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Microneedling: a procedure that involves pricking the skin with tiny sterilized needles to produce more collagen and elastin for younger looking skin. Also known as: collagen induction therapy. 

Today, let’s take a deep dive into this procedure and why it’s absolutely so important for your skin. We know it’s become a buzzword in skincare but not everyone truly knows what it involves. Our owner, Shannon has had this service several times and says, “I absolutely love what it’s done for my skin,” and the best news is, you can too! 

Have you ever suffered from large pores or simply want to prevent aging? We get it! We need you to know that large pores aren’t unhealthy and most people probably don’t even notice, but you do. With aging, we all want to help correct fine lines that start forming around our eyes or forehead. Microneedling helps tremendously with both of these, as well as a slew of other things like acne scarring. 

Let’s talk about how this helps with acne scarring or stretch marks/surgical scars as we have a lot of patients who utilize this as a corrective treatment. So many of our patients have felt like there aren’t a ton of options to heal this, and we’re so happy to see them come back with fantastic results from Microneedling. Again, when we turn over those cells and reveal a brighter and lighter area, you’ll see a world of difference with your scarring. Trust us! 

Microneedling is also a form of exfoliating; we’re essentially causing a controlled injury healing response to our skin cells and in doing so, we help our skin cells turn over naturally. This process shuts down old or dead skin cells and gets rid of the clogged congestion that perhaps didn’t shed like they should have. While it’s true we can’t actually shrink pores, we can definitely alter their appearance by unclogging them and forcing them to stand down. 

Our clients really love the fact that it helps with dark under eye circles as well (buh-bye raccoon eyes); this process helps lighten and brighten that skin tissue and you’ll notice a huge difference. Not only does it help tremendously with your under eyes, but also helps with sun damage too; again, we’re turning over those dead skin cells and ridding it of old, damaged skin tissue which is where the pigment lies. 

So how does it work? After coming into our office, we will cleanse your skin and prep it for the treatment. We will apply a numbing cream that numbs your skin and makes this much more comfortable. The procedure involves tiny mico-needles, so it’s nothing at all to be scared of; it’s not the same as getting a shot like many people assume. Once we get going, we’ll walk you through the process and explain how these tiny micro-tears are creating little channels in the skin’s tissue and stimulating collagen production in your body as well as elasticity. We’re helping your skin’s tissue rebuild, reform and remodel itself to rid it of damage. 

It’s a remarkable treatment and we can’t’ speak about it highly enough; it’s very comfortable when you use the topical numbing creams as well, so please don’t be afraid of it. It’s also done quickly as you can have your entire face microneedled in about 10-15 minutes. We can also treat your neck, decolletage, the back of your hands, abdomen, breast tissue, inner and outer thighs, you name it! 

How do you help your body recover post care? You’re going to leave our office a little red, depending on the depth of the treatment. If you’re somebody who tends to flare up and get red easily after a workout, you can expect that with Microneedling as well. Expect to stay red for 24-48 hours post-treatment. As the night progresses, your skin will feel a bit warm and you might feel or see a little edema (swelling) in your skin, especially underneath the eyes and in the upper cheek bone; those are usually the areas with fat pads that will hold a bit more water retention. We will always recommend sleeping with a second pillow at night so you can avoid swelling, we like to see your body propped up a bit. We’ll always recommend cooling packs or a fan to keep your skin cool and we’ll be sure to send you home with post-care goodies including a skin-pen which is super safe and FDA cleared. It’s also effective and we will provide two different kinds; one that you use during and after the treatment that day and within 24 hours, and then another that helps with the healing process of the skin tissue for the best results. They are both complimentary with your treatment for you to take home (you’ll use those for about 3 days up to a week). 

After a couple of days, you’ll either be light pink or the color will have faded completely and after 24 hours you can go back to wearing makeup – we will always recommend that you avoid excessive heat the day of the treatment and typically that following morning as well (not hot yoga, laying in the sun, hot tubbing, adventuring through Egypt in the broad daylight, you get the gist). We will tell you until we’re blue in the face, please wear your sunscreen every single day to prevent any further damage as your skin will be a bit more sensitive since we’ve created those micro-channels. It’s a fairly simple treatment that goes quickly! 

Want to take it a step further and get some nice flaking? Add in one of our booster options that can advance the treatment and make it a little more intense! 

Let’s touch on our PRP or platelet rich plasma which is completed with a different method of spin down. When you come in, we’ll take a small sample of your blood, collect it in a tube and put it in our centrifuge; this is a super safe and sanitary machine that spins down your blood and separates the plasma. We’ll then extract the platelet rich plasma. Why? Rich plasma has the highest concentration/most benefit with growth factors to stimulate and reproduce skin. It helps amp up collage production, rebuilds and remodels skin tissue, helps with scarring and anti-aging, and stretch marks too! The results are incredible, you can honestly almost instantly see the results; you can see the skin taking it in and your skin will have a glow from the treatment afterwards. Of course, it will take several weeks to truly have your skin rebuild and remodel itself but the before/afters are incredible. We like to call this “Microneedling on Steroids” (you’re welcome for that very professional, doctor-esque term). Every single person that breaths can benefit from PRP. 

We are accepting clients for this treatment always, so please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns as we love sitting down and explaining our treatment options for you. 

Hi, I’m Shannon and I’m taking over the blog today! Ready for a deep dive into my personal life and get to know me a little better? Let’s do it! 

I’m originally from Fargo, North Dakota and if you’re wondering, man I bet it’s cold there, you are correct. It’s freezing. My husband is from Bowman, North Dakota (also cold) so we both consider ourselves “North Dakota Nice” and really do feel like we know someone in every part of the state. We absolutely have our own ‘wave’ as we pass each other in the road, everyone there is ridiculously friendly, and I still use my North Dakota wave sometimes as I’m driving on the interstate. I truly think I was meant to take these cold roots with me to a warmer place because my bones and my blood love the warm weather! 

Being raised in North Dakota, you realize there’s something special about the people; they’re friendly, caring, giving, loving and willing to help a neighbor whenever it’s needed. On top of that, the work ethic this state has is so strong and I swear if I meet anyone from North Dakota I know they’ll be the best worker ever! We were literally raised to know that you must work for a living; things aren’t always handed to you and that ties into this business so much because we have worked so hard for it. 

We started this as a dream in the ‘peace garden state’. A big, huge, fun, terrifying, exciting dream and we’ve taken so many steps to make it happen. My first job as an aesthetician laser technician was in North Dakota working for a plastic surgeon at a med spa; it’s where I started, it’s where I started growing those roots and the love for my craft. We moved to Arizona nine and a half years ago and we’ve been married for a little over ten years, coming up on eleven; we got to start our family here! In so many ways, Arizona is home too. 

We have three beautiful children, two girls and a boy. They were born and raised in Arizona and we’re super family-oriented people who love to travel with our two pups and be outdoors! We live in such a beautiful state with so many things to do and explore; can we all agree that the weather is actually perfect here? Especially when we want to be poolside! We love taking little road trips and visiting everyone up north. I love spending time relaxing outside so that’s a place you’ll find me in my downtime, listening to music, sitting, or reading a book, that’s my jam so please let me know if you have any good book recommendations! I love working out because of how it makes me feel mentally and physically but it also gives me so much energy for my day and helps me get through life with three very busy kiddos (mama’s I know you hear me). I love healthy living, I love coffee and wine, a warm atmosphere, a good Bible study and being me. I love checking out different restaurants and patios and soaking up the goodness of the world! 

My husband and I both come from Christian backgrounds and have strong faith; we’ve literally prayed this business into existence and haven’t stopped praying for its future since. I know in my heart we wouldn’t be in this position if it weren’t for Him and the amazing plan He has for our lives. He has it all worked out and has made it all possible, even when we didn’t believe it ourselves. I remember praying for doors to be opened, for signs, for all the right things to happen and now, it just amazes me that we are here. 

I have always known I was meant to be an entrepreneur. I remember my friends, family and parents’ friends saying they’ve known since I was little that I was going to own a business! That I’ve always seemed very determined and very driven to be a good leader. I love hearing that and I still cling to those words because I love taking charge and I love to wear a lot of hats. Being a mom, I have this innate ability to multitask very well, you could totally call me a mompreneur and I’d be 100% fine with it. It’s such a fun, blessed thing to be part of and I’m honored to have that title! 

I am grateful you’re here, I’m grateful you’re reading this blog and interested in learning a bit more about me. Don’t be shy seeing me around the office and please stop and say hello! I can’t wait to meet you! 

This is one we love debunking because it gives us an opportunity for some quality education. Let’s say you run to the drugstore and see a product claiming to have Hyaluronic Acid, or Salicylic Acid or even Vitamin C. That doesn’t mean it’s good product. A lot of times, these companies will focus in on buzz words or key words people want more of (Hyaluronic Acid being one of them) and will use it in all their marketing campaigns – why? They know people are getting informed and want these products in their skincare. Unfortunately, they aren’t all created equal. Typically, when you see a product in a Med Spa or with a higher price tag, it’s because it’s quality product. Mind blowing right? You cannot create a quality product with quality ingredients at no cost, you just can’t. A lot goes into a product to make it effective and safe; for example, Hyaluronic Acid comes in various forms and is derived in many ways so just because the bottle at the drugstore says it has this ingredient doesn’t mean it’s in the right form. That’s why so many people get frustrated and claim skincare isn’t for them, because they don’t see results and blame it on the ingredients when in fact, they aren’t getting the right ingredient at all. The same thing goes with Vitamin C. The formulation of these ingredients might not even have the correct percentages of use, for example the intended use for an ingredient could be 10% but you’re getting .5% in that product. Let’s say you grab product from a department store with a higher price tag, don’t be tricked into paying for the packaging! A lot of times all the profit or a good majority of it goes into the marketing of that product verses the technology and ingredient formulations; be aware and cautious! On the contrary, anytime you see products in a med spa, you know there were clinical trials from third party testers; anyone can say anything about their own product, but third parties will get into the weeds and determine how the product works. For example, the molecule sizes in your product might not be able to penetrate your skins barrier, and this comes down to science. Our testers look at molecular structure and whether it’s too large to physically penetrate your skin. Does it need to be micronized or solubilized? 

There is patented technology that involves encapsulation as well; meaning the product will be applied to the skin and once it seeps in, it releases the product. Here at Skinfinity we will tell you exactly what you need and guide you through the entire skincare process. We have clients who also need things super simple, like our men or travelers, and we do that as well. We’ll show you when to use it, how to use it, how much to use and everything in between. We’ll write it out and make it super clean and easy too! We are so passionate and educated about this and are continually being educated across our entire staffing panel. We’re always up to date on the latest technology being used as well as products that will be the most beneficial for you. 

Ahhh the Skinfinity difference, do you ever feel like you could talk for hours and hours about your child and all the incredible things he/she is doing and how they progressively get better and better? Welcome to our brains when it comes to Skinfinity! When someone asks us why we’re different than any other med spa, it always seems like a loaded question because there’s so much we could talk about.

We are all about the experience which has so many different angles and avenues and can always get better and better. We want you to be excited walking through our doors, pumped, over the moon and ready to see your provider! That doesn’t happen with any hum-drum med spa, and we’re definitely not that. 

Our experience always starts with our clients. Maybe you’re having a bad day, or need a pick-me-up, or you’re preparing for a huge event in your life, or maybe you’re feeling a little insecure and want to talk about options. Whatever the reason, we want you to know that you are welcome here and you are going to have one of the best experiences. You can express your actual, genuine need here. You can express your concern here. You can express your desires here. It’s secure and it’s safe and our only job is to help you feel like the best version of you; that matters to us.  

So how do we do that? Well, we personalize everything to your unique needs; what you like, what you’re looking for, how we can help and everything in between. We want you to have our spa water when you first walk in and hang out in the waiting area for your name to be called; we want you to walk into that aromatherapy room and decide which scent you want to use while getting your treatment. Now that’s customizable right? Picking your own scent to smell while getting treated can be invigorating, relaxing, calming, uplifting or soothing and we want you to feel absolutely perfect. If you’re coming in for a massage, our warm beds will leave you feeling toasty, calm and relaxed (can’t you just imagine it). Those are the tiny details we offer that really sets us apart from anyone else. 

But wait there’s more! Really? Really! We will always provide you with top-quality products; we will never cut corners when it comes to you and your treatments or products. We know that sometimes, as businesses grow, some things slip – but we will always have a leader or an owner in the building and present to really listen to clients and employees to make sure we are keeping our brand up to par and flourishing.

We can assure you that once you hop back in your car after your experience with us, you’ll whisper ‘wow’ with a head nod and a ‘that was incredible’. We’re sure of it! We will always value our brand and hold it to the highest of standards. 

The really cool part is that it doesn’t end when you get in your car – we want to carry this over from the second you enter, to the treatment room, into the exit and follow up. We truly want to ensure you loved what you received. We are all about feedback as well and will continually improve; it’s truly an open door for our employees to be open and honest as well, not just clients. We mean it when we say we want everyone to feel valued and important and we take that very seriously. You are amazing, and we’re so excited to introduce you to the Skinfinity difference! 

If you’ve ever thought this, you’re not alone! So many of our clients come in and are worried they’ll look fake or plastic. This is largely in part to Hollywood’s perception of injections and the actors/actresses who have very obviously ‘had work done’. The great news is that most of Hollywood has had work done, but you’d never know it because they had professional injectors who did the work correctly. It’s so common for us to have clients say, “I want to get my lips done but I’m so scared of them looking unnatural,” or, “I’ve never had my cheeks done because I don’t want to look like a chipmunk,” or “I don’t want Botox because I don’t want my face to look frozen,”. We get it, it’s a common fear but let’s address it head on. Injections are intended to replace bone loss, collagen loss and volume loss because as we age (even if we’re only 30 years old) that gravitational pull starts to take effect; that once perfect V-shaped face is now losing volume, our cheekbones and brows don’t look as high, our lips aren’t as full, our crow’s feet and lines in our forehead start to show up, we’re starting to see those nasal labial folds increase, our chin looks different and our face shape is turning from a V to an A….it’s a lot! The great news though, is that these injections will replace those in a very natural way. Our product will eventually dissolve out of the body but what’s even more amazing is that it will stimulate your body to re-create its own collagen – it works with your body, not against. 

The lips are our most requested site for injections, and this doesn’t need to look unnatural; wanting volume in this area is completely fine! We typically shoot for only 1 syringe of product which is subtle enough for people to know you look a tad different, but they aren’t sure why; it looks very natural. We’ll have clients come in a little scared of their lips looking fake and will receive ½ syringe – more than likely they will come back a few weeks later and get the other ½ for more volume. When you see someone who has had filler and their lips look much larger than normal, more than likely it’s because she already had full lips to begin with and added to them, and that’s okay! Sometimes though, women will do several syringes, we’re talking 4-7 depending on how much their lips can hold and come in over the course of several months. Obviously, this starts to look very unnatural and takes quite a bit of product; it’s more on the extreme side of what we do. Every injection we do is based on customization and we can guide you to the perfect amount for your lip and face shape. 

Also, injection is an art. Really. It’s not something you just get credentials for and hope for the best. You must have an eye for placement, individual needs, which product to use, technique and how to create a flawless look. We love to give this example: we all know what it takes to paint a picture right? But we don’t just pick up a paintbrush, dip it into some paint and create a flawless masterpiece. You must have an eye for that. Injections are not meant to look fake or plastic, they are meant to give back your youthful appearance and leave you feeling just as amazing as you are.