1413 replies to this topic

[emily88]

Hmmm, I'm amazed with the results of my needling. It's been 5 days and the redness is pretty much gone. I kept the wound moist with neosporin for the most part so didn't experience scabbing really. Since the scars were pretty small to begin with, even with all the redness I wasn't too worried about them getting worse. Now they are practically reduced to the size of large pores, weirdness! Yah, it is most likely the swelling, but still...really nice to see my skin so much more leveled. And if I put makeup on, omg, it's amazing. Even if the results aren't permanent, I'm really loving this swelling thing.

[Bakuzzo]

Hi,i'm not american or english, i'm italian...i have become curious about this treatment (self needling) after i read delusion of all (italian and not) that used other treatments as co2,erbium etc...
so i began to start needling myself...however i have some questions to do...

1- as technique,i read you use a kind of jack hummer over the scars so i can image that you hit more times a scar perpendicularly as more punctures. I use a different "technique"...i insert the needle from the border of a scar, not perpendicularly IN the scar, but transversely so the needle go under the centre of the scar...then i begin to move the needle of 30-40° to create a sort of ungluing. You think that is can be a good way as using a technique of jack hummer???

2 question - i read in other forum that we must wait a month after a session to not damage the new collagen...i ask myself: but this is a your personal theory or you have read some of scientific demonstrated about this?...i think it is important to know cause we can wait 1 month when in reality we can work more frequently and have results in few time...( i have decided to intervene 2 weeks after a session)
thanx for consideration

P.S. i ask you to write a normal english without abbreviation or dialectic form cause for me is difficult to understand clearly (and write as you can notice eheh) what you say
Hi all

[clyde]

HI im am very interested in self skin needling , and want to start soon but need to find out some info first.
1. what kind of needles should I be using and where would i find them ?
2.How often should I be doing this ( how many times a month)
3. How long is the recovery between each session?
4. Is it alright to use Retin A (tazorac) while doing this ?
Thanks so much your feedback will be much appreciated!

[insecuritey]

Tuesday July 4th
DAY OF NEEDLING

Appointment lasted from 10-11am. @ Transitions. Frank immediately applied topical anesthetic. It started out slightly uncomfortable but it was painless a few pin pricks later. I guess the element of surprise was the reason for the pain because I did not know what to expect. I have zero tattoos. You initially feel it, then it fades away...

The surface area he worked on was very large, probably 2.5� X 2� per cheek. That’s why it took long. The most blood lost is a few droplets during the procedure, nothing alarming. Beforehand I thought those needles would intimidate me but they look completely harmless. And the “popping paper� sound everyone is talking about… it is merely the needle going in and coming out of the skin, which means just that, nothing more, nothing less.

Depending on how seriously you want to rid yourself of scars, I think that’s how much more you’d motivated to go. And also come out without complaints because there is NOTHING to complain about. Frank is a very clean guy. He’s friendly and talks to you to distract you from the procedure. He’s always willing on answering questions to the best of his ability (which is a lot, b/c he put time into this treatment). He’s not snooty or arrogant like many “anal-god-complex-doctors�. He also does this procedure keeping the clients BEST INTEREST in mind and practice.


Anyway, enough of my experience of getting it done…
The results… I will post another day

[Rossignol]

Hi everyone,

just a quick update. I had two sessions of needling done back in January, one minor session on a few icepicks and one entire face session (most of my icepicks). I just wanted to say that over the last few days I've been looking more closely at my scars and have to say, I think there has been continued improvement over the past few months, after the three month period that improvement is usually said to curtail. The scars are looking better than ever!

In between times, I've had 2 N-lite sessions, and have been using Retin-A (but not consistently) so these may have helped, but I do believe it is the needling that has given the continued improvements.

Over the past 6 months or so, I haven't focused very much on my scars due to University finals etc, but having looked at them lately, I can see definite improvements. I would hazard a 'guesstimate' at saying some of the scars may have had up to 50% improvement individually, with overall about 30%. I'm very pleased with this, and would like to get another needling session done when I can afford it.

As a final note, this just illustrates how potentially great needling can be. For the very affordable pricing and relatively little risk, it's one of the best initial scar treatments you can go for, in my opinion.

I must stress that I had this done by a professional, who is very skilled at needling and uses gamma-ray-sanitized, specialist equipment.

Hope you are all well, I have been missing this place lately.

Paul.

[lemon83]

I have a temporary filler and I was wondering if I could needle the scars which are filled up.
Has anyone tried this before?

[mc123]

Hello, does anybody know of any needlers in the chicagoland area. I'd be willing to drive some distance too. Thanks!

[Rossignol]

I have a temporary filler and I was wondering if I could needle the scars which are filled up.
Has anyone tried this before?

I'm not sure about temporary fillers. I'd advise you to consult a needling specialist.

[kanmi]

I have a temporary filler and I was wondering if I could needle the scars which are filled up.
Has anyone tried this before?

I'm not sure about temporary fillers. I'd advise you to consult a needling specialist.

Where is a good source to find legit needling specialists?

[EricB]

Does anyone know about needling after accutane? Im guessing you have to wait 6 months to a year like all other procedures...?

[Tofu]

I have a temporary filler and I was wondering if I could needle the scars which are filled up.
Has anyone tried this before?

I'm not sure about temporary fillers. I'd advise you to consult a needling specialist.

Anyone know of such a specialist in Toronto,Canada.
And Ross,do you use any topicals like CP,HA??

I am confused as to what sort of post needling regimen I should use after reading Shyana's post.

http://www.acne.org/messageboard/index.php...04221&st=20

[LM_06]

Hi Rossignal, I made it through almost all of the pages of this thread ... wow .. long but very interesting!

Do you have a gallery of before and after pics of your scars? Or of anyones? There wasn't much to view in the thread - I'd love to see some pics though.

Congrats on your successes!

Oh - could you also repost how we should search for someone to do these procedures?

Thank you!!
LM

[ashie]

For Christy (Petlover)
I did a search for "needling" on google and this message thread came up. I live in Vancouver and was so happy to see you recommend Lisa at BiotouchCanada... I'm going to see her in September - I have to wait a few weeks as I've just had a bunion removed from my foot and it's too painful to walk around.
Before I make an appointment, I was wondering if you're still pleased with the results of the treatments and if you have seen much improvement in the scars.
I have a few indented scars (not sure how they're described) - but not icepick - on my chin and am hoping she can help blend them in. I've had a laser peel and several microdermabrasions but none have helped. Am hoping this will improve the look of my skin.
Thanks for posting this information. I never would have found her services otherwise.
Cheers.
Ashie.

[petlover]

Ashie -

It has been 6 weeks since my first needling session with Lisa. Although I wasn't expecting to see any signficant improvements at this point, it seems like some remodelling has taken place on the path to betterment, as most of my scars look slightly different. When looking at before and after pictures, it sometimes is difficult to quantify progress because it's challenging to capture identical lighting, angles, skin sheen on digital. Most of my scars are smallish but plentiful, so this adds to the difficulty level of gauging than if I had a few very large ones. Also, some scars still have slight discoloration (I'm type IV), which can throw off the comparison. However, my biggest improvement happens to be one of my largest scars. It's shaped like an almond that had a huge, visible pore in the center of it that looked like a black hole.....I call it my third eye. The pore is still there, but it's no longer a black hole because it filled up considerably. The almond shape border has noticeably softened on the bottom edge.

Overall, when I look straight into the mirror, my skin looks slightly smoother - so yes, I am pleased. I seem to be spending less time applying concealer and foundation. I have a ways to go, as I am in the middle of the remodelling process. I suspect that it will take at least another 6 weeks to see peak improvement from this needling session.

I feel that there is little to lose or risk with needling, and it sounds like you have the right attitude for this type of treatment. Needling is great because it's a spot treatment, and it can be done with precision by the right person.

Please let us know how your session goes. I'll look for your post in the future. Best wishes!

- Christy

[kanmi]

I have a temporary filler and I was wondering if I could needle the scars which are filled up.
Has anyone tried this before?

I'm not sure about temporary fillers. I'd advise you to consult a needling specialist.

Where is a good source to find legit needling specialists?

Checked out your pictures u dont want to needle those scars. Your on accutane which is great and will end that shit for good. Once that is doen I would go to a doctor and have them look at the individual scars and treat them that way. (subcision, excision, floats) cant really tell which kind of scars u have but those are used for rolling, ice pick, large scars. Then follow with some sort of mild resurfacing such as Fraxel or even some microderms. U have great texture to your face which is great and definately would make full face resurfacing with something deep out. Also U dont have many scars so treating them should be a piece of cake. Anyway chin up u will look great again

I do have some smaller ice pick scars. I went to a dermatologist a year ago, Dr Alkek in Dallas when I thought my acne was done with, and he reccomended a full face dermabrasion. Most of my scars are shallow, but once i'm done with accutane, who knows how many new scars i'll have. And I do have a lot of scars .. they just don't show up on camera.

But thank you for all your advice.

[insecuritey]

Needling Time Elapsed

8 hrs, I napped at a hotel. I was not about to go home and face my parents. I think my bloody bruised cheeks would give them heart attacks. As soon as I fell asleep, my cheek hit the pillow. I yelped by the contact b/c it stuck and hurt-- a few neat patterned drops of blood made their mark on the white pillowcase.

hour 9, No more blood of any sort would come out by the same face-on-pillow pressure. My face was EXTREMELY INFLAMED, SWOLLEN, BRUISED and it just generally looked bad, like a nightmarish wound. I honestly was too self conscious to have anyone see me. I applied the ointment Frank gave me religiously. I had alotta OJ (vitamin C for collagen growth) and vitamin A (to fight infection).

24 hrs
I went to bed slopping emu oil on my face and woke up with a good nights sleep-- all refreshed and my face completely rid of ALL swelling and pain! The bruising was also gone! The only thing left there was (I’m not sure what to call it) a tan/brown discoloration. Continuing to take vitamins and minerals.

48 hrs
this "tan" turned even more brown on my already brown skin. I hope its not hyperpigmentation because that would be terrible! Any sign of swelling is not there b/c the depressions have returned to their original look. The last thing I need is acne pits with severe discoloration. *Sigh* It could be punishment from God for being vain. Dear Lord, the Magnificent, the Majestic up in the Heavens- please forgive me for being vain, but you have created beauty and perfection on this earth and I yearn to possess some of it... *amin*

72 hrs
I have to say, these were the longest 3 days of my life!! Today I came out of hiding and let my dad see me. I think I'll be more comfortable in 2 more days for the general public to see me. Anyway, the brown melasma looking areas are fading, some of it looks perfectly my skin color, but a large portion is still there.

Everday afterwards my skin has appeared better and better.
I waited several weeks to write this final observation.
Today, 6 weeks later, I will write my final results.

The discoloration fully disappeared in 3-4 weeks, it became light enough to cover with foundation in 12 days. However, when it was 7 days old, it was too dark for coverage with makeup.

As far as the holes, pits, craters in my skin are concerned. I wish to God I could go back 5 yrs in time and had begun my scar correction process back then!! All the lost romantic + employment opportunities b/c of my appearance!!!!! Im glad though, better late than never.

ALL my scars HAVE SOFTENED. The small pits FILLED in and look much much smaller!!! The big pits definately look less large b/c they filled in but are relatively bigger so they will take the most work. The sharp "box scar" edges totally softened and are less harsh. I initially thought by 3 weeks, my progress looked 30% improvement. But now, I'm pretty sure the results are PERMANENT, by now. they should be permanent?? I hope the results are permanent b/c I dont wanna provide false information.

I personally believe I achieved a 20% overall improvement.

I think everyone responds differently. This method is totally worth it. I personally think its like fraxel with OUT the BITE. (fraxel with out price tag, REAL hyperpigmentation)

I sincerely wish the best of luck to all those who try it. I hope you achieve what I got or even better

I CANNOT WAIT to go back in a few weeks.

[kanmi]

Oh god! That sounds awful and scary. I'm glad you're ok now.

[LizaM]

Hi Christy,
I wonder if you've seen any more improvment in your skin. Did you use any ointments after the procedure?
I had my needle dermabrasion done in Calgary, about two months ago. And i have to tell you that I have seen about 45%-50% improvment. My technician informed me that I have to use a series of vitamins C and E right after the procedure, because otherwise would only see slight change.
I'm very happy with the results and I can not wait for my second procedure.

By the way all this dry needling should be ONLY done on old acne scars, NOT ON THE ACTIVE ACNE.

[petlover]

Hi Liza -

Yes, my pits are getting better since my last post (I had needling done on July 8). I am not where I want to be yet, but I am optimistic and remind myself that patience is key. There are a few very stubborn pits I have that I can't tell if there is any improvement, but on the majority pits, they look plumper and softer-edged (but none of them smaller as of yet).

I used vitamin A D ointment during the healing phase. When the scabs fell off, I used Skinceuticals C E with Ferulic in the morning, sometimes followed with sunscreen, then Tazorac .01% gel in the evening. I continue using these. I did go on vacation last month to Aruba and got some sun, but I wore spf 55 and a hat. My body got nicely tanned and my face stayed the same color - ah well, at least that was the right thing to do. However, I do have a question for you - do you mean you used C and E immediately after needling BEFORE scabs formed (in that case did it not sting?), because that is the way I read your post. Can you please clarify? I plan on getting needled again in November.

Your results are AMAZING - congratulations!! I am very happy for you and you must be even more happy! Please share....What kind of scars do you have and how deep did your needler go? If you don't mind me asking, what age group are you in? I'm in my 30's and believe this is why my results may not be as dramatic.

- Christy

[Rossignol]

Where is a good source to find legit needling specialists?

I don't think there is a 'source' as such, unfortunately. There are a few well known specialists out there, such as Frank at Transitions in the US, and Julie Arnold and Dawn Cragg in the UK, but there are many more people who have performed needling treatments with success. If you can locate some board members from your area who may have had needling, you could try PMing them and seeing if they can help.

(I'm based in the West Midlands, UK)

Does anyone know about needling after accutane? Im guessing you have to wait 6 months to a year like all other procedures...?

Yes, that is the case, unfortunately. Julie Arnold will not perform needling for at least a year after a patient has finished an accutane course.

Anyone know of such a specialist in Toronto,Canada.
And Ross,do you use any topicals like CP,HA??

I am confused as to what sort of post needling regimen I should use after reading Shyana's post.

http://www.acne.org/messageboard/index.php...04221&st=20

I don't know of a specialist in the Toronto area. Sorry I can't help. Can anyone else reading this?

Following my needling treatments, I used amino-plex spray and emu oil, along with some bacitracin zinc ointment. After a week or so, I began using the regular CP serum in addition. I believe amino-plex is a great healing serum.

I also think it's a good idea to follow some of the principles lain out in the 'holistic recovery from scar treatments' which is pinned at the top of the forum.

Hi Rossignal, I made it through almost all of the pages of this thread ... wow .. long but very interesting!

Do you have a gallery of before and after pics of your scars? Or of anyones? There wasn't much to view in the thread - I'd love to see some pics though.

Congrats on your successes!

Oh - could you also repost how we should search for someone to do these procedures?

Thank you!!
LM

I did post some pictures a while back, but they seem to have expired for some reason. Maybe my server has expired. Hmm. I'll try and get them uploaded again.
I'm having subcision done in a couple of weeks, so hopefully I'll be posting some pics up of that, in which I'll indicate the scars that have improved since my needling treatments (subcision will be mainly for my rolling scars; needling targetted the icepicks).


By the way, it's great to hear of the success stories posted lately in this thread, thankyou guys for posting such informative accounts!

All the best,

Paul.