Microneedling Vancouver (click to see video)
In case you missed the latest anti-aging trend, microneedling or collagen induction therapy has become a pretty hot beauty treatment. It does a great job at evening out skin texture, tone and radiance. And an added bonus it actually stimulates hair growth.
Microneedling uses short, fine needles to puncture the skin. These needles range in size from .5 to 2.5 millimeters. Rest assured, the needles feel like tiny pinpricks and only go skin-deep. The pricks are used to “injure” the skin, prompting your skin to heal itself by producing elastin and collagen. It also stimulates blood flow and oxygen to the skin’s surface creating a radiant glow.
I especially like this treatment for young women who want that “healthy glow” because it’s a natural way to stimulate collagen production and blood flow to the face. Poking tiny holes in the skin is akin to aerating your lawn in the spring. Both stimulate growth and regeneration.
Yes, it stings. Numbing cream is applied prior to treatment to lessen the pain and it’s effective. Afterwards you look like you fell asleep in Cabo while drinking a bottle of tequila. Your skin is just that red. But applying lots of hyaluronic acid post treatment and keeping the skin well hydrated eases the stinging and itchiness. The results are pretty immediate usually within 24-48 hours after treatment.
More recently PRP or Vampire Microneedling has caught on.
A vampire facial is a combination of microneedling and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) using the patient’s plasma. The first step is the initial blood draw, which is relatively painless. The blood is then placed in a centrifuge to separate the plasma and platelets from the red blood cells. It is then re-applied topically to theskin after microneedling where it is re-absorbed.
PRP is used because it has a concentrate of platelet-rich plasma protein produced from blood. It has a large concentration of growth factors, helping tissue to heal and repair, treating all types of skin issues.
The question is – is the plasma rich serum better than regular beauty serums and if yes, how much should a patient expect to pay for this procedure?
My curiosity was piqued when I was treating a patient who said she paid $700 for microneedling. It was offered by a lady practising out of her home. I don’t know what this lady’s qualifications were, but I do know no one should be paying $700 for a 60-minute microneedling treatment. But see here’s the thing, women will pay dearly if they think a beauty treatment is going to work.
My research turned up the following here in Vancouver.
- A lot of doctors have recently jumped on the cosmetic bandwagon and are offering Botox and microneedling. Expect to pay more at these clinics anywhere from $375 – $599 per treatment. It’s recommended you do about four treatments.
- Skin and Spa clinics will charge anywhere from $280 – $379.
- Microneedling with PRP prices start at $600 and go up to $1200. Why so much? Because the equipment costs a lot of money over $10,000 for the units. The practitioners are well educated – medical doctors, naturopaths anyone who is licensed to draw blood and work with needles.
The bottom line is this when it comes to cosmetic acupuncture do your homework and read the client reviews. Expect to pay more if a medical doctor is providing the service.
If microneedling is being offered by a licensed acupuncturist, you can claim a portion of the treatment on your extended benefits, usually up to $100 depending on your healthcare plan.
Microneedling is a form of acupuncture. I always use acupuncture to balance the body and stimulate blood flow and regeneration. Patients leave feeling really relaxed which is quite remarkable when you consider they just had hundreds of tiny needles inserted into their face. My fee for a sixty-minute treatment which includes microneedling and LED Red Light Therapy is $260. And yes, if you have acupuncture benefits a portion can be claimed.
