By now, you might have heard rumblings about a fancy facial called “AquaGold.” Long story short: it’s a highly customized treatment that combines hollow microneedling with a combination of ingredients that your skin would benefit most. What really sets it apart is the fact that you can include neuromodulators, like Botox, into your little needle-driven cocktail. Curious to hear more? We’ve got all the details below.
What is Microneedling?
Let’s go back just a bit to discuss microneedling itself. Essentially, it’s a treatment where very tiny puncture wounds are created in the skin with the purpose of causing microdamage. This, in turn, stimulates collagen and elastin production, creating a more firmed, toned complexion. It also allows for great absorption of ingredients.
Microneedling comes in many forms, including at-home and in-salon versions. The latter almost always involve longer needles for a more improved result. Some come in roller form, but usually, in-salon microneedling is set up as a stamp. This allows for deeper penetration yet and a more controlled puncture.
The AquaGold facial involves a small, handheld microneedling stamper with 14k gold needles, hence the name. As mentioned above, it’s combined with ingredients that are selected according to each person’s specific skin concerns.
“We use everything from vitamins to hyaluronic acid to peptides and growth factors,” says Dr. David Shafer, a double board-certified plastic surgeon who helped develop the treatment himself. “The ingredients are mixed in the device and then the treatment is performed. The microneedles create a microchannel of the ingredients to penetrate the deeper skin layers. It’s a gentle treatment with a tapping motion and not aggressive or traumatizing to the skin.”
AquaGold: A Microneedling Treatment Gone Wild
So, what makes AquaGold so special compared to other microneedling treatments? There are a few key factors.
The Needles Are Hollow
In standard microneedling, ingredients rely on passive diffusion to get into the skin. AquaGold’s hollow needles provide more precision and improved delivery.
“During an AquaGold treatment, substances flow by the force of gravity down these hollow needles where the substance is allowed to leave the needle via a spiral around the whole circumference,” says Dr. Jessica Wright, a board-certified general surgeon and the CEO of Rejuvenate Austin. “Therefore, the targeted substance is deposited at the tip of the needle and down the whole length. You are able to treat most of the dermis with these substances.”
It’s Way More Customizable
“The device allows the practitioner to mix solutions for delivery into the skin. Almost any product that has a low viscosity – similar to the consistency of water or a serum – will work,” says Dr. Shafer. “One of the most exciting ingredients we are using are customized peptide solutions,” says Dr. Shafer. “Another great ingredient with Aquagold is Botox, which is administered in microBotox doses and has positive effects on the oil and sweat glands, giving the skin a nice glow.”
Other ingredient examples include antioxidants, stem cells, specific pharmaceuticals, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and beyond. Dr. Wright says that many of the “cocktails” they create have some overlap—for example, many include hyaluronic acid to help plump skin. Still, it’s a special concoction for each person who visits the office.
Frequently Asked Questions
AquaGold is a customized facial treatment that combines hollow microneedling with a personalized blend of ingredients tailored to your skin's needs. It uniquely allows the inclusion of neuromodulators like Botox in micro doses, enhancing skin glow and targeting specific concerns.
Microneedling creates tiny puncture wounds in the skin to stimulate collagen and elastin production, improving skin firmness and tone. AquaGold uses a handheld stamper with 14k gold hollow needles to deliver ingredients directly into deeper skin layers through microchannels, enhancing absorption and effectiveness.
Unlike traditional microneedling that relies on passive diffusion, AquaGold uses hollow needles that precisely deliver ingredients directly into the skin. This method allows for more controlled, deeper penetration and the ability to customize the treatment with various serums and even microBotox doses.
Yes, AquaGold can include microBotox doses as part of its customized ingredient cocktail. This helps regulate oil and sweat glands, resulting in a radiant skin glow while providing the benefits of Botox in a gentle, minimally invasive way.
AquaGold treatments use a variety of low-viscosity ingredients such as vitamins, hyaluronic acid, peptides, growth factors, antioxidants, stem cells, pharmaceuticals, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). These are mixed specifically for each individual to target their unique skin concerns.
No, AquaGold is a gentle treatment that uses a tapping motion with fine 14k gold needles. It is designed to avoid aggressive trauma while still creating microchannels for ingredient absorption, making it suitable for sensitive skin types.
The AquaGold device allows practitioners to mix and deliver a wide range of low-viscosity solutions tailored to each person's skin needs. This high level of customization ensures that each treatment addresses specific concerns with a unique ingredient cocktail.
You can expect improved skin firmness, tone, hydration, and a radiant glow. The treatment stimulates collagen and elastin production while delivering targeted ingredients that address concerns like dryness, dullness, and excess oil production.
Yes, the AquaGold device uses 14k gold hollow needles. The gold material helps ensure precision and safety during the microneedling process while delivering ingredients effectively into the skin.
AquaGold is an in-salon professional treatment that uses specialized equipment and customized ingredient cocktails. At-home microneedling devices typically have shorter needles and do not offer the same level of customization or ingredient delivery.
