The Secrets of Snails: How Microneedling with Growth Factors Can Save Your Skin

by Kate Dee, MD

How can you keep your skin looking young? Sometime around the age of 30, the fibroblasts in your skin go to sleep and stop making collagen and elastin. As you age, these substances in your dermis shrink away, about 1% per year. These are critical to keep your skin thick and springy, and resistant to gravity. As it slowly thins out, it gives way to wrinkles and sagging. So how can you prevent that?

The answer: microneedling with growth factors can wake up those fibroblasts! We can use great topicals on our skin, like retinols and Vitamin C, which when absorbed well, stimulate collagen production. But those fibroblasts need a much bigger kick to get going – they’re dormant! At Glow Medispa in Seattle we use a microneedling device that uses multiple tiny needles which penetrate into the dermis. This minimal injury causes your body to stimulate healing and collagen production.

What is Microneedling?

Microneedling is one of the least invasive and most effective skin enhancement techniques currently available. A small device with numerous tiny, sterile needles creates microscopic punctures in your skin. This process encourages the formation of brand new collagen that will gradually resurface and restructure your skin.

Other skin enhancement treatments only deal with the surface aspect of the problem, but this treatment penetrates more deeply into the skin to treat the source of the skin imperfections.

What are Growth Factors?

This procedure is made more robust with the use of powerful growth factors. We offer two different approaches. One is to use Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) to use the growth factors from your own blood to cause collagen production. I’ve written extensively in two previous blog posts on PRP here: (Part 1 and Part 2). This is known as the PRP facelift or the PRP facial. 

Another approach harnesses the power of… Snails! Yes, really. Many years ago in the early 1900’s people observed that snails (Cryptomphalus aspersa) have the ability to heal from almost any injury in less than 48 hours. Snail secretions, containing growth factors, glycoproteins and antioxidants, have been studied for over a century now, and have been shown to help repair, maintain and protect human skin. After the nuclear melt-down at Chernobyl in 1986, these powerful substances were used to heal the most severe radiation burns with tremendous success. Now, 30 years later, we use Biopelle tensage growth factor serum to stimulate a massive healing response in your skin. Biopelle has a powerful fibroblast stimulating growth factor that help your dermis make collagen, with amazing results.

Is microneedling Uncomfortable?

Patients generally tolerate their micro-needling treatments very well. We stand ready to apply a topical numbing solution to your skin prior to your treatment upon request. Any discomfort felt during a treatment passes very quickly. Your skin may look as though it has a mild sunburn for a few hours after the treatment, but this is normal and can be expected to also fade rapidly.

How many microneedling treatments will I need?

Our goal is to keep those fibroblasts awake and busy making collagen. One procedure causes a collagen response that lasts 4-6 months. We recommend a series of 3 treatments, 4-6 weeks apart. This way each time the fibroblasts get a bigger boost and continue making collagen for longer. One series per year can keep your dermis in shape, able to spring back when gravity pulls. Biopelle is clinically proven to repair damaged skin, improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, increase elasticity, enhance and maintain texture, tone and luminosity.Our goal is to keep those fibroblasts awake and busy making collagen. One procedure causes a collagen response that lasts 4-6 months. We recommend a series of 3 treatments, 4-6 weeks apart. This way each time the fibroblasts get a bigger boost and continue making collagen longer. One series per year can keep your dermis in shape, able to spring back when gravity pulls. Biopelle is clinically proven to repair damaged skin, improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, increase elasticity, enhance and maintain texture, tone and luminosity.

If you'd like to learn more and see if microneedling is right for you, book a consultation at Glow Medispa today. We'd love to help you find the right treatments to look and feel your best!