At Central CosMedic, Dr Danielle Waxman offers medical-grade microneedling for patients across Havelock North, Hastings, Napier and the wider Hawke’s Bay. Microneedling uses your skin’s natural healing response to improve texture, fine lines and scarring, with little downtime.
Treatment uses a medical-grade microneedling device and can be combined with PRP for patients who want to boost their results. This page explains how microneedling works, what it can treat and what to expect.
Microneedling uses very fine needles to create thousands of tiny, controlled channels in the skin. Your skin responds as it would to any small injury, by increasing blood flow and producing new collagen and elastin to repair itself.
Over the following weeks, this new collagen helps the skin become smoother, firmer and more even. Because the channels are so small, the skin heals quickly, and results build gradually over a course of treatments.
Microneedling can be combined with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which is prepared from a small sample of your own blood. The PRP is applied to the skin during treatment so it can work through the tiny channels. You can read more about PRP on our Skin & Facial Rejuvenation page
This image shows the appearance before and immediately after Microneedling treatment. Individual results and recovery vary.
Every microneedling treatment starts with a consultation, so the treatment can be matched to your skin.
Dr Waxman talks with you about your skin concerns, your skincare routine, your medical history and any previous treatments.
She examines your skin and explains whether microneedling, microneedling with PRP or another option would suit you best.
You will hear the potential benefits, risks and side effects in plain terms, along with the costs, before you decide anything.
If you go ahead, you agree a plan together, including the number of sessions, the time between them and your aftercare.
A numbing cream is applied first to keep you comfortable. A protective hydrogel is then applied so the device glides smoothly over the skin. Treatment takes around 30 to 45 minutes, depending on whether PRP is included. You will go home with an aftercare kit.
Your skin will look pink to red straight afterwards, similar to mild sunburn, and this usually settles within a day or two. Most people have a course of three treatments around four weeks apart, with maintenance treatments as needed. Results build over the following weeks as new collagen forms, and they continue to improve with each session.
Common side effects include redness, dryness, tightness, flaking, itching and mild tenderness. These usually settle within a few days. You should avoid vigorous exercise and sun exposure for 72 hours, and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day.
Less commonly, treatment can cause infection, a flare of cold sores or changes in skin colour. Microneedling is not suitable for everyone, including people with active acne, skin infections or certain skin conditions. Dr Waxman will review your skin and health history and talk through the risks so you can make an informed decision. If you have any concerns after treatment, contact the clinic.
