Summer is winding down, routines are returning, and for many of us, this is the time of year when we start looking a little more closely at our skin.
Maybe you’re noticing pigmentation that became more visible over the summer. Your skin feels rougher or less radiant. Fine lines are becoming more noticeable. Or maybe you’ve simply decided it’s time to get serious about collagen and long-term skin health.
Enter: microneedling.
September is one of our favourite times to begin a microneedling series at Ciao Bella Advanced Aesthetics—not because microneedling is exclusively a fall treatment, but because fall makes it particularly easy to commit to a series, reduce excessive sun exposure and give your skin time to rebuild before the next summer season.
So, what exactly is microneedling—and why do we love it so much?
Microneedling is a professional skin treatment that creates thousands of precise, controlled micro-injuries in the skin.
That may sound intimidating, but those controlled micro-injuries are exactly what make the treatment so interesting.
Your skin recognizes an injury and begins its natural wound-healing response.
That response initiates a cascade of processes involved in repairing and remodeling the skin, including the production and organization of collagen.
Instead of simply treating the surface of the skin, we’re asking the skin to do something it already knows how to do:
Repair itself.
Collagen is one of the major structural proteins that gives our skin strength, support and firmness.
When we’re younger, our skin has a greater ability to produce and maintain that structural support. As we age, collagen production gradually declines and existing collagen becomes increasingly fragmented and disorganized.
Then we add years of UV exposure and environmental stress, and eventually those internal changes begin showing up in the mirror.
Fine lines.
Wrinkles.
Changes in texture.
Less firmness.
Less plumpness.
More visible signs of aging.
Microneedling doesn’t stop aging—and that’s never the promise.
Instead, it creates controlled stimulation designed to encourage the skin’s natural repair and remodeling processes.
That’s why we think of microneedling as a collagen-focused treatment rather than simply another facial.
Microneedling can be an excellent option for clients concerned with:
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Uneven skin texture
• Enlarged-looking pores
• Acne scarring
• Certain types of scarring
• Uneven-looking skin tone
• Sun-damaged appearance
• Dullness
• Loss of firmness
• Overall skin quality
• Preventative skin-aging strategies
One of the things we love most about microneedling is that you don’t necessarily need one dramatic skin concern to benefit from it.
Some clients come to us because they have acne scarring.
Others are noticing wrinkles.
And others simply say:
“My skin is changing. I want to start doing something that actually stimulates it.”
That’s a conversation we have all the time.
Microneedling can absolutely be performed at other times of the year when appropriate sun precautions are followed.
But September is a fantastic time to start.
After summer, clients often begin noticing the cumulative effects of sun exposure, dehydration and disrupted skincare routines.
At the same time, our days are getting shorter and most of us are spending less time intentionally lying in the sun.
That’s helpful because sun protection is extremely important before and after microneedling.
It also works beautifully with the treatment schedule we recommend.
At Ciao Bella, we typically recommend THREE consecutive microneedling treatments spaced approximately SIX WEEKS apart.
Start in September and your series naturally carries you through fall and into winter.
Rather than waiting until next spring and suddenly wanting to “fix everything” before summer, we’re giving the skin months to go through its gradual remodeling process.
One microneedling treatment can be beneficial.
But when our goal is meaningful collagen remodeling and visible improvement in skin quality, we generally don’t approach microneedling as a one-and-done treatment.
We recommend a series of three treatments, approximately six weeks apart.
Each treatment creates another controlled stimulus.
The skin responds.
It heals.
It remodels.
Then we create another controlled stimulus.
This is why we often explain that the benefits of a series can build upon one another.
And three isn’t a lifetime maximum.
Some clients choose additional treatments depending on their concerns and goals.
We also have clients who love their results so much that microneedling becomes part of their annual skin plan—often completing another series each fall.
This is where microneedling requires a little patience.
You may notice changes in the appearance and feel of your skin relatively early, but collagen remodeling is not an overnight process.
New collagen formation and remodeling continue for weeks to months following treatment.
We typically talk to our clients about looking at their skin over a 12–16 week timeframe rather than expecting the final result in seven days.
That’s also why taking before photos is so important.
When you look in the mirror every morning, gradual changes can be difficult to recognize.
Compare your skin months later and the difference can become much more obvious.
At Ciao Bella, microneedling isn’t simply:
Numb → needle → go home.
We use the TWIST microneedling system and build the appointment around both the professional treatment and the client’s overall skin experience.
Before treatment, we apply Zensa numbing cream for approximately 20 minutes to make the procedure more comfortable.
During the microneedling portion, we use hyaluronic acid to provide glide and hydration while the TWIST device creates controlled microchannels at professionally selected depths.
Treatment depth isn’t something we approach with a “deeper is always better” mentality.
Different areas of the face have different tissue characteristics, and different concerns require different approaches.
Professional microneedling should be controlled and customized.
This may actually be one of the most important parts of the entire treatment.
We take post-care seriously.
After microneedling, we don’t want clients going home and putting a mystery collection of products onto freshly treated skin.
We want to know what you’re using.
We want you to understand WHY you’re using it.
And we want your home care to support what we’ve just asked your skin to do.
Our immediate post-treatment philosophy is:
HYDRATE. CALM. PROTECT. HEAL.
Your skin may look pink or red immediately after treatment—often similar to a sunburn.
It can feel warm, tight or sensitive.
Over the following days, some clients experience dryness, flaking or light peeling.
That’s normal within the expected recovery process.
Our goal isn’t to scrub that skin away or immediately restart every active ingredient in the bathroom cabinet.
We want to support the skin and avoid unnecessary irritation.
One of our favourite post-treatment home-care products is IMAGE Skincare’s I MASK Hydrating Hydrogel Sheet Mask.
After microneedling, hydration is a priority, and we don’t want the skin becoming unnecessarily dry while it heals.
The hydrogel mask provides a cooling, soothing dose of hydration and includes ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and aloe.
And, frankly, it feels amazing when freshly treated skin feels warm and tight.
Clients should always follow the specific post-treatment schedule we provide rather than assuming that every normal skincare product should immediately be restarted.
First we heal.
Then we return to our longer-term corrective routine.
For the initial recovery period, your esthetician will give you specific aftercare instructions based on your treatment.
Generally, we want to avoid unnecessary heat, sweating and irritation immediately following treatment.
That means taking a break from intense exercise right after your appointment, avoiding excessive heat and sun exposure, and temporarily holding aggressive or potentially irritating active skincare until your skin is ready for it.
Don’t pick at flaking skin.
Don’t aggressively exfoliate it.
And don’t decide this is the perfect time to test a new acid or retinol.
Your skin is busy.
Let it heal.
This is another area where professional home care becomes incredibly important.
You may spend a couple of hours with us for your appointment.
Then you spend the next six weeks with your skin at home.
Those six weeks matter.
Once the initial healing period is complete, we can build a professional home-care routine around your individual goals.
Depending on the client, that may eventually include products such as:
VITAL C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum for hydration, antioxidant support and vitamin C.
the MAX Crème for advanced moisture, peptides and visible signs of aging.
AGELESS+ Retinol for appropriate clients looking for more advanced correction.
DAILY PREVENTION SPF for essential daily UV protection.
The products aren’t chosen simply because they’re “good skincare.”
They’re chosen because they have specific jobs within the overall plan.
Six weeks between microneedling treatments doesn’t mean we ignore the skin in between.
We love incorporating treatments such as an OxyGeneo Super Facial or O2 Cloud Facial between microneedling appointments when appropriate.
Think of the microneedling as our more intensive collagen-stimulating treatment.
Then our facials allow us to continue focusing on things like hydration, exfoliation, oxygenation and overall skin maintenance between sessions.
And once a three-treatment microneedling series is complete, we don’t want the relationship with your skin to end.
Regular facials and professional home care help us continue maintaining what we’ve worked toward.
Absolutely not.
You don’t need to wait until significant wrinkles appear before thinking about collagen.
A younger client may choose microneedling because of acne scarring, texture or pores.
Another may simply want to take a proactive approach to skin aging.
A more mature client may be focused on wrinkles, firmness and overall skin quality.
The treatment plan should reflect the person—not simply their age.
Microneedling isn’t appropriate for everyone at every moment.
Certain situations may mean we need to postpone treatment or recommend a different approach.
Examples can include active skin infections, open wounds, active inflammatory skin conditions in the treatment area, certain medications or medical conditions, impaired wound healing and pregnancy, depending on the treatment protocol.
Clients using prescription retinoids, blood-thinning medications or other medications that may affect treatment should tell us during consultation.
And if there is ever a medical concern outside our scope, we’ll recommend speaking with the appropriate healthcare professional.
Professional skin treatments should start with determining whether the treatment is appropriate for YOU.
If microneedling has been sitting on your “I should really do that” list, September is a pretty perfect time to finally begin.
Start now.
Complete your treatments approximately six weeks apart.
Protect your skin.
Use the right home care.
Give collagen time to remodel.
And instead of scrambling next spring, you’ll already have spent the fall and winter investing in your skin.
Because great skin isn’t built the week before an event.
It’s built through what you do consistently over time.
— The Skin Edit
Ciao Bella Advanced Aesthetics
Grande Prairie, Alberta
