What Microneedling Training Is and How to Find It

Author

Dr. Stephen Cosentino

We all know that minimally invasive injectable treatments like Botox® and dermal fillers can soften fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and other telltale signs of aging.

But many other types of less well-known aesthetic procedures exist as well. With proper training, these treatments can turn your practice into a truly comprehensive provider of aesthetic services.

One such treatment is microneedling. Also known as “micro needling” or collagen induction therapy (CIT), it’s a painless, nonsurgical procedure that promotes skin rejuvenation by stimulating collagen production.

Ready to find a microneedling training course and advance your aesthetic practice? Here’s what to know about the procedure and what to look for in your training.

What Is Microneedling?

Microneedling treatments use microscopic, vertically oscillating needles to create “micro injury” sites around the treatment area.

The needles only pierce the top layer of skin and don’t cause lasting injury, but they’re enough to stimulate the body’s natural wound healing response. That response includes a sharp increase in the production of collagen and elastin, naturally occurring substances that can add volume and smooth wrinkles, scars, and lines.

Microneedling can supplement or replace other collagen-stimulating cosmetic treatments, such as laser treatments. The procedure is safe on virtually any area of the body but is most commonly used on the face and neck.

A typical course of treatment involves four to six procedures over four to six weeks, with immediate results after the first treatment. Individual treatments take 15 to 30 minutes.

Microneedling Training: Objectives and Curriculum

What should you expect from your microneedling certification course? A comprehensive course should cover the following:

Overview of the clinical uses and indications for microneedling
How to use microneedling devices, including the microneedle pen
Microneedling treatment protocols and techniques
Recognizing contraindications for treatment, such as susceptibility to keloid scarring and certain blood thinners
Treatment planning, including mapping out treatment sites and scheduling individual treatment sessions
Selecting and applying topical treatments after microneedling, such as gels, creams, and serums
Planning and executing complementary aesthetic treatments, such as Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
Guidelines for integrating microneedling into your aesthetic practice, whether it’s a medical spa, plastic surgery practice, or something else
Post-treatment follow-up, including monitoring for side effects and indications for further treatment

The best microneedling training courses offer a mix of didactic learning modules and hands-on demonstrations by experienced professionals. They also include supplemental or prerequisite materials that you can review at your convenience.

Where to Find Microneedling Training

Look for accredited microneedling training courses from established, reputable medical and aesthetic training organizations. The best courses are taught by experts with years of experience in the field and board certification in at least one aesthetic or medical specialty.

If you’re planning to expand your aesthetic practice’s range of services, consider investing in a

comprehensive in-person or online aesthetics course combining microneedling training with instruction in other specialized aesthetic treatments, such as cat eye thread lifts and microdermabrasion. These courses may offer microneedling training as part of the basic curriculum or as a half- or full-day add-on.