(Photo above courtsey of Absolutely Chic)
Comfortably swaddled in a white robe and a plush blanket, Redmond Bookkeeper Peggy Seay lies back in the Westside office in Bend of Absolutely Chic, peacefully awaiting a younger complexion.
Seay has never had even a single Botox injection or filler and she is preparing for her second Dermapen treatment, the newest in-office procedure that promises to soften facial wrinkles, minimize pores, fade scars and leave patients with brighter, tighter, and younger skin — all courtesy of 12 tiny needles.
“In my opinion, anyone ages 35 to 70 should be getting these treatments,” Seay says. “We are not looking at it as a separate procedure like laser but as something that should be incorporated into a person’s skin care.”
The minimally invasive Dermapen treatment began popping up in offices nationwide and is now being hailed as “the best recent innovation in skin rejuvenation,” says Richard Anderson, a cosmetic surgeon in Salt Lake City. The electronically driven, pen-shaped device is an updated take on manual derma-rollers, a more painful and less precise way of puncturing tiny holes in the skin to stimulate healing below the surface, which in turn jump-starts collagen and elastin production.
However, unlike derma-rollers, Dermapen is equipped with fine, vibrating needles that pierce the skin at a predetermined speed and depth, resulting in little damage to the epidermis. Downtime is minimal; patients can hide redness with mineral makeup and resume their normal activities immediately.
But perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of Dermapen is its ability to act as a “dermal infusion device,” says Riley, meaning that prior to treatment your practitioner can apply a blend of active ingredients onto your face (think vitamin C and hyaluronic acid), which are then driven deep below the skin’s surface through channels created by the needles. Using Dermapen in conjunction with topical ingredients, Riley adds, allows them to be absorbed 100 to 1,000 times more effectively, which is a huge advantage when you’re fighting the clock.
The procedure itself is quick, lasting about 30 minutes, as the device is moved across the skin in six areas: the forehead, cheeks, nose, upper lip, chin, and neck.
Most Dermapen patients describe the treatment as feeling like pinpricks or, as Seay puts it, “unpleasant but tolerable.” For maximum results, it is recommend three to four appointments spaced two to four weeks apart. (Cost per session ranges from $200 to $350.)
“When I turned 40, my skin started feeling saggy, and I wanted to get a lift without surgery or lasers,” she says, adding, “I don’t want a Botoxed face. I want to recognize myself.”
After two treatments, she reports “tighter, younger, and more glowy skin.” Before trying Dermapen, Spinardi experimented with lasers but found them too painful to endure more than one session.
Spinardi is not alone. Many Dermapen devotees, including Seay, are former laser patients, and according to Riley, Dermapen can produce results similar to those of Fraxel lasers but without the prolonged redness and pain. “Fraxel laser is a state-of-the-art treatment, but it’s difficult to use on dark-skinned patients, and the downtime is often greater than advertised,” Riley explains.
“So if you can find a device that can do everything that Fraxel can do, or close to it, and can take away some of the negatives, then you have a very appealing product.
The folks at Dermapen acknowledge that they are not reinventing the wheel. “The technology is not groundbreaking,” says Chad Milton, CEO and cofounder of the company. “We just innovated something that needed an update.” Milton hints that he wants the next generation of the device to do exactly what doctors are hoping for: inject ingredients simultaneously during the needle use.
In the end, “Dermapen is not going to put surgeons or lasers out of business. It’s another weapon in our anti-aging armamentarium,” says Riley.
For Seay, Dermapen yields results. “My skin is smoother, my pores look smaller, and I’m not as blotchy,” she says. She happily gathers her things from Riley’s office, applies some mineral powder, and is off to go run some errands, certain that no one will know she’s just come from a treatment room.
Denise Riley is at Absolutely Chic perfectly located on the Westside of Bend. Denise and her team are continuously researching and pushing the boundaries of modern skincare. Through Absolutely Chic, she offers clients innovative and non-invasive skin rejuvenation treatments, all in an effort to repair, restore and replenish the skin and body.
Denise’s mission is to provide great skincare and services while both educating and inspiring others. Contact 541-317-4125 or denise@absolutelychic.us
