How The Plasma Pen Treatment Process Works

Everyone wants tighter, firmer skin, and in the quest to achieve it, a new treatment, procedure, or device is seemingly launched almost every day. While some work and others are a fleeting trend, the Plasma Pen is one of the best options available for treating the common signs of aging.

Unlike other non-invasive skin rejuvenating treatments, the way the Plasma Pen works is unique and different. While the treatment reverses the signs of aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and skin texture changes, it’s also beloved for its ability to tighten up minimally saggy, loose skin.

Although the Plasma Pen and Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) have the word plasma in their names, the two treatments are very different. For starters, PRP requires blood to be drawn and the plasma to be separated and delivered deep into the skin. On the other hand, the Plasma Pen treatment relies on plasma energy to rejuvenate and regenerate the skin. The energy is delivered deep into the skin via targeted heat, which helps stimulate new collagen production and encourages softer, smoother, tighter-looking skin.

The Plasma Pen works well to firm loose skin, fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots anywhere on the face or body. One of its most well-known uses is under the eyes to reduce the appearance of bags by improving the skin’s color, so it appears less discolored while tightening the skin.

Some of the more popular treatment areas include:

  • Under the eyes to help reduce the appearance of bags and discoloration while tightening the skin
  • The forehead, around mouths, the nasolabial folds, and the 11s between the eyebrows
  • Stretch marks on the body
  • Acne scars on the face
  • Areas where loose skin is evident, like the lower face or the neck
  • Neck and decollete
  • The knees

The plasma that’s used in a Plasma Pen treatment is a form of ionized gas. The device head emits an electrical discharge that causes a plasma flash, which is responsible for generating injuries to the skin. The plasma gas causes a safe and controlled trauma that signals the fibroblast cells to create more collagen within the skin and send it into repair mode. The pen also has an ablative component: how it can remove damaged skin from the surface.

Some skin-rejuvenating treatments use big, bulky machines, whereas the Plasma Pen is a small handheld device with needle tips that produce the gas. It’s this gas that, when delivered to the skin, creates micro-injuries within the skin. Any injury to the skin, whether intended or not, sets off a cascade of wound-healing components to restore homeostasis to the skin. In the process, new collagen is made, which leads to younger-looking, smoother skin that’s also more youthful. When the Plasma Pen is used to create those controlled micro-injuries, it often leaves behind a small pattern of uniform pin-sized dots on the skin, which will eventually transpire into tighter, plumper-looking skin.

For a Plasma Pen treatment to work its magic, your provider must hold the device tip just right so the plasma is delivered into the skin. Precision is vital here because the device’s tip never makes direct contact with the skin. Instead, the gas flows from the tip head and is absorbed into the skin. The plasma flash is created when a mix of nitrogen and oxygen is ionized and turns into one gas with a more plasma-like state, making it easy to transfer energy from the head of the device to the skin. In doing so, the plasma flash, which is always done in a very controlled manner and to a targeted area of the face or body, starts a micro-injury to the skin that will soon trigger the skin’s natural healing response by creating new collagen and elastin to improve the look and health of the skin. In addition, the flash component of the treatment allows for it to be considered a minimally invasive procedure that drastically enhances the skin without the need to go under the knife.

There’s a lot that the Plasma Pen can do. For one, it’s an excellent treatment for stimulating collagen and elastin to tighten and rejuvenate the skin. It can eliminate the look of fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, and saggy skin and is safe for all skin types. Plus, it makes for an excellent adjunct procedure after something more invasive, like a deep chemical peel or a facelift.

During the treatment, the skin is first numbed with topical numbing cream, and the handheld tool is held up to the skin. Then, in about 30 minutes, the plasma incites controlled injuries on the skin. Over the next few weeks, new collagen is created. However, it’s essential to know that the effects of a Plasma Pen treatment are not immediate and often surface after a few weeks.

There’s also some downtime with the treatment because the skin will likely appear swollen and red and even have some small dots at the treatment site. As the skin begins to heal, the tiny dots will become small scabs that will crust and flake off about one week after the treatment. During this time, it’s crucial to follow a mild skincare routine and use plenty of moisturizer and sunscreen. While the Plasma Pen is effective with long-lasting results, there’s also no need for heavy anesthesia, stitches, or scars, which is why many patients consider it a win-win.

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Download our exclusive Charette Cosmetics Services & Pricing Guide and learn more about our service menu and treatment costs.

Services Guide

SERVICES &
PRICING GUIDE

Charette Cosmetics Logo

Download our exclusive Charette Cosmetics Services & Pricing Guide to learn more about our service menu & treatment prices.