Recovery

Among the benefits of microneedling compared to other, more invasive, collagen-inducing therapies is the shorter recovery time needed. Laser skin tightening treatments typically result in significant redness and swelling that lasts up to 4 days. There is some redness after a SkinPen microneedling treatment and some swelling, but both side effects are less severe and dissipate after 2 days. Recovery following microneedling treatment is also less painful than after laser- or light-based therapy.