Exclusive Interview: MaeJean Glows With a Glass Facial (Microneedle Peel Treatment)
December 26, 2024 | Patient Stories
MaeJean—a 55-year-old from Indianapolis—is no stranger to Dermatology Aesthetics. She’s exclusively trusted Dr. Bohyer and his team to keep her skin looking its best for the past six years. After learning about the anti-aging benefits of glass facials, she knew she had to try the microneedle peel treatment because it promotes collagen production and helps give you a radiant complexion by:
- Making your skin look smoother,
- Improving its tone,
- Minimizing the size of your pores,
- Soften wrinkles and fine lines,
- Reducing skin redness,
- And more!
Q&A About Glass Facials With MaeJean and Kim
In the following candid interview, MaeJean and Dermatology Aesthetic’s board-certified medical assistant Kim Hash, LE, discuss what to expect when getting a microneedle/peel treatment. Plus, learn how glass facials help patients achieve more beautiful, healthy skin and feel more confident about their appearance.
When did you know you wanted to add a microneedling chemical peel combo to your beauty routine?
MaeJean: There isn’t much I haven’t tried! Kim knows I always want her to tell me about the latest treatments, so she told me about glass facials (and how they work) at an appointment when discussing other treatment options that can help keep skin looking its best.
Kim: MaeJean has very healthy skin, and I think her current focus is on maintaining the results she’s achieved with other treatments at Dermatology Aesthetics. By using glass facials, we’re trying to prevent the signs of further aging and help her skin look smoother and tighter.
What interested you in trying glass facials?
MaeJean: Because I am always doing things to help keep my face looking young, no one ever believes it when I tell them I’m a grandmother with three grandkids. So, I know treatments at Dermatology Aesthetics are worth it, and it’s the reason why I’m always so gung ho to try new things when Kim tells me about them.
I feel like I have a lot of the same anti-aging concerns that other people my age have, but—on top of those worries—I had always been bothered by the size of my pores and the rough texture of the skin around my chin before I got a glass facial.
What is a glass facial?
Kim: A glass facial involves getting a special combination of three anti-aging methods—microneedling, serum, and chemical peel—during the same appointment. They work together to help create a “glass skin” effect by stimulating collagen production and exfoliating dead skin cells to get rid of dullness and create smoother, more hydrated skin with smaller pores.
If someone like MaeJean wanted to be aggressive and get the best possible results for their skin from glass facials, I’d recommend they do the procedure once a month for three months, then move to once every six months for maintenance.
What questions did you have before your appointment?
MaeJean: One of the things that I love about Kim is she’s so gentle and honest. I had tried ZO Skin Health’s at-home enzymatic peel to brighten my skin and used their Complex A+ (a potent retinol they carry at Dermatology Aesthetics). Still, I wanted to do something more, something different.
So, I asked Kim about my options, and she told me about a glass facial. From her description, it sounded like the perfect treatment to me. I can’t remember all my questions, but I know she gave me the answers I needed and made me feel comfortable, so it wasn’t a hard decision.
I was “in.”
Who is a good candidate for this treatment, and when is the best time to get it?
Kim: Generally speaking, glass facials encompass so many benefits in one treatment and are great for anyone 35 and older. They work well for anyone with any type of skin, though you wouldn’t want to get this treatment if you’re breastfeeding or pregnant.
You can make an appointment for a glass facial at any time of the year, but winter will probably be best because it’s easier to avoid the sun and spend less time outside after getting treatment.
What happens during a glass facial treatment?
Kim: You can expect a glass facial appointment to take about an hour and a half, but most of that time isn’t active. The treatment part of the process goes fast.
I start by putting a topical numbing cream on your face so that you don’t feel anything throughout the process. It helps to make everything feel pretty comfortable. If you feel anything, it will be just like a spicy sensation because of the numbing.
As soon as the numbing kicks in, I can start microneedling (the first part of a glass facial). This is when I’ll also use a custom-selected serum containing hyaluronic acid (the second part of the procedure) on your skin. Applying the serum simultaneously when microneedling makes it even more effective because it can penetrate the skin deeper. I’ll choose which serum to use based on your goals, and it will help you heal faster and plump up your skin. The last part of the treatment is a chemical peel.
MaeJean: I couldn’t believe it, but my skin continued to improve over time, just like Kim said it would. When it was over, I couldn’t believe it. I really did have what looked like perfect “glass skin” before the exfoliation process started. Then, my cells turned over, and fine lines filled in. I haven’t had this much glow to my face in ages. It’s better than I could have hoped.
Was it painful to get a microneedling/chemical peel together in one appointment?
MaeJean: Kim applied a special numbing cream to my face before the treatment started. I wouldn’t say getting microneedling and chemical peel together is painful. It’s just slightly uncomfortable.
Considering how many other services I have had in the past, I was surprised at how easy my glass facial went. And the slight discomfort I did notice wasn’t much at all. Anything I experienced was minimal and worth it because I’m loving the way it came out. I’m excited about doing my next treatment to maintain these results.
What’s the downtime after getting a glass facial?
Kim: You’ll have redness that will last two or three days and small, granular fluffing of skin that can last anywhere from five to seven days. It’s not too uncomfortable.
MaeJean: I have always been a “super-responder” when I get any sort of treatment, so I was worried about what I might look like from the microneedling immediately after. In the past, when I got microneedling by itself, I had some swelling, but with the glass facial, I didn’t have any swelling.
I was immediately so happy with my results. My skin looked flawless. I remember thinking, “I can be 21 again!” I knew it worked because my face was shiny, and my skin was tight. The roughness and blotchiness were already gone, and I knew once all the healing was done that I would be even more pleased—and I was.
What’s involved in taking care of your skin after a glass facial? How soon can you get other treatments?
Kim: I tell clients to use a gentle cleanser during the process and to wear sunscreen starting the day after, and I’ll give them a lotion to take home to help with the healing and peeling. On the actual day of the treatment, I’ll tell them just to go home and head to bed to rest. Then, in the morning, wash their face for the first time.
MaeJean: I wanted to make sure my results lasted as long as possible, so I did everything Kim said. I used ZO Skin Health’s cleanser, hydrating crème, and sunscreen. Once I was healed and the peeling slowed, I returned to my normal routine of using Power Defense and Brightalive, plus cleanser, sunscreen, retinol, and growth factor serum.
Kim: If you’ve recently had Botox or fillers, you should wait two weeks to schedule a glass facial. If you get a glass facial first, you’ll need to wait about a week before making an appointment to get fillers and Botox.
What kind of results can you expect after a glass facial? How soon can you see a difference?
MaeJean: I had jowls and huge pores before I got the glass facial. Afterwards, my skin became tighter, and my pores became smaller. My face looks so good I’m no longer wearing foundation. Its tone and texture have improved that much.
At work, I had a client recently say that I look five years younger, and when I told her it was a glass facial from Dermatology Aesthetics, she said she would have to make an appointment to do it now too.
Kim: Right away, you’ll have smoother skin that glows after a glass facial. Everything is so shiny. Then, once the healing starts, your skin will look even better, and things will tighten up more.
What do you think about your glass facial results? Has anyone noticed the difference?
MaeJean: I’ve done both microneedling and chemical peels on their own, but the combination was just as great as Kim said it would be. My results were truly something else. It’s truly like a big bang! You get more for your money by doing them together.
I had my glass facial treatment with Kim, and she was gentle as always. I’m so glad I did it, and I was so pleased that I already scheduled my next session.
Kim: At the end of the appointment, most people, like MaeJean, will notice an immediate shine that usually lasts up to four weeks. Firming takes a little longer to be visible since the healing process in your body requires more time before that result becomes apparent.
Are you thinking about any other treatments?
MaeJean: Realistically, now, because my face looks so good from the glass facials, CoolSculpting might be what I do next because I have seen how it works wonders, and I want to minimize my double chin. I can’t have my face looking this nice and have a turkey neck!
Will you keep getting glass facials?
MaeJean: If I could only get one treatment in the future, it would have to be a glass facial, with Morpheus8 as a close second choice.
What would you say to someone considering getting a glass facial from Dermatology Aesthetics?
Kim: Nothing comes close to giving the level of benefits you can get with a glass facial.
MaeJean: I would say, “You should have scheduled yesterday. Here’s Kim’s number.” I’d also tell them you won’t regret it because a glass facial can help anyone with any kind of trouble with their skin. It does so much and, in my experience, is the closest thing to a treatment that “does it all.”
Then there’s Kim. There are so many treatment options out there. She’s the best because she’ll let you know if you need help (and where). It’s invaluable when someone is as knowledgeable as she is (and is also someone you can trust).
I also love that everyone at Dermatology Aesthetics is so personable. They go above and beyond to make every appointment feel like a spa day. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.