What’s the difference between an at-home derma roller treatment and professional microneedling procedures in a medical spa? Turns out, it’s a lot.
While derma roller use at home is considered “microneedling,” there are big differences between what you can achieve at home vs in the office with a microneedling device in the hands of a skilled aesthetic provider.
Yes, both treatments stimulate skin cell turnover and improve skin tone and texture, but derma roller affects the skin on a more superficial level than in-office treatments can provide.
Derma Roller Does Not Penetrate As Deeply
Derma roller needles are much shorter than what can be provided using a professional-grade microneedling device. Micro-pens and radiofrequency RF-microneedling systems penetrate the skin more deeply and can be adjusted by your provider based on your needs and goals.
Deeper penetration of the microneedling treatments means more dramatic immediate and long-term results.
Rolling vs Spring-Loaded, Mechanical Pens
Micro-pens and RF-microneedling devices are mechanical, allowing the needles to enter the skin perpendicularly. This is more precise than what is achieve through rolling, which creates angled injections.
With in-office microneedling, you get a straight down penetration, leaving a microscopic channel in your skin. With a derma roller, the shape of the channel is more cone-like.
Microneedling with PRP: Don’t Try This At Home
If you want to include platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in your treatment, this can only be achieved in an aesthetics practice. PRP is extracted from a blood draw, performed in a medical aesthetics practice. Once we draw your blood, we place it into a centrifuge to separate the PRP from the blood. We then apply the PRP to your skin during your microneedling treatment.
You cannot achieve this with at-home applications, although there are wonderful options available, such as topical hyaluronic acid serums.
Combining Skin Tightening and Microneedling
Radiofrequency energy is a proven method for non-surgical skin tightening. In our practice, we offer a combination RF-microneedling treatment, allowing the radiofrequency waves to penetrate more deeply with the needles. This provides you the benefits of microneedling and skin tightening, simultaneously.
Yes, You Can Use a Derma Roller, But…
…don’t expect the similar results as you would from an in-office microneedling treatment series, performed by a skilled aesthetics provider, and make sure you learn how to use your derma roller properly to avoid skin damage, and make sure you purchase a high-quality roller for best results.
Also, please always wear sunscreen. No matter what kind of microneedling you get, your skin will be more sensitive to the sun. Always wear sunscreen.
Ready to Take Your Microneedling to the Next Level?
Book a consultation with our team of expert aesthetic providers at Ultra Smooth Skin in Scottsdale & Chandler, AZ, at one of our three convenient locations.
