Week 6 – My Reformaskin journey with Caci Clinic

It was less than a week from my 3rd microdermabrasion and here I am, back in Caci Clinic for my first Collagen Induction treatment. I am nervous, excited and scared. I kind of expect redness and heat on my face and maybe a bit of swelling.

So I went in with pretty much bare skin and my skin has been feeling ok lately with an active breakout on my skin (under the skin kind). I was greeted by a nurse specialist who talked me through what the procedure will be like and what to expect afterwards. Some medical questions and I had to sign some forms.

Collagen Induction treatment is basically a procedure to puncture the skin with tiny little needles to trick the brain into thinking that the skin has had trauma and hence the body will create new collagen. In around a month’s time, new collagen will be produced and about another month or so for it to mature. Old skin will be removed with microdermabrasion and new skin will be produced underneath.

She removed my makeup with some cleansing wipes, then she applied a thick cooling gel on my face. She told me beforehand that she wasn’t going to use any topical anaesthetics (aka numbing cream) because she recommends not to (she said something about she wouldn’t want the skin to absorb that cream) unless I cannot tolerate the pain. She reminded me to let her know if it was too painful to bear.

After the cooling gel is applied (for cooling and easy gliding of the tool), she ran the dermal pen along my face starting from my jaw-line to my cheeks. Right side, then to the left. Then onto my nose and to my forehead. I was warned that it would be rather painful without the numbing cream, especially the forehead area where it is closer to the bones.

Alright, let’s talk about the pain. I honestly thought I had a medium to high pain threshold but when she started gliding that pen along my jawline, my fist clenched. It literally felt like a group of needles rapidly puncturing my skin. She ran the pen across my skin multiple times and goodness gracious it was painful! After the first cheek, I was about to throw in the towel and ask for the topics anaesthetic, but I bite the bullet and asked her to carry on. Personally, I would say the most painful area is the cheeks, jawline and around the hairline on my forehead.

The whole ordeal was about 15mins and I was so freaking glad that it was over! Afterwards, she removed the excess soothing gel around my face with cotton pads and with what I think is sterilised water. Then she applied a moisturiser without SPF. She put on a red light mask on me for 10mins which she said would help reduce redness.

I stepped out of the clinic with a red flushed face and feeling hot and tender. I hopped into the car and avoided any sun exposure for the rest of the day. I went for the treatment after work so I was going to head home for the rest of the day anyway. I would recommend going home right away because you shouldn’t be wearing any makeup or sunscreen on the skin.

After about an hour my redness is still prominent but feels less hot, still a little tender and I avoid touching it. If you feel a little painful or hot, you can use a bit of Avene thermal spring water spray over the face to ease that feeling.

After about 3 hours, the redness has gone down quite a bit but still looks flushed (lighting in my room was a bit bright, so you can’t see much redness). Skin does not feel hot anymore but is still a bit tender if I rub it gently. I washed my face with a mild foaming cleanser, some Avene thermal spring water spray and then a hydrating moisturiser on top. No sunscreen and no acids or retinol products for tonight. I could wear sunscreen the morning after, but within 24hrs, no AHA or BHA or vitamin A products. Vitamin C is alright, but it also depends on your skin’s toleration. If you are already used to a bit of vitamin C, then you can use one, but not a very high concentration.

As you can see, lighting does make a difference in photos (haha). That night, I washed my face again in the shower (warm, not hot) and I did feel still a bit tender when I rub my face and when I apply my moisturiser so I used a pressing motion instead of massaging motion. In the morning, my redness is entirely gone and I made sure I wear a minimum SPF30 sunscreen and avoided the sun as much as possible.

I have to be honest here, the pain of the procedure is kind of putting me off going for it again. Even though I don’t think I will be going in for another round of Collagen Induction treatment for another 4 weeks (?), but I might consider asking her to give me some topical anaesthetics for the pain. I nearly cried.

I am booked in for a hydrating facial in 2 weeks time and I will update you guys again then! At the meantime, check out my Instagram story for updates and highlight story for my journey with Caci Clinic so far!

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