Can't believe its almost been a year since I started needling. I do believe it is the real deal, but it does need to be combined with other treatments. I'm taking a little break before my subcision, but there's no reason for me to stop now. I'm sure I will be happy I started needling years from now.

QuanHenry, do you also use the derminator?

@keving100re: Deleted Posts, they quote me often so your not missing much, I cleaned it up, was from a transition must have been missed.

1. do you re-use the needle cartilage or throw it out after 1 session?
Yes I resuse, Simply use hibiclens and buy a supper soft like makeup sponge or something, sanitize, some people use a toothbrush to get off anything on needles. Others use a denture tablet to soak it. For the really fancy they get a jewelry sonicator ultrasonic cleaner. The problem with using past 2 maybe 3 depending how large the areas is, ... the needles get dull, hurt more to use, don't do as good of a job, and cleanliness

2. Can i use oils such as rosehip/ jojoba before and after needling sessions instead of HA serum? some esthetician recommended this to me
I would never be using oils with open skin, that is asking for trouble.. There was a study that 90% of people who microneedle have issues because chemicals or items not meant to be in sterile skin are introduced causing infection or allergy. This is why we suggest pure HA, it's sterile. IT also acts like a tiny bit of filler / brings moisture / collagen stimulator. It's also the thing people don't react to because it's in the skin. Rosehip / jojoba are not naturally in the skin and not meant to be injected, we do not know the source, and the contaminants, etc.

@ericb12 yes Quan does use it, hes on the prior 6 pages of this thread talking about it ;-P

13 hours ago, ericb12 said:

kat22, I also have a dermapen, the ebay knockoff Dr. Pen. I know it's really nota superior device. I have drawn blood, but I have felt like it "dragged" along the skin since the beginning. and that's why im looking at the derminator.

@ericb12That is the one I have. I don't use it for the same reason, it feels like it is dragging and tearing . What I have done is just lift it up and move it, but it's really not that great. I will get the derminator.

12 hours ago, QuanHenry said:

Can't believe its almost been a year since I started needling. I do believe it is the real deal, but it does need to be combined with other treatments. I'm taking a little break before my subcision, but there's no reason for me to stop now. I'm sure I will be happy I started needling years from now.

@QuanHenry I had subsicion and filler done Oct 2015. I've also done one TCA 15% peel and just finished my 2nd TCA Cross. I am going to do another peel next. I will alternate treatments.... peel, cross, and derminator. I agree, one treatment isn't enough!

I have a question. If I change the cartridges after every single use, do I just have to disinfect/clean the motor of the derminator? Nothing else right?

@SimpleMuttonAnytime blood is used in a treatment , even if your not trying to do this, Things should we wiped down with 91% rubbing alcohol. No one want's dried blood all over their equipment. I suppose if you are the only one in contact with is / uses it, you could leave it dirty. The reason you have to clean the magnet chamber, is blood makes it's way into the sealed compartment with the magnet, they suggest you use a q-tip and just clean it out a bit after use. You don't want the magnet sticking with blood. In theory you could just clean this out. There is replacement magnets if you forget to clean your magnet.

is derminator working pores

@tomwaitsI do not understand your post. If your asking if the derminator works on pores. No retin a aka tretinorin or tca, glycolic acid peels are better for this. Large pores are from clogging most of the time or treatment damage. It will give you cell turn over of new collagen.

I am wondering if anyone uses the derminator under their eyes for eye hollows and/or thin skin to generate collagen production and thicker skin?

@ericb12I do not think this is a good idea. Many people with aging, diet, lack of sleep, or other health issues have crepe skin, eyebags or hallows under their eyes. If you look at the structure of the under eye, fat has left the ligament area here and thus the loss. Needling will not make fat appear. IF that was the case old women who have their face sagging and hitting the floor would needle. Filler is the option for this area, typically a HA that does not draw water or it can make bags. Volbella, Resty, Beleterro.

i noticed someone mention an antioxidant mask while undergoing microneedling

antioxidant treatments often include vitamin E, also called tocopherol(s), tocotrienol(s), tocopheryl;
vitamin E has antiplatelet effects, which inhibits the healing process
i've read various sources that indicate that vitamin E may impair healing, including the healing of wounds, resulting in decreased quality of skin texture

vitamin E is a good antioxidant for intact skin though and is naturally part of healthy skin, but i do not recommend using it in conjunction with microneedling

vitamin C is an excellent alternative though

@beautifulambition, where can i buy this HA serum that you talk about? I am assuming we can use it before, during and after a microneedling session? i got my derminator and excited to use it for the first time

@keving100 https://yeouth.com/collections/serums/products/pure-hyaluronic-acid-serum-dp-b00l1k7hrc

That is the HA that I bought and use. Others may prefer a different brand. Don't get anything with Vitamin C or other things added to it.

@keving100You can buy pure HA serum on Amazon and Ebay. When I say pure, it's the main ingredient, and there isn't a bunch of other stuff in it. Yes you can use it before after and even as a moisturizer right after a shower when your face is wet to lock in moisture, you can also moisturize on top for added benefit. It will not react like other products to the open skin, since it is in our skin. I think this and vitamin C (use this only a day after you microneedle and are healed a bit), Retin A like products are the best things we have for aging, hyerpigmentation and scars. Also acid peels of course, which Dr's use expensive lasers instead of now for $$$$.

@beautifulambition   @kat22   Thanks for the info.
 

I am doing my first derminator session tonight or tomorrow, so I guess I will use the HA serum next time. I have had a e-dermastamp treatment at a doctors office couple years back with 3 mm.

So I watched some derminator videos, I can see we have to needle in a circular fashion in an area (10- 15 circles per area?) and then move to a different area. After you are done the entire face once, repeat the whole thing for 3 to 4 passes? Is that the right protocol to follow?

@keving100 You don't have to do a certain amount of circles, more like passes. Minimum effectivenessis 1.5mm to max you can handle (on fatty areas go deeper, on boney areas you go less). I think it was 3 passes, but some including me do more, How fast depends on the speed you have the thing, I use it at medium speed so. I will do 3 passes in various circle directions over the area, then on the scars do one extra pass in a circle over them. Some people bleed the deeper the needle length, you let this blood spread, in 3 hrs hours can wash it offbecause it's beneficial like PRP.

Is there a standard pre and post needling care? I see people mention so many different products.

As a standard, do you guys use vit C for a few days before needling and then cleaning your skin with alcohol immediately before using the Dermintor?

@RedCarpetPure HA serum, with not a bunch of other stuff in it. Nothing else post for 24 hrs. Let the dried blood sit on the skin for a few hours till you wash it off. Before you start you procedure, wash your face, using rubbing alcoholand or hibiclens to sanitize, some use iodine.Vitamin CA and HA are the best post procedure, I just use HA because it's naturallyin the skin, vitamin c serum latter after I wash the skin. I use retin a / tretinorin / isotrex / retinoid on a consistent basis great prep for peels and microneedling, I put it on at night.

@beautifulambitionThank you. I read that people use the HA serum during needling because it makes the tip slide better. Is that something you do as well? Can you tell me why do you leave the blood on your skin? What is the purpose?
So no need to use Infadolan or the copper peptide mask?
I actually saw they sell copper peptide with HA serum on their website http://shop.owndoc.com/product-info.php?copper-peptide-skin-serum-pid207.html Do you think it's a good choice?

@beautifulambition I was wondering about the copper peptide/ HA serum from owndoc website as well.

Also, as you mentioned, I also use Retin A Micro (0.1%) and Differin (0.3%) in the night. Arent we suppose to stop using it couple days before micro-needling?

@RedCarpetYou, can use HA before, after, and during. IT's naturally found in our skin so it will not create reactions like other chemicals / cosmetics. You leave the blood on your skin and it smears around with the needle because it has benefits like PRP treatments with Microneedle you find in Drs offices and spas. If you wash it off, you get no benefit.

It's up to you on Infadolan, I dont personally use that, it's not diffrent to me than vaseline, it's a occlusive.

Copper peptide some use during their microneedling session, others put it on a few hrs later after they wash off the blood and then put infadolan / vaseline over it. I personally haven't noticed any benefit from copper peptides, and I haved used that one and others. Vitamin C serum, or they have powder you mix with water and apply fresh I have noticed benefits from, HA is a miracle substance.

@keving100I got the serum from the owndoc site, I was not that impressed. It has perfume in it and didn't notice many benefits. I just continue to use pure HA and vitamin c serum. Retin A micro or differin is great. Yes you stop a day or two before microneedling and a day or two after until your healed up, ...longer for acid peels (until your completely healed), it makes a great prep for these. Never put it in freshly opened microneedled skin.

@beautifulambitionThank you very much! This is all very helpful! Would you mind telling me what specific products (retin a / tretinoin / isotrex / retinoid, vitamin C serum, HA serum) do you use? There is so many out there, it's kind of overwhelming. Also, do you use any moisturizer? I read that it's important because the skin will peel after needling... and that's why they suggest Infadolan.

@RedCarpetRetin A, etc... I have used them all, I personally like the gel type from ebay / amazon I buy, I have bought several brands that are mainly from India. Some cannot get this so Paula's Choice Retinol 1% is good.

I love anything from skin actives, GREAT!!!!! company. You can make your own stuff, or they have premade stuff.

Personally I do not like Moisturizer I am sensitive and break out. I just use pure HA serum (has to be after you shower or your face is wet, you are locking in the moisture. You can put a cream ontop if you wish or even vaseline. I do not like Infadolan (Smells and breaks me out, you can buy a and d cream I think it's called at the dollar store), it's just like vaseline to me. I use vaseline / aquaphor or my favorite Biafine from ebay/amazon again ;-P These are for after laser, microneedle, tca peels, etc...

Moisturizer get any thing from skin actives, they literally are scientists.

@RedCarpet

For HA serum, i just ordered this:
https://www.amazon.com/Hyaluronic-Pure-Highest-Anti-Aging-Moisturizer-Non-greasy/dp/B0090UJFYI

I hope its @beautifulambitionapproved lol

For retin A, if you have insurance, you can get the prescription for Retin A or Differin. I think they work better then over the counter stuff.

I wanted to use retin A, but i chickened out. There are too many negative posts on the internet about that stuff.