Fractionated Laser Skin Resurfacing or Microneedling: Which is Best for Your Goals?
Modern cosmetic treatments have opened the door for people of nearly all ages and skin types to restore their confidence and feel proud when they look in the mirror. Getting the best cosmetic results, though, begins with choosing the right treatment for your needs.
The only way to know for certain which procedure is ideal for the results you want is to start with a personal consultation with our professionals at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center. To help you narrow your options, though, we’re looking at the differences between two of our most popular and effective treatments for facial aging, scarring, uneven skin texture, and more: fractionated CO2 laser skin resurfacing and microneedling.
How the Treatments Work
Both fractionated laser skin resurfacing and microneedling rebuild your skin’s firmness and smoothness by stimulating your body’s natural healing response, causing your skin to produce more youthful collagen. However, they do this in different ways.
During a fractionated laser skin resurfacing treatment, we use a specialized laser to exfoliate away your damaged surface skin in a pattern of small dots. During microneedling, on the other hand, we use an advanced tool with ultrafine needles which create micro-injuries to your skin to trigger the healing process.
What They Treat
For the most part, fractionated laser skin resurfacing and microneedling treat many of the same cosmetic issues. They both improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles while also mildly tightening skin that has begun to sag with age. Both of these treatments also treat acne scars and other scars as well as an uneven skin texture.
The primary difference is in age spots and other types of hyperpigmentation like freckles that have appeared as a result of genetics or sun damage. Fractionated laser skin resurfacing can break down these excess pigments to reduce brown spots while microneedling does not.
Expected Recovery Time
Both fractionated laser skin resurfacing and microneedling primarily work by stimulating your body’s healing process, and your results are noticeable as your body heals, so both of these treatments will require some healing time.
The recovery time with microneedling is very minimal: most people only experience facial redness after their treatment, and much of this redness has usually faded within 24 hours. Fractionated laser skin resurfacing, on the other hand, requires more recovery time.
Course of Treatment
Fractionated laser skin resurfacing is generally a more comprehensive procedure. While that causes more recovery time, it also means that most patients get the result they want with just one treatment. Microneedling, on the other hand, is a gentler treatment that typically requires several sessions depending on the results you want.
Who They Treat
Both fractionated laser skin resurfacing and microneedling can produce strong results for a wide range of people, but some people are more suited to one over the other. For example, fractionated laser skin resurfacing has a higher risk of complications in people with darker skin, so microneedling may be a better option for you, but we will evaluate your skin and determine what will be best for you. Fractionated laser skin resurfacing also requires you to be particularly cautious about sun protection for at least six weeks before and six weeks after your procedure, so if you aren’t able to maintain this, microneedling would be a safer option.
Choosing the Best Cosmetic Treatment for Your Needs
Both fractionated laser skin resurfacing and microneedling have the potential to create powerful yet natural-looking improvements to your appearance, but that journey begins with determining which procedure is the best fit for you. To find out, call Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center to schedule a free consultation today. Follow us as well on Facebook and Instagram for more skin care tips.