Aquagold: What You Need to Know
Pros & cons
How much it costs
What to expect
How long healing takes
How soon you see results
Fast facts
Aquagold Fine Touch is a microinjector device that uses 24 karat gold-plated surgical steel microneedles to inject small amounts of solution into the superficial layers of the skin. âUnlike traditional microneedling treatments that can introduce products into your skin by making tiny pokes, Aquagold actually has microchannels that deliver the products directly into the skin,â explains Dr. Vu Ho, a facial plastic surgeon in Plano, Texas.Â
This simple skin rejuvenation procedure effectively treats everything from fine lines, wrinkles, and laxity to hyperpigmentation, acne scarring, pore size, and dullness. Customized to your skin-care concerns, it evenly delivers a tailored infusion of potent treatments into the skin on your face, neck, dĂ©colletage, and even on the back of your hands. Popular treatment combinations include hyaluronic acid, neurotoxins like Botox, growth factors, peptides, and platelet-rich plasma.Â
âSome providers are also using the Aquagold device to perform âmicro-Botoxâ or âbaby Botox,â which is simply using small concentrations of Botox to soften dynamic facial wrinkles,â says Dr. Ho. âThis is popular for improving the lines that appear on the cheeks from active smiling.â
Related: What Can Microinfusion Facials Like Aquagold Really Do for Your Skin?Â
Each microneedle is thinner than a human hair, so the treatment is virtually painless, but your provider may add lidocaine to eliminate any discomfort. If youâre extremely sensitive or concerned about the needles, some medspas also offer nitrous oxide (âlaughing gasâ). The treatment is gentle enough that you wonât need any downtime afterward, though you can expect some redness at the treatment areas.
Most people are good candidates, but avoid Aquagold if youâre pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have an active infection or cystic acne outbreak.
Pros
- The entire treatment is customized to your skin concerns.
- It's suitable for all skin types and tones, with less risk of postinflammatory pigmentation and scarring than traditional microneedling, since the needles are so tiny.Â
- It's a relatively painless procedure.
- There isnât any downtime after your treatment, which makes this a great âlast-minuteâ skin treatment before a special event.
- A series of Aquagold treatments promotes collagen production, which can increase skinâs firmness over time.
- The device uses gold-plated needles, which are less likely to cause an allergic reaction or irritate skin than those made from impure metals.Â
- Treatments are relatively affordable, compared to other injectable treatments.Â
Cons
- The treatment doesnât deliver dramatic results. If you want to smooth wrinkles or replace significant volume loss, injectable toxins and dermal fillers will be far more effective.
- There are counterfeit devices that the company is taking legal action against, so be extremely cautious and choose a provider you trust.
- Results typically last for just six months, and youâll need maintenance treatments if you want to keep them up.
Related: What You Need to Know About Microneedling Botox and Filler Into the Skin
Aquagold costs $500 to $950, depending on your provider's location, their level of experience, and your particular formula.
Some providers will ask about your budget and develop the serum and treatment schedule to fit your needs.
Your dermatologist or aesthetician will evaluate your skin-care needs and goals and create a personalized mix for your infusion serum, drawing from these ingredients:
- A hyaluronic acid like JuvĂ©derm or Restylane to attract water for deep hydration, increased firmness and elasticity, and a reduction in the appearance of light acne scarsÂ
- A toxin like Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, or Jeuveau to shrink pore size, reduce sebum production, and reduce redness from rosacea (the needles donât penetrate as deeply as a syringe, so you wonât have the same wrinkle-relaxing results as you would from an injection of toxin into the muscle)Â
- Growth factors to enhance collagen productionÂ
- Pigmentation reduction ingredients
- Peptides, to improve your skinâs texture and make it smoother and firmer
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) derived from your own blood, to stimulate cell turnover and collagen productionÂ
- Antioxidants such as vitamins B, C, and E, to prevent free-radical damage and brighten skin tone
Your provider may include other ingredients. For example, some suggest CBD oil, for its anti-inflammatory benefits, or anti-acne products from SkinCeuticals, to round out your unique formula.Â
Once this mix is loaded in the sterile Aquagold device, your provider will thoroughly clean your face. Many people donât need a topical anesthetic, but it may be offered.Â
This rejuvenating treatment begins with your provider moving the small tube across your skin, gently stamping it in an overlapping pattern. As they press the tube against your skin, 20 tiny, hollow needles penetrate 0.6 mm, delivering the infusion into the dermis while stimulating the epidermis.Â
A typical treatment session takes about 20 minutes.
Thereâs no downtime after an Aquagold treatment, but you may have some redness that dissipates quickly (within 30 minutes to an hour) and look a little pink for a few days.
To allow the serum time to work, avoid washing your face for at least five hours, or even until the next morning. The serum wonât clog your pores or cause any overnight breakouts.
You should see results like a brighter complexion, increased firmness, and a smoother skin texture after about two weeks. The effects can last up to six months, depending on the ingredients that were used and how well you care for your skin afterward.Â
For optimal results and increased collagen production, youâll need an initial series of three treatments, spaced four to six weeks apart.Â
After that, itâs recommended to set a schedule of maintenance sessions (typically, every three to six months).
Microneedling creates tiny, controlled injuries that trigger a healing response, stimulating an increase in collagen production. It allows topical skin care products to penetrate more deeply, but not all microneedling treatments involve serums or other topicals.Â
In contrast, Aquagold isnât technically a microneedling procedure: itâs a âmicrochanneling facialâ or âmicrofusion facialâ that delivers potent ingredients into the channels created by its needles. Because its needles are thinner than those in most microneedling devices, it can safely treat sensitive areas, such as under the eyes, without pain. Youâre not at risk for scarring, bruising, or bleeding.
Updated August 14, 2023