A micro-coring treatment takes about 30 minutes from start to finish. Arguably, you could squeeze one in on your lunch break, but our experts definitely don’t recommend doing that. Rather, Dr. Bhanusali says, you should make sure you don’t have anything important on your schedule for at least a week (check out the standard recovery process below).
Most patients need more than one treatment to see full benefits. “For best results, patients typically need three treatments about one month apart,” says Dr. DeRosa. “And it takes about four to six months to see the full effect of the treatments.” The results you get vary based on the amount of skin removed, the needle-coring depth used by your doctor, the number of treatments, the depth and length of wrinkles, your skin’s unique healing process, and skin thickness. Your doctor can help you develop a treatment plan based on your skin and goals.
Micro-coring is offered at medi-spas, but you’ll definitely want to see a board-certified medical professional. You want the person poking these tiny but very real holes in your face to know exactly what they are doing.
What is the recovery process?
“Generally, patients have redness that lasts a few days,” says Dr. Bhanusali. Because the holes left by micro-coring are so small, any scars left behind are microscopic and invisible to the naked eye. However, says Dr. Doft, “whenever the skin is punctured and skin is removed there is the potential risk for scarring.” And the treatment does come with other risks such as pain, swelling, bruising, or infection.
To minimize these concerns, our experts recommend keeping your skin well moisturized for at least two weeks post-treatment (Dr. DeRosa suggests using Aquaphor), using gentle facial cleansers, avoiding retinols, and applying mineral-based sunscreen. To prevent clogging treatment-induced holes, avoid wearing makeup for about a week; after that, says Dr. Doshi, you can use mineral-based makeup to cover any resolving redness.
How much does micro-coring cost?
Prices for micro-coring, which is still relatively new to the cosmetic procedure scene, vary by provider and treatment area. Generally, you can expect each treatment to cost between $2,000 and $3,500. Remember that a typical treatment course consists of three treatments, so budget for $6,000 to $8,000.
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