Microneedling is a cosmetic procedure that involves using a small device equipped with fine needles to create tiny punctures in the skin. The punctures trigger the body's natural healing response, stimulating the production of collagen and elastin, which help to improve the texture, tone, and overall appearance of the skin. Microneedling can also be used to address a variety of skin concerns, including fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, hyperpigmentation, and enlarged pores. It is a minimally invasive procedure.

Reasons why microneedling may NOT be right for you:

• have a known history of clotting or bleeding disorders such as hemophilia

• you suffer from uncontrolled diabetes

• you are taking anticoagulant therapies such as warfarin or heparin or low dose aspirin prescribed by your physician

• you are suffering from an active skin infection including bacterial, fungal, or viral

• you have eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, a collagen vascular disease, or skin rashes on the face

• you are suffering from active acne of the face or you are currently taking acne medication with the ingredient isotretinoin (such as Accutane™)

• you have actinic (solar) keratoses, keloid scars (or a history of keloid scars), human papillomavirus warts (HPV) or birthmarks or moles in the treatment area.

• you are suffering from a known malignancy or are undergoing or about to undergo treatments using chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or high dose corticosteroids

• you suffer from a systemic infection such as hepatitis or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

• if you are pregnant or are currently breastfeeding

• you are allergic to stainless steel or topical or local anesthetics or have a history of contact dermatitis to these products

• you are allergic to or have a history of contact dermatitis to the ingredients in Supragel™ which consists of calcium chloride, propylene glycol, deionized water, sodium hydroxide, sucrose, pectin and cellulose gum (blanose)

• you have undergone plastic surgery of the face within the last 12 months

• you have undergone a dermal filler procedure in the last 12 months

• any facial surgical scars that are less than 12 months old

• you have undergone Botox® or other neuromodulator injections in the face in the past three months

Subjects in a clinical trial for the Exceed Microneedling device were asked to rate their pain on a scale of 0 - 10. 0 being no discomfort, 10 being the worst pain ever. The average pain score over four treatments was a 5.2.

Topical lidocaine numbing treatment will be utilized before beginning your procedure.

1. You will have your face cleansed to remove any traces of dirt & make-up.

2. You will have a numbing cream applied to your face. You will need to wait (typically 30 minutes) while the numbing cream works.

3. After your face is numb the cream is removed from your face and your face will be cleansed again.

4. You will undergo the treatment. The treatment involves making many, microscopic punctures into the epidermis of the skin using very fine sterile needles.

5. To do this, the device is moved over your skin repeatedly to puncture the epidermis. People who experience the treatment say that it feels like their skin is being rubbed with fine sandpaper while others describe the feeling of an electronic toothbrush being moved across your skin.

6. The treatment takes 15–20 minutes. After the treatment, your skin will be cleansed again and a high sun protection factor (SPF) sunscreen will be applied to your skin.

During a clinical study on 48 subjects the following side effects were reported:

• Some pinpoint bleeding after the treatment, but this will stop within 5–10 minutes

• Erythema, pain, discomfort and skin peeling were recorded by the subjects up to eight days after treatment.

• Forty nine percent (49%) of subjects reported their skin to be moderately red on the evening of the treatment, the remainder reporting their skin redness to be mild or less than mild.

• By day 5, 94% of subjects reported their skin redness as either minimal or absent.

If you experience any side effects that are NOT listed above and/or symptoms that appear to be worse than those listed above, please contact your physician immediately.

Please contact your physician if you have any concerns in general about the treatment.

Care of your skin after the treatment

a. Your physician may give a sunscreen to use after the treatment and a moisturizer to use only in extreme cases of your skin feeling excessively dry. Follow the instructions given to you by your healthcare provider.

b. Apply the sunscreen in the morning and if directly in the sun every two hours.

c. Pat the sunscreen onto the face for the first three days while the skin may be red and uncomfortable.

DO NOT massage the sunscreen into the skin.

d. Avoid direct sun exposure for five days.