Frequently Asked Questions:

Q:  What is microchanneling?
A:  Microchanneling is a noninvasive procedure designed to stimulate your body’s own natural ability to generate collagen, elastin, and other building blocks of healthy skin. By stimulating the outermost layers of the skin, microchanneling can help your body start this process without penetrating into living tissue.

Q:  How long should I wait in between treatments?
A:  Leave at least 3-4 weeks in between treatments.Treatments for hair regrowth should be performed every 2 weeks for at least 3 treatments but 5 are recommended.

Q:  Does it hurt?
A:  With minimal physical discomfort, most clients are able to do the procedure without numbing cream and without any noticeable pain. There is no lingering discomfort, and we have a number of strategies we employ to minimize discomfort during treatment. Post-procedure, most people report a “tight” feeling in their skin.

Q:  How many treatments should I get?
A:  Number of treatments range greatly depending on what we are treating. For light anti-aging treatments, 1-2 treatments may be sufficient. For deeper wrinkles and acne scarring, 4-6 treatments may be required to achieve desired results. There is no limit to the number of treatments that one can receive as long as adequate time passes in between each treatment.

Q: What can I expect after the treatment?

• Right after microchanneling, you can expect your skin to look pink or red. The degree of redness can vary based on a person’s natural response to treatment.

• You can expect mild swelling and a tight, warm sensation similar to a mild sunburn that may last 4-24 hours.

• Mild skin sloughing or flaking may occur for a few days after treatment.

• Trans-Epidermal Water Loss (dehydration) is a common temporary side effect and could leave you feeling dry throughout the first week.

• Pinpoint marks may be visible on the skin, these generally look like tiny flecks of redness and may last anywhere from 4-72 hours.

Q:  What will microchanneling improve the appearance of?
A:  Fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, acne scarring, loose skin, stretch marks, hair loss, and rosacea are all conditions that microchanneling can improve.

Q:  How long is the downtime?
A:  As little as 90 minutes. After microchanneling treatment, wait a minimum of 90 minutes before applying anything else to the skin including sunscreen, makeup, moisturizer, and anything apart from the remainder of the vial of microchanneling solution. Typically it then takes between 4 to 72 hours for all redness to disappear. 90 minutes after treatment, patients can apply moisturizers.

Q:  Who can do the treatment?
A:  As Procell microchanneling treatments are minimally invasive, they are also safe for all skin types. Whether you are fair-skinned or dark, and even if you experience chronic breakouts, properly conducted microchanneling treatments will not result in hyperpigmentation, keloid scars, or other lasting negative side effects.

Q:  How long before I can expect to see results?
A:  You may notice an improvement in the quality and appearance of your skin within the first 24 hours! After 2-3 treatments skin thickening and improvement of the cellular matrix will produce more consistent and noticeable improvement. And 6 or more treatments may be recommended for laxity and wrinkles. For hair regrowth some reactivation typically appears within the first 2 weeks, with noticeable improvement after about 5 weeks.

Q:  Are there any contraindications?
A:  While microchanneling treatments are safe and effective for most people, there are some people who will not be good candidates for these types of treatments. Here is a general contraindication list that should be considered by anyone who is thinking of undergoing microchanneling:

• Pregnancy – if you are pregnant or nursing you are advised to not receive any microchanneling treatments. To date, there have been no studies conducted to see what effects these treatments may have on the unborn child, but as a general rule, pregnant women should stay away from any type of cosmetic/elective procedures.

• Diabetes – unstable diabetes patients should not be treated due to problems with healing.

• Accutane or any related acne medication – Accutane or any related drug should be discontinued for a minimum of 6 months prior to undergoing microchanneling.

• Active Herpes Simplex in the treatment area – treatment is possible once the outbreak is healed, however, it may be advisable to take prescription-strength antiviral medication to keep this condition in remission during the treatment series.

• Any active inflammatory skin condition – e.g. eczema, psoriasis, infection, acne, or any type of dermatitis at the treatment site (because it may aggravate the condition)

• Stainless steel allergies - anyone with stainless steel allergies should not do this treatment.

Q:  Can I combine this with other treatments?
A:   Do not perform any procedures that involve the use of any topical solutions immediately following microchanneling. LED light therapy are typically the only treatments recommended post-microchanneling. In general you should always check with your doctor with questions on specific treatments.

Q:  Do I have to use the microchanneling solution / aftercare serums?
A:  Microchanneling stimulates the body to release peptides, cytokines and growth factors that induce collagenesis. As you get older, the stem cells that produce these vital proteins lose efficacy and decline in population, so microchanneling alone becomes less and less effective. Because of premature aging, the post care Cellular Renewal Serum and Healing Accelerator become more necessary to produce lasting noticeable improvement. Use of the products ensure the skin continuously receives potent, robust, pristine peptides, cytokines and growth factors even in between treatments. Think of diet and exercise – Microchanneling without serums is like exercising without dieting. Results will be good with microchanneling only, great with serums.