Skin Treatments
Microneedeling
Microneedling is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that creates controlled micro-channels in the skin, triggering its natural repair response and stimulating collagen production to improve texture, fine lines, scarring and overall skin quality.
Introduction
Understanding Microneedeling
What Microneedling Is
Microneedling, sometimes known as skin needling or collagen induction therapy, is a skin treatment that creates controlled micro-injuries to stimulate the skin’s natural repair response and support collagen production.
Microneedling is commonly used to improve:
- uneven or rough skin texture
- atrophic acne scarring
- the appearance of enlarged pores
- fine lines
- dull or tired-looking skin
- overall skin quality
- some types of pigmentation and post-inflammatory marks
Microneedling is primarily a skin-quality treatment. It does not add volume in the way dermal fillers do, relax facial muscles or provide an instant lifting effect.
How Microneedling Works
During treatment, very fine needles create tiny, controlled channels in the skin. This initiates a natural wound-healing response and stimulates processes involved in collagen and elastin production. This mechanism is well established in the clinical literature.
The healing response develops in stages:
- The controlled micro-injuries initiate the skin’s inflammatory and repair response.
- Growth factors and signalling molecules activate cells involved in tissue repair.
- Fibroblasts contribute to the production and remodelling of collagen and other components of the extracellular matrix.
Over time, this remodelling can improve the texture and structure of the treated skin. Changes are progressive rather than immediate. Improvements in texture, fine lines and scarring generally develop gradually over a course of treatments rather than after a single session.
How Deep Does Microneedling Go?
Microneedling depth is measured in millimetres, and relatively small differences can significantly change how the treatment interacts with the skin.
As a broad guide, professional microneedling may use depths ranging from approximately:
- 0.25-0.5 mm for more superficial treatment and delicate areas
- 0.5-1.0 mm for general skin-quality concerns and fine lines
- 1.5-2.0 mm or deeper in selected cases when treating acne scarring or areas where greater dermal remodelling is required
These figures are intended only to give an indication of scale.
Depth may vary within the same treatment. Areas where the skin is thinner, such as around the eyes or over more delicate facial structures, generally require a shallower approach than thicker areas such as the cheeks. The selected depth may also depend on the concern being treated, the severity and type of scarring, skin thickness, sensitivity and how the skin responds during treatment.
Published studies use a wide range of needle depths, and there is no single depth that is appropriate for every patient or treatment area.
Collagen-Stimulating Procedure
Results Develop Gradually
Multiple Skin Concerns
Minimal Downtime
Adjustable Treatment Depth
Clinic’s Philosophy
Our Approach to Microneedeling
Microneedling is one of our favourite treatments for improving overall skin quality because it stimulates the skin’s natural repair processes.
One thing we are particularly careful about is not treating the skin more aggressively than necessary. One of the biggest misconceptions is that the skin needs to look extremely red and raw, or that the needles need to go very deep, for the treatment to have worked. Deeper does not automatically mean more effective. The aim is controlled stimulation rather than unnecessary trauma to the skin.
We use an automated microneedling device and work methodically across the treatment area, usually making around three passes to achieve even coverage.
The depth is adjusted according to the area being treated, as the skin on the cheeks, forehead and around the eyes varies considerably in thickness and sensitivity.
Where acne scarring is the main concern, we may spend a little more time treating those areas.
We like to combine microneedling with professional skin serums and carefully selected ingredient cocktails that are applied to the skin during treatment. Depending on your skin and treatment goals, these may include skin-supporting nutrients and vitamins, medical-grade hyaluronic acid, peptides or exosomes, where appropriate.
Microneedling can also complement injectable skin-quality treatments such as Profhilo, skin boosters or polynucleotides.
Our Locations
Microneedling is currently available at our Peacehaven clinic.
Outcome
Realistic Expectations
Microneedling is most often recommended as a course of treatments. Some patients may notice that their skin looks brighter, smoother or more even after a single session, but concerns such as fine lines, uneven texture and acne scarring usually require multiple treatments.
We usually recommend starting with a course of three to four treatments, spaced approximately one month apart, before reviewing the skin and results.
The number of sessions needed depends on what is being treated. Someone looking for a general improvement in skin quality may need fewer treatments than someone with acne scarring or more established textural changes.
Acne scarring is one concern where microneedling can be particularly useful. Rolling and shallower atrophic scars tend to respond better, while deeper or more severe scars may require a longer course of treatment and are unlikely to disappear completely.
Pigmentation requires more careful assessment. Microneedling may help with certain pigmentation concerns and post-inflammatory marks, but not all types of pigmentation respond in the same way. Conditions such as melasma can be more complex and may require a different or combined treatment approach.
Maintenance is individual. Some patients choose to repeat treatment approximately every three to six months, depending on their skin, goals and response to treatment.
Who Is Microneedling For?
Age alone does not determine suitability. A younger patient may be primarily concerned about post-acne scarring, visible pores, or uneven texture, while another person may be looking to soften early fine lines or improve overall skin quality.
The consultation therefore looks not only at age or treatment preference, but also at the condition of the skin, the underlying concern and whether microneedling is likely to achieve the type of improvement you are looking for.
Who May Not Be Suitable?
Because microneedling deliberately creates controlled micro-injuries in the skin, treatment should only be carried out when the skin is in a suitable condition to heal normally.
Treatment would usually be avoided or postponed where there is:
- active inflammatory acne in the treatment area
- an active skin infection
- an active cold sore
- eczema, psoriasis or
- another active inflammatory skin condition affecting the area
- broken, irritated or
- otherwise compromised skin
- a strong tendency towards keloid scarring
- immunosuppression or another condition that may affect healing
- a recent skin treatment that has left the skin sensitised or still recovering
- pregnancy or breastfeeding
Medications, medical history and recent treatments should always be discussed during consultation, as these may affect suitability for treatment.
Microneedling may also simply be the wrong treatment for the concern. If significant facial volume loss, pronounced skin laxity or deeper structural lines are the main issue, another approach may be more appropriate because these changes cannot be fully addressed through skin remodelling alone.
Setting realistic expectations is therefore part of deciding whether microneedling is the right treatment in the first place.
Prices start from £180, depending on the area and individual treatment plan.
Your Safety
Possible Side Effects
Microneedling is generally well tolerated when performed appropriately, but temporary skin reactions are expected because the treatment deliberately stimulates the skin.
Immediately after treatment, the skin commonly appears red and may feel:
- warm
- tight
- tender or mildly sore
- dry or sensitive
Mild swelling, irritation, pinpoint bleeding, bruising or temporary flaking can also occur. For many patients, the skin is considerably calmer by the following day, although redness and sensitivity may occasionally take longer to settle.
Less common complications can include infection, prolonged inflammation, changes in pigmentation or scarring.
Following appropriate aftercare and protecting the skin from unnecessary irritation and sun exposure while it heals are therefore important.
Your Questions