Yesterday, someone asked about vampire facials: it's essentially PRP injections +- microneedling, but some places don't do the microneedling part (which is sad as it's very good by itself) because it takes time and it can be messy (there will be blood!)

Lately there's been lots of copes on the sub - and there are very valid ones, like some treatments being costly.

But if there's one that's not expansive, that you can do at home, that makes many promises, yet delivers on all of them, it's microneedling

So here's a small guide to help you get starting with looksmaxxing

The science behind microneedling

First, here is a link you should read if you haven't heard about microneedling before, or you are considering it, because it's important to check the science before doing anything: https://www.reddit.com/r/Vindicta/comments/j8ms1k/microneedlingdermapen_what_can_it_do_litterature

Compared to other procedures, what's good is that it's possible (and much cheaper!) to do it at home. Some people also do PRP at home, but I don't recommend that: you need experience drawing blood, with vacuum tubes, iv lines, and a centrifuge. In theory, it's possible but there are a few things that could go wrong. It's not that you can't do it well if you absolutely want to, but doing microneedling is much safer

The first time

If you have the money, get your first microneedling done by a professional, just to see what it entails.

If you can't get it done by a pro, you can try it at home with a patch test (ex: back of your arm) before risking it on your face

What you need

How to do it

Ideally right before a long weekend, desinfect you whole face with 70% alcohol. Apply lidocaine cream all over, and make it THICK: you face should be white. If you can see the skin through the cream, it's not enough. Add some more. You'll need at least 2 or 3 tubes. The more concentrated the lidocaine, the better: some shops sell high % lidocaine for "tatoos". I can recommend alibaba and aliexpress

Then apply something to "hold the lidocaine cream in place" as gravity will make it leak otherwise: I'm a big fan of saran wrap: I just run it around my face, cutting holes for my mouth, nostril and eyes. I wrap my whole head like that

Make sure you can breathe: if not use the scissors and try again lol

Then wait at least 45 minutes for top efficiency of the lidocaine (and less pain!)

Another way is to use a k-beauty mask (because it has premade holes) instead of the saran wrap, but it leaks more, I don't like that

Set your pen

There are different protocols depending on what you want to do: use 1.5mm for scars, 0.5mm for wrinkles. There are many other protocols: if you've read the links, you will know what to use!

You should also use different depths for different parts of your face - but I won't tell you precisely what, bc if you don't know, that means you haven't read the links, and I don't want to encourage anyone to take too many risks

Remove the cream and desinfect again

Cut out the saran wrap (or unroll it), remove the lidocaine with paper towels, desinfect again, then let the alcohol dry out a bit. Don't feel rushed: you have between 30min to 1hour during which you won't feel pain

The actual microneedling

Use alcohol on your gloves, then microneedle your face with the right settings (!)

It's best to be in front of a mirror to avoid forgetting zones. You can do multiple passes on problematic areas like scars

And if you have specific problems, now is the time to use your actives and make them go deeper:

Wrapping it up

Your face will be bleeding. That's when I usually use almost half a tube of tretinoin gel 0.1%: both because it's greasy and limits the bleeding, and because it's tret and it's good for the skin

I put a towel on my pillow, pop some sleeping pills, and sleep it out. The next day, there will be crusts, but don't touch them. Let you face heal.

When you have to go back to work on monday, wash your face gently with a soap like cerave. Don't dry it out with a towel, but with an hair drier, to limit the risks of infections (towels are full of microbes)

You may look red, but nobody will be able to guess you looked like the main character of an horror movie a few days before :)