I’m 32 years old and have ZERO skin care regimen. I’d say that’s a problem, right? There was only one time previously when I cared about my skin heath. You guessed it, my wedding day! To prepare for my wedding, I had a series of microdermabrasion treatments and used fancy skin care products morning and night. My skin became smoother for sure, but I still suffered from fine lines and those teeny tiny little bumps on my chin and forehead. I blame Snapchat for making me feel terrible about my skin. When you’re constantly looking at yourself unrealistically with perfect skin, it becomes more a shock when you see your face in actuality.
I’m sorry but I had to! I decided to make a change. I researched treatments for fine lines and wrinkles that would also improve the texture of my skin. There are so many facial treatments nowadays that I was actually quite torn. After seeing a rating of “87% Worth It” on RealSelf.com, I decided micro-needling was the treatment I wanted to try. I called The Breslow Center and made my appointment. The Breslow Center offers a variety of treatments at their med spa. Do you see why it took me so long to decide? Check out their treatments below.
Not only does The Breslow Center have a fabulous med spa, but they also have a reputable plastic surgery center! It is a 1-stop shop for self improvement. I knew I chose a great spa when I overheard the clientele in the waiting room singing the praises of some of the estheticians. I anxiously waited for my name to be called! Did I mention I was 30 minutes LATE to my appointment? I was so embarrassed because my outdated GPS decided to take me to the wrong location. Instead of getting “the look,” I was greeted by the nicest receptionist who was genuinely concerned that I had gotten lost. I was relieved!
Dawn, the sweetest esthetician, called me back and explained the treatment to me. She had me change into a cozy wrap and cleansed my face in preparation for the numbing cream. I sat in peace for about 20 minutes to let the numbing cream do its job. I may or may not have napped here. It’s not every day that this mama gets 20 minutes of peaceful serenity!
After I was all numbed up, Dawn explained that she would be using the MicroPen Elite for the treatment. The Eclipse uses a sterile micro-tip containing 12 micro-needles that penetrate the skin just deeply enough to create micro injuries that will ultimately promote collagen production.
Dawn covered my face and neck in a sterile saline to provide a smooth surface to glide the MicroPen over. She handed me a stress ball and turned on the pen. I started getting nervous that the treatment would be very painful. “Why do I need a stress ball?” I asked. Dawn explained that everyone has a different pain tolerance and it doesn’t hurt to have something to squeeze in case I become uncomfortable. She also said she could stop and give me a break if needed which eased my anxieties.
Dawn started the procedure and I was relieved when it wasn’t THAT bad. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being contractions after an epidural fails), this was a 5. If you have had your eyebrows Microbladed – that is worse in my opinion. I ended up squeezing the ball! Some areas were actually more ticklish than painful, like my neck. The procedure took about 15 minutes from start to finish! Dawn warned me afterwards that my face would feel sunburned and may have some bloody spots. She was right.
When your skin is exposed like this, I was told to avoid sun exposure for the next few days. I was given a special cleanser and serum to use for proper healing.
Day 1 post 1: Still look sunburned. No pain.
Day 2 Post: A few red areas. SKIN SO SMOOTH.
Day 3 Post: Redness gone. Started getting dry areas around my chin and nose.
Day 4 Post: Dry areas all over my skin. Small pimples on chin.
Day 5 Post: Still dry skin. Small pimples remain.
Day 6 Post: Less dryness. Pimples clearing up.
Day 7 Post: Dryness gone. Pimples mostly cleared.
Day 8 Post: Put my regular makeup on. My skin is so much softer and takes on more of a glow.
Dawn reccommended a series of a few treatments for maximum collagen growth. I’m looking into micro-needling with PRP (platelet rich plasma) for my next session in a few weeks. I may just have to give that a try! If you’re on the fence about micro-needling – GO FOR IT! Compared with laser treatments that can run upwards of $1000, it is more affordable at $375 per treatment at The Breslow Center. My skin has never been smoother! Can’t wait to go back!