When it comes to caring for your skin, there are a lot of options. From tried and true treatments like chemical peels to newer procedures like laser treatments, the skincare industry is chock-full of ways to enhance your skin. One of the latest treatments to cause a buzz in the industry is microchanneling, which offers many improvements over traditional microneedling. This innovative procedure boosts collagen production, reduces the appearance of wrinkles, and improves your skin’s glow, making it a very popular new skin rejuvenation treatment.
As you consider adding microchanneling to your skincare routine, take a moment to learn how microchanneling works and its benefits.
What Is Microchanneling?
Microchanneling is an advanced skin rejuvenation treatment that involves using a stamping device embedded with tiny gold needles to create uniform micro-injuries in the skin. When pressed into the skin, the needles stimulate your body’s natural wound-healing response. Stimulating this response boosts collagen and elastin production, which are two essential proteins for firm, smooth, youthful skin.
Unlike traditional methods like microneedling or microdermabrasion, microchanneling facilitates the infusion of active serums directly into the dermis. As the needles puncture the skin, they create a “channel” to the dermis, allowing serums to reach this deeper layer of skin. The injected serum will vary by provider but will likely contain growth factors, antioxidants, peptides, and hyaluronic acid that excel at rejuvenating skin.
This combination of mechanical stimulation and targeted ingredient delivery makes microchanneling a powerful skin rejuvenation treatment that works from the inside out. While microchanneling facials are the most common type of this treatment, a provider can perform microchanneling on the neck, hands, and other body parts.
What Does Microchanneling Do?
Microchanneling can do a lot for your skin, giving patients the opportunity to break down old tissue and improve their skin’s health. With this treatment, you can treat stretch marks, acne scars, and surgery scars while making your skin look younger. During an appointment, patients regularly receive the following benefits of microchanneling:
- Reduced wrinkles and fine lines: The micro-injuries created by the stamping device activate the skin’s natural healing process, triggering fibroblast activity and encouraging collagen remodeling. When combined with growth factor-rich serums, microchanneling results in firmer, plumper skin and a noticeable reduction in fine lines and wrinkles over time.
- Decreased scarring and texture issues: Microchanneling targets a variety of texture and scarring concerns by stimulating the production of new skin cells and breaking up irregularities like enlarged pores or acne scars. The active serums infused during treatment often contain peptides and skin-repairing ingredients, supporting healthy regeneration for smoother, more even-toned skin.
- Enhances product absorption: Because the tiny channels remain open for a brief window post-treatment, microchanneling significantly improves the penetration of serums into the deeper layers of the skin. Keeping these channels open makes it so powerful antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, and vitamins can work more effectively beneath the surface, amplifying their anti-aging and brightening effects.
- Brightens complexion: As microchanneling promotes cell turnover and blood circulation, dull or tired skin is replaced with fresh, radiant cells. The treatment also reduces hyperpigmentation by breaking up melanin clusters in skin cells that appear darker than those surrounding them. Antioxidant serums used during treatment help neutralize free radicals, resulting in a clearer, more luminous glow.
Whether you’re prepping for a big event or just refreshing your skincare routine, a microchannel facial can be the reset your skin needs.
How Long Does Microchanneling Last?
The longevity of results depends on your skin type, age, and lifestyle, but most people enjoy visible improvements for a few months after a single microchanneling treatment. For longer-lasting results, a series of treatments (typically spaced four to six weeks apart) is recommended. With consistent sessions and good skincare, the benefits can be maintained for even longer, with results lasting between 2 to 10 years.
How Often Should You Get Microchanneling?
If you’re wondering how often to get microchanneling, dermatologists generally recommend starting with a series of three to six treatments spaced four to six weeks apart. This schedule allows your skin time to heal and rebuild between sessions while steadily improving tone and texture. After the initial series, maintenance treatments every 6 to 12 months help keep your results glowing.
What Can I Expect During and After Microchanelling Treatment?
While it may sound a bit intense, the procedure is pain-free, requires zero downtime afterward, and is fairly fast. When you arrive for an appointment, a healthcare professional will apply a topical anesthetic to your skin, numbing the treatment area. Once your skin is numb, the provider will make small pricks under your skin with specialized needles, injecting serum into your skin’s dermal layer. Generally, a microchanneling appointment will take around 45 minutes.
Within hours of getting the treatment, you’ll begin to notice a change in your skin. After treatment, you’ll also want to avoid direct sunlight and apply sunscreen when you’re outside, as your skin will be more sensitive to the sun.
What Are the Differences Between Microchanneling vs Microneedling?
Like all needling treatments, microchanneling gets its potency and power by creating microscopic punctures in the skin that promote collagen production. However, this lunchtime treatment is a revolutionized version of microneedling, penetrating deeper into the dermis while still being less invasive.
Though they share similarities, there are key differences when comparing microchanneling vs microneedling:
- Device Delivery Method: Microchanneling uses a stamping motion with fixed needle depth for uniform results and a more effective delivery of nourishing vitamins, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds. Microneedling typically involves rolling or gliding the device across the skin, which can lead to inconsistent penetration and microtears.
- Serum Infusion: While microchanneling simultaneously infuses high-performance serums into the skin, microneedling often needs a separate step for serum application.
- Precision and Recovery: Microchanneling is more precise and causes less trauma, leading to minimal downtime. In contrast, microneedling can cause more redness and require a longer healing time.
Are There Any Microchanneling Side Effects?
Microchanneling is a generally safe treatment for most people, especially when performed by a licensed provider. Side effects are typically mild and short-lived, often limited to temporary redness, slight swelling, or sensitivity in the treated area—similar to a mild sunburn. In rare cases, some individuals may experience pinpoint bleeding, dryness, or light flaking as the skin renews itself.
Most side effects resolve within 24 to 48 hours, and proper aftercare (like avoiding sun exposure and using gentle, hydrating products) can help ensure optimal healing. Always consult with your provider beforehand to discuss any skin sensitivities or contraindications to make sure microchanneling is right for you.
Start Your Microchanneling Treatment Journey at Travis Shaw, MD
If you’re looking for microchanneling treatments in Richmond, Midlothian, or the surrounding RVA area, Travis Shaw, MD, is here to help. At Travis Shaw, MD, we offer safe and effective microchanneling services, ensuring your skin can look its best. Our custom serum features a combination of Botox, dermal fillers, vitamins, antioxidants, and growth factors that get delivered directly into the skin through the needles for an individualized microchanneling experience.
If you’re interested in giving microneedling a try, make an appointment online or call us at (804) 406-3364!
