Dermarolling vs. Medical Microneedling: What’s the Difference?

Microneedling is a non-surgical skincare therapy that has attracted a lot of attention in recent years and has become a treatment of choice for celebs like Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore, and others. But is microneedling something that has to be done in a clinic? Will using a dermaroller at home produce the same results at a more affordable price?

In this blog, we take a closer look at both at-home dermarolling and medical microneedling—what they are as well as the pros and cons of each—so keep reading to learn more:

Dermarolling vs. Medical Microneedling

At-home dermarolling and medical microneedling both work based on the same principal. By penetrating rapidly and precisely with fine needles and creating micro-wounds in the surface layers of your skin, they are able to stimulate collagen production in order to repair imperfections like fine lines and wrinkles, discolouration, and scars.

Dermarollers

Dermarollers are handheld microneedling instruments that are meant to be used at home. Typically, they come in one of two styles—rollers and stamps (or pens).

• Rollers usually have barrel-like heads covered or filled with small needles that create tiny pinpricks as they are rolled over your face or body.
• Stamps (or pens) have flat heads on which needles rest. They are ideal for hard-to-reach and sensitive areas like the skin around your eyes and mouth.

If you are new to dermarollers, it’s important to make sure you don’t overdo your at-home treatments. Sometimes people assume that if they use their dermaroller more frequently or intensely that they will see even better results. In reality, this approach can have the opposite effect—harming your skin and causing scarring or marks that would require additional (and potentially costly) treatments to fix.

If you have purchased a handheld dermarolling instrument from Brampton Cosmetic and have questions about how to use it, please get in touch with us! We would be happy to talk to you about your skincare concerns and recommend an appropriate treatment plan that includes your dermarolling device.

Medical Microneedling

Medical microneedling is performed in a clinic by trained, experienced practitioners using advanced microneedling devices. Medical-grade microneedling instruments are capable of penetrating more deeply and accurately to deliver longer-lasting results.

At Brampton Cosmetic, we offer two types of medical microneedling treatments—InnoPen and Beauty Booster. InnoPen microneedling treatments work by perforating your skin in a stamp-like motion to draw blood to the surface and prompt your body’s natural healing processes. During a Beauty Booster microneedling treatment, the Injection Specialist will actually inject hyaluronic acid under your skin to treat more advanced issues and reveal longer lasting results.

Click here to learn more about the microneedling treatments offered at our clinic.

The Pros and Cons of Dermarolling

Pros

One of the main advantages with dermarolling is how accessible it is. The instruments themselves are relatively affordable, and it’s something people can easily do at home and on their own time.

Cons

Although at-home dermarolling can produce noticeable results, it is not without its challenges:

• Because dermarolling instruments are used at home with limited guidance (or without any at all) from a trained professional, the results might be inconsistent.
• The micro-wounds created by dermarollers can he harsher, which means more discomfort and downtime.
• The changes you see using an at-home dermaroller often aren’t as striking compared to the outcomes following medical microneedling treatments.

Potential limitations like these aren’t to say that dermarollers aren’t good investments. When they’re purchased for the right reasons, they absolutely are. We generally find that at-home dermarollers tend to be more preventative than restorative and are best for addressing minor skincare concerns like early signs of aging.

Pros and Cons of Professional Microneedling Treatments

Pros

There are a variety of advantages associated with choosing medical microneedling treatments including:

• Results are better and more consistent overall. Not only are the microneedling devices themselves more advanced, but the professionals at the clinic also possess the skills, training, and experience to use them properly and tailor each treatment—needle depth, placement, and more—to suit individual needs.
• Medical microneedling can be a more comfortable experience. Prior to a treatment, patients will usually have a topical anaesthetic applied to the target area, and the medical-grade devices used are designed to minimize discomfort.

The main benefit associated with medical microneedling treatments is that they produce more dramatic results that last longer.

Cons

The primary hurdle people encounter when considering medical microneedling tends to be the cost because, compared to the price of an at-home dermaroller, medical microneedling treatments are more expensive. If you are looking for the best way to effectively correct more advanced skincare concerns, however, the higher price tag might be worth it.

Microneedling special: get $600 off a complete Beauty Booster package. Visit our promo page to learn more!

Dermarolling vs. Medical Needling—How Do I Decide?

Ultimately, answering this question comes down to assessing and understanding your unique needs and choosing the treatment best suited to them. If you are younger and are worried about only early signs of aging, incorporating dermarolling as part of your at-home skincare routine could be a convenient way to maintain your youthful appearance. If, however, you would like to address more advanced lines, wrinkles, discolouration, or other issues like scarring, medical microneedling treatments will likely be the best choice for you.

Whether you purchase a dermaroller for use at home or book medical microneedling treatments at a reputable cosmetic clinic, what matters is that the treatment you decide on gives you skin you will feel comfortable and confident showing off to the world.

At Brampton Cosmetic, we provide a range of skin health procedures and products including dermarollers from Environ® and medical microneedling InnoPen and Beauty Booster. Contact us today to learn more!

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