Lakeside Spine and Wellness

my skin. Between the stress of wedding planning and seeing all the engagement photos, all I could focus on were my acne scars and breakouts. I’ve had acne for years, and even though birth control helped calm down the cystic stuff, it never fixed the scars. I’d tried every cream, retinol, and prescription you could think of, but nothing really changed the texture. Five months before the wedding, I decided to see Eleanor Foley, L.Ac. at Lakeside Spine and Wellness in Chicago. She suggested microneedling, and honestly, I was nervous at first. The idea of tiny needles on my face sounded intense. But Eleanor explained everything so clearly and made me feel super comfortable. Each session was quick, and the price was way more reasonable than some of the other treatments I’d looked at. After the first session, I was a little red and dry for a few days, but the glow after was totally worth it. Every session just kept making my skin smoother and more even. By the fourth one, my scars had softened and my skin tone looked way better. The best part is that my skin care products started working better too. I barely broke out anymore, and I actually felt confident without makeup. I used to wear foundation everywhere, even to appointments. Now I don’t think twice about leaving the house bare-faced. How Microneedling Saved My Skin Before My Wedding When I got engaged, I started thinking about my skin right away. It was hard not to. Between engagement photos, bridal showers, and wedding planning, I felt like I was constantly looking at my face and noticing every spot and scar I’d collected from years of acne. Even in the photos from my proposal, there was a huge breakout on my chin that made me cringe every time I looked at it. I knew I wanted to feel confident in my skin for my wedding, but figuring out where to start felt overwhelming. I’ve struggled with acne for as long as I can remember. Birth control helped calm down the big cystic breakouts, but I still had texture and scars that makeup couldn’t really hide. I’d tried every skincare product out there, from retinol to prescription creams, spironolactone, and everything in between. Nothing made a real difference in the pitted scars left behind by cystic acne. I even considered Accutane, but it wasn’t an option for me medically. Five months before the wedding, I decided to see Eleanor Foley, L.Ac. at Lakeside Spine and Wellness in Chicago. I’d heard great things about her from a friend who said she was warm, knowledgeable, and used clean, natural products in her treatments. During my consultation, Eleanor looked at my skin and recommended a series of four microneedling sessions to help with scarring and overall texture. I had never done anything like that before, so I was nervous. The thought of a pen with tiny needles going all over my face honestly freaked me out a little. But Eleanor explained everything in a way that made it feel approachable. She told me that microneedling works by creating tiny micro-injuries in the skin, which helps boost collagen and elastin production and allows skincare products to absorb more effectively. It sounded scientific but also surprisingly natural. She also told me she uses TOMA Essential Skin Therapy, a clean, botanical skincare line formulated with East Asian herbs that help calm inflammation, brighten the complexion, and supercharge results. That made me feel even better about what was going on my skin. The price was reasonable too, especially compared to other treatments I’d looked into that cost hundreds more per session. My first session was easier than I expected. The treatment itself didn’t hurt much, just felt like a light buzzing sensation, and afterward my skin was pink for a day or two. It felt a little dry and tight for a few days, but Eleanor gave me soothing TOMA post-care products that calmed everything right down. By the end of the first week, I started noticing a subtle, healthy glow that made me excited for the next session. Over the next few months, I went back every 4 to 6 weeks for my follow-up treatments. Each one built on the last, and I could see a difference not only in my scars but in how my whole face looked. My skin tone evened out, my pores looked smaller, and my acne started healing faster. I also noticed that my serums and moisturizers were working better—Eleanor explained that microneedling helps products penetrate deeper into the skin. By the time my final session came around, my skin had completely transformed. The deep scars on my cheeks had softened, the redness had faded, and my skin felt smoother than it had in years. For the first time since high school, I felt comfortable leaving the house without foundation. I didn’t even realize how much energy I’d spent worrying about my skin until I stopped feeling the need to cover it up. The night before my wedding I used a simple mask from Lush Cosmetics, nothing fancy. On my wedding day, I looked in the mirror and saw glowing, healthy skin, and I felt calm. I didn’t have to think about my acne or worry about how my makeup would sit on my skin. I just felt happy and confident. Looking back, microneedling with Eleanor was hands down the best decision I made for my wedding prep. The process was easy, the results were real, and the clean, herbal TOMA products made such a difference in how my skin healed and glowed. The confidence I gained has lasted long after the big day. If you’re thinking about doing something for your skin before your wedding, start early and trust the process. You’ll be so glad you did.

d glowy, my pores looked minimized, and my hyper-pigmentation is starting to fade. Eleanor is lovely and extremely knowledgable. She made the experience amazing!