Skin treatment systems and methods using needles

Abstract

A device for treating the skin comprises a handpiece assembly having a distal end and a proximal end and a tip on the distal end of the handpiece assembly. The handpiece assembly includes a fluid delivery conduit, a waste conduit and/or an energy delivery conduit. Further, the tip is configured to contact the skin. The tip comprises a peripheral lip and a plurality of needles generally positioned within the peripheral lip. The tip also comprises at least one opening in fluid communication with a fluid delivery conduit, at least one opening in fluid communication with a waste conduit and/or an energy contact point in electrical communication with an energy contact point and energy conduit in the main body portion. The plurality of needles may be movable with respect to the peripheral lip through the use of a pneumatic or other force.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating the skin of a patient, the method comprising:
 placing the working end of a skin treatment device against a portion of the skin of the patient wherein the skin treatment device comprises:
 a working end that includes a plurality of needles configured to engage and penetrate the skin and positioned on a plane parallel to a peripheral lip on the working end of the skin treatment device; 
   causing the plurality of needles to penetrate the skin; and   removing the working end of the skin treatment device from the portion of skin.