Some plastic surgeons now offer a treatment called collagen induction therapy (CIT) that’s normally a service of dermatologists. Also called microneedling, this medical treatment uses the body’s own collagen-producing capabilities to heal wrinkles, lighten scars, and improve skin tone, explains Dr. Joel Aronowitz. Recent studies may have uncovered a new use for CIT, the treatment of alopecia, when the treatment combines the use of a prescription medication like minoxidil, according to Health.
How CIT Works
In standard collagen induction therapy, a doctor uses a microneedle to make tiny pinpricks in the skin in the treatment area. The doctor avoids nerves and blood vessels while making these tiny needling points. The pinpricks in the skin cause collagen and elastin to develop in the area, part of the human body’s natural healing process.
Some plastic surgeons, such as Joel Aronowitz MD, take a blood draw before the procedure, process it in a centrifuge, and then re-inject the patient’s cleaned blood into the microneedle points. According to the medical journal Clinical Cases in Mineral and Bone Metabolism, the centrifugal process separates the platelets, which contain platelet-rich plasma (PRP). PRP houses many human growth factors, including:
- Interleukin 1
- Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)
- Osteocalcin
- Osteonectin
- Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)
- Platelet-derived endothelial growth factor (PDEGF)
- Transforming growth factor (TGF).
It also contains other growth factors in small amounts. These growth factors help speed the healing process in the microneedled area.
Quick Sessions, Improvement Over Time
Unlike plastic surgery, which produces instant results, CIT works over time. The microneedling session takes less than two hours, and there’s very little downtime. Because it uses the body’s natural healing process, beneficial results occur during a period of weeks following the first session. Most patients undergo more than one microneedling session to continue improvement and maintain the benefits. A regime of four sessions spaced 30 days apart has been shown to produce “significant improvement” in wrinkles, skin texture, and laxity within 90 to 150 days following the first session, states the Health article.
CIT Cost
Like most cosmetic procedures, the cost of CIT varies around the country. According to RealSelf, on average patients spend $756 on professional microneedling. A single session ranges in cost from $150 to $800. How much a person pays comes down to their location, the doctor they choose, and the doctor’s experience level. The number of sessions needed also influences cost.
Some individuals try over-the-counter at-home needling products, but those devices do not achieve the same effect as professional treatments. According to WebMD, a person could harm their skin using at-home kits, which use rollers with dull needles that merely brighten the skin. They can break the skin, however, and require consistent cleaning and sterilization so they don’t cause infections.
Find Out if CIT/Microneedling Can Help You
Whether you have acne scars or sun damage, CIT may be able to help repair the damage. It could offer an option to reduce wrinkles or treat alopecia. People whose skin develops keloid scars or active acne should not use this treatment. Consult a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon to find out if CIT could work for you.