Microneedling is interesting. I have seen studies on how it helps skin, helps minoxidil penetrate better for hair growth, and now we see it helps scars.
Microneedling is done using rollers with tiny little needles. All microneedling is not equal. Some needles are bigger caliber, some are deeper. It matters how big the needle is and how deep you go to determine your results.
This was a study in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal October 2021, “Microneedling Outcomes in Early Postsurgical Scars.”
Study:
- 24 patients had 3 treatments of minimally invasive microneedling
- Scar assessment was done by the Vancouver Scar scale, patient and observer scar assessment scale, and Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale after each of the three treatments and at a final 2 month follow up.
Findings?
- Improvement was seen in all scales at the 16 week post treatment evaluation compared to initial measurement.
- No difference when comparing age of patient, location of scar, Fitzpatrick skin type.
- There WAS a difference when the scar treatment began. Statistically significantly the scars were improved for those who began treatment early (6-7 weeks) v s. 13-16 weeks.
My thoughts?
I need to know more. But interesting. We have started doing microneedling in our clinic, and purposefully bought a microneedling machine with a scar protocol. I cannot wait to see how this may improve our scar results, particularly for larger scars like breast reduction and tummy tucks.