@ailaeshiz
1.5mm is universal for fatty parts unless you are boney.

For the forehead between 1mm and 1.25mm typically works, if it's bouncing back (you'll know) then do less.

Less is more! Do this once a month, You can use a retin a cream or tretinorin cream (spot treat) - ebay , this causes cell turnover.

Only do it on the scars, if it's not broken don't fix it.

OK, so I'll be able to tell then? That's good. I saw another thread where you and Healing were talking about the Derminator not actually reaching as far as it says it does. And on the derminator before and after page there's a woman who says she went from 1mm to 1.75mm on her forehead. So when you say 1mm I'm wondering if that actually means a deeper setting when using the product

@ailaeshizYes you will

OH that post, still hasn't been proven, people are going off their eyes, not hard data or testing. I originally thought this when I got the unit because it's just so quick. They do not factor in pressing it against the skin as the skin goes in a bit the tip.

There are no rules with Microneedling, do what works best for your, healing is the main thing, and not using products in open skin to create reactions. Less is more, start low, and see what you can do, if that's 1.75mm do it, treatments are not standardized pictures may not be your results, we all don't have the same skin. Some people have really fatty faces or supper thick skin and need that extra amount, others complain it's too long and are sensitive. In studies they found even minimal Microneedling to the upper dermis and epidermis gave results. We don't need to go max. .5mm is for product penetration anything above that is in the dermis.

Alright, just purchased this thing. Fingers crossed.

I feel like single needle goes deeper but I can tell you that setting the derminator to 1.5mm feels like im wasting my time. If it only went to 1.5mm I may not even use it. I do spots with the single needle and I use the 9 needle for my entire face since I have so much scarring and its hard to see it in a mirror unless the lighting is perfect. I do my entire neck with the 9 needle cartridge bc it would take hours to single needle it. I would single needle bad scars 1st bc once you start needling your face swells and you cant see where the scarring is. You'll know if you are going too deep once the penetration starts. If it feels like the needles are hitting something hard thats your bone and you should go shorter. Sounds horrible but its really not. on 2.25mm i stretch the skin and press down as hard as I can. using an actual 2.0mm dermastamp leaves much more bruising with 1/100th the penetrations than a 2.25mm derminator stabbing you 20 times per second. I wish it had a 3.0mm setting. I could never go back to using a dermastamp after using the derminator. It hurts soooooooooooooo much less.

@ailaeshizmake sure you order an extra 9 needle and 1 needle cartridge and maybe even an extra magnet. Shipping takes 3 weeks and the magnet that drives the cartridge can shoot out and be lost.

@healing2.0 Where do you need to go 3mm deep?

@ailaeshiz

Less is More

Just because we can do more doesn't mean it's smart, why use a machete if your putting butter on toast.

The derminator does not go 3mm, because you can seriously damage and hurt the skin, that is considered a medical device surgery.

No one needs to go that deep, ... if you look at the data as I stated earlier 1.5mm is fine to do scar healing and collagen building, If you want to bump it up to 2mm after some success give it a try - depends on your skin.

@ailaeshizI only said I wanted it to have a 3mm setting bc I absolutely do not believe its depth readings are accurate or at least not accurate once it hits the skin. I think 3.0mm would actually give me 2mm real world result. Theres no reason why I shouldnt be able to feel penetration at 1.0mm unless my unit is defective. At 1mm I feel a slight prick SOMETIMES...I should feel a slight prick at .25mm but I feel nothing there. I also think that scars are thicker than undamaged skin and need more force to get the full penetration.

I needle at 2.25mm on my neck with the 9 needle cartridge...no one should do 2,25mm on their entire neck...but I do...bc its not really doing 2.25mm. Im not getting the kind of bruising, bleeding or pain I should be getting from 2.25mm. Theres very very little blood and the redness is gone in 4 days.

I need to do another test if I get a camera that does 240fps video

@healing2.0That really depends on the number of needles. The more needles there are on the dermaroller, ~stamp, ~pen, ~nator, etc, the harder it is to penetrate before the skin due to resistance. You probably wouldn't want to use the 3.0mm setting when using a single needle. It will most likely hit the fat and you'll end up looking like zombie. Anyway, you're right. The point of needling, after all, is to go in deep enough to mess up the existing scar so that it will induce collagen--ultimately to fill in the damn pits. When you barely prick your skin at 1.0mm, it ain't going to do anything but maybe texturize the surface. But I thought we were all going after the scars. Grrrr!

@healing2.0yes, I remember you and @beautifulambition having this problem in a different thread. What do you think 2.25 is equivalent of then, 1.5?

@ailaeshizLet's remember that fibrotic scarring causes the needles or energy not to penetrate like normal skin, it takes more power / energy so that may be another factor ... I replied to @healing2.0about setting up a test with a Gelatin cup, and a stack of 2mm paper, we maybe he can try that. It has nothing to do with 1 needle or the standard 9 needles, it's the device or the skin's condition and makeup of structures (Most microneedling pens use the same amount). They did studies (multiple) that unlike our current thinking stamping / microneedling does not need to go very far to stimulate collagen, deeper is NOT better, and can in fact induce more damage. Some doctors do a TCA and Microneedling session at one time, where you start with the tca and then needle. I like to spread things out as the body does not always heal well with damaging delicate, slow building collagen. The machine goes so fast that it is hard to see 2mm on the derminator, and yes the spring back would make that a bit less. It depends on the scar, nothing is universal. If you press with a finger the needles out manually (derminator tip) then you can get a measurement, it never goes beyond the end. I wonder if one could alter the magnet to be longer to have a longer stamp, it is going off the calibration of that size magnet, what about double. Do those sort of things at your own risk, I have seen people go too deep and also mess up their skin.

I am interested in microneedling but it's only been 2 months since I've been off accutane (low dose for 8 months). Would you recommend waiting or can I get started, maybe on a lower setting? Some doctors on realself have been saying that newer studies are showing that you don't need to wait the full 6 months..

I don't think microneedling is a good idea, ... reason being is your skin barrier is damaged after Accutane. What they are saying is you can do non-ablative laser, fillers, and subcision. Notice these are treatments that mainly protect the epidermis, (besides filler /sub). When you needle your constantly damaging the skin so the body heals back new skin. After Tane the 6 months is so you can repair the skin that was thinned out during the meds and get normal skin healing back. I have a reservation, it may be fine. You can treat also laser for reds / browns (PIE/PIH) Hyperpigmentaiton that often is wounding after acne, because the skin is again protected (epidermis).

The main thing that should happen after Accutane is one rebuilds their moisture barrier akaStratus Corneum. High weight HA serum is great for this as a barrier on the skin while it repairs, or other nourishing creams that do not make the skin peel, or exfoliate.

Your biggest improvements will come from subcision (pitting) you can get a treatment done now by a doctor. Start there.

Ten days now and USPS still doesn't have my order. Urgh...

Takes longer than 10 days, it's the Holidays man 😉 Took mine almost a month.

New Tutorial by Joe Lee

(Also, still waiting for USPS to scan my package in )

Sort of a topic change here, but how much down time is typical? I did a test spot with a single needle at just .75 mm (on my leg) and it stayed bruised and red for 5/6 days. Made me concerned.

I've read this whole thread and seen where people say at average depths (.5 forehead, .75-1 Temple, 1.5 cheek) to expect 4-5 days of redness.

My question: by day 4 or so, for example, is your appearance presentable?

Obviusly everyone heals differently but I'd love to hear people's different healing experiences with different depths. Obviously many of us have jobs and school and the like, and being presentable would be nice...

i just don't have a good feel for what to expect in terms of downtime and healing. Would love input on that (what to expect, serums/healing ointments etc)

thanks all. Keep the faith!

Frankly many use makeup which guys can use a tinted moisturizer or spot treat with concealer. Or people plan it for a 4 day weekend. Thursday night and go in Monday. Your right, I have some people who say they are red for weeks. Others have no swelling / redness.

This also is effected by the topicals you use. If you use Just a HA serum it's better. You could get a calming facial mask I would imagine which might help a little (Asian beauty). This would be applied at least 24-hrs after don't want it to get into the skin while open. Paula's Choice and other companies make redness topicals or their is good old Hydrocortisone.

For ethnic skin one can use retain a or tretinorin and hydroquinone a few weeks before needling. This is done with laser and other procedures to prep for treatment.

One guy had redness for months. Obviously the more passes you make the more it will be red, and the longer the needles. Do a test spot on the face to see.

I don't know how you will heal, so do a test spot by your ear, etc.

You don't need a bunch of serums and stuff this will make you red for a long time and possible contact dermatitus. You will peel (TCA) this goes in conjunction with needling - at a latter time of course when (different month). They work together.

Hi, so I bought the derminator but when I entered my dimensions (2x2 inches for each cheek) the needling time set for about 2 minutes for medium speed. I feel like this is not enough time to needle? I've had professional needling sessions done before and the nurse needled my entire face for an hour so I know she didn't spend 2 minutes on my cheeks. Any advice on how long I should needle my cheeks for? I'm using the 9 needle cartridge. Thanks in advance.

I m going to buy derminator & vit C & HA on owndoc . I m new to this machine,I got some questions to ask, please help me. I will use vitamin C few days before using the derminator and I will apply HA after that. If I got bleeding, could I clean my face with antiseptic on the cotton pad then wait a bit and apply HA? I read the derminator instruction, they don't have the information that how many times a month I should use it. Last question, after using deminator, do we need protect the skin carefully under the sun?
Thank you.

@Cluelessbrunette92Just needle manually then, I never use the timer and set it in manual mode till I feel I cover it properly. One does not need to go a hour, just enough to properly cover the area with various fractional needling. We all have different skin, thicker and thinner, ... you know when the area is covered well.

@tramyhurricaneI would not do Vit C first, ... I would do as pure as possible HA serum before and after. Then a few hours after put vitamin C and leave it on. Vitamin C can irritate some people if it goes in the channels. I don't clean my face if I bleed, it's your PRP that helps with growth factors. I let it dry and then a several hours latter just wash it off my face.

You needle once a month when healed and the average length is 1.5mm for improvement. Thinner if you need on forhead or nose, temples if they are boney.

Yes you need to swear sunscreen and it's more sensitive when you first needle.

@beautifulambition. Thank you for your answer. How long do I use the derminator? do I need to use all over my face or just the area I got acne scar? Do you see improvement after using this machine? Thank you.

@tramyhurricaneMicroneedling is a ongoing procedure, sometimes taking years or used for upkeep. It can be done at home as you know. You only do the scars, ... if it's not broken why do it. I don't use the machine for improvement, I use it for beauty upkeep. If you do microneedling you must do tca peels or tca cross, they work together, please look at the top of the scar solutions sub, first post faq, under success stories first post is scientific studies, click this and read what they did. It all depends on your scar type.

WOO I received my Derminator, used it and man did I bleed a lot. Hopefully that's not a bad thing. It felt far less painful than their manual dermastamps that is for sure.

Anyways for future treatments I wanted to know what you all would recommend, should I reuse the 9 needle cartridge after the treatment (after cleaning and sterilizing it of course) or should I just buy a set of them on owndoc to continue?

@KmarquiYou can reuse the needles from the Derminator. They are designed to be single use. If you do many use a toothbrush to clean the needles, and sonicator them which is ultrasonic like jewelry cleaner. Quick Dilute Bleach Bath (cannot stay long or will rust, there Cloramine-T (sold Owndoc) which is safer for needles), alcohol. etc... I would not use them more than 2 or 3 treatments as the needles start to get dull making the treatment not good. Sharper needles are best.
Blood is fine, it's like PRP, you can let it dry and wash off several hrs later.