At RHMD in Beverly Hills, we’ve spent years helping our patients navigate advanced skin rejuvenation techniques, and we know firsthand how vital collagen is for a smooth, youthful appearance. Collagen isn’t just a buzzword in the skincare industry—it’s the foundational protein that gives your skin structure and resilience. When it breaks down with age or sun damage, fine lines and laxity become more apparent.
Laser resurfacing and microneedling are two proven methods to spark new collagen growth, but how do they actually work, and which delivers better results? In this blog, the pros at RHMD draw on their extensive clinical expertise and evidence-based research to compare both procedures. By the end, you should have a better idea of which would best accomplish your aesthetic goals.
Collagen: The Key to Youthful Skin.
Collagen is the cornerstone of healthy skin, serving as a structural protein that keeps your complexion firm, smooth, and resilient. When you’re young, collagen is plentiful, helping skin bounce back easily and maintain its natural glow. However, as the years pass, collagen production naturally declines, leading to fine lines, sagging, and a more uneven texture.
Here are some examples of what collagen can do for you:
- Provide Structural Support: Collagen is the cornerstone of healthy skin, providing firmness, smoothness, and resilience.
- Enhance Youthful Abundance: Collagen is plentiful in younger years, helping skin bounce back quickly and maintain a natural glow.
- Improve Overall Skin Health: Beyond wrinkle prevention, collagen supports wound healing and helps the skin maintain its moisture balance.
Treatments like laser resurfacing or microneedling—and a consistent skincare routine—can reignite collagen growth, preserving your skin’s supple, youthful look.
How Laser Resurfacing Transforms Skin
Skin resurfacing is an effective method for improving skin quality and reversing sun damage. It refines fine lines, smooths texture, and corrects pigmentation issues. Laser resurfacing, especially CO2 fractional laser therapy, is notable for its precision and ability to stimulate collagen production deeply.
This process removes damaged skin layers and creates small thermal injuries that activate the body’s healing response, boosting collagen and elastin production. It reduces wrinkles, sun damage, and hyperpigmentation while tightening the skin and addressing blemishes like acne scars. Patients under Dr. Hovsepian’s care often see improvements after one session, with continued enhancements over the months as new collagen develops.
Microneedling: A Gentle but Effective Approach to Collagen Boosting.
Microneedling, or collagen induction therapy, uses fine needles to create micro-injuries in the skin, promoting new collagen and elastin production without removing skin layers.
At RHMD, Dr. Hovsepian offers advanced radiofrequency microneedling with technologies like Infini Lutronic and Morpheus. This treatment combines microneedling and radiofrequency energy to:
- Tighten skin and reduce laxity
- Diminish fine lines and wrinkles
- Improve scars and stretch marks
- Enhance skin tone and texture
Unlike traditional microneedling, this method delivers thermal energy deep into the skin, resulting in longer-lasting firming effects and improved skin structure.
Laser Resurfacing vs. Microneedling: Which Is Best for Boosting Collagen?
Laser resurfacing and microneedling both aim to ignite collagen production, yet they go about it in distinct ways. Here’s how:
- Laser resurfacing uses controlled thermal energy to remove damaged outer layers of skin, spurring an intense healing response and deep collagen remodeling
- In contrast, microneedling creates precise micro-injuries on the skin’s surface, prompting the body to release growth factors that foster new collagen and elastin in the treatment area
- While laser resurfacing often provides faster, more dramatic results—especially for deeper lines and sun damage—it can require more downtime
- Microneedling, particularly when combined with radiofrequency, takes a gentler approach with quicker recovery, making it ideal for those who want steady, cumulative enhancements over time
Both therapies ultimately deliver a collagen boost, so choosing between them depends on your unique skin concerns, schedule, and how aggressively you’d like to address signs of aging.
Ready to Learn More? We’re Here to Help!
Attending a consultation at RHMD is the best way to identify the treatments that will effectively boost your collagen levels.
With decades of clinical experience, triple board-certified Dr. Raffi Hovsepian and the RHMD team customize each treatment to your needs. Using their expertise in aesthetic medicine, Dr. Hovsepian will help you decide between CO2 laser resurfacing and radiofrequency microneedling to achieve your goals.
At RHMD, patient trust and well-being are our top priorities. Our commitment to evidence-based methods, personalized care, and meticulous attention to detail ensures that you can feel confident in taking the next step toward a brighter, healthier appearance.