What Is Microneedling?
Microneedling uses tiny needles to create thousands of small channels in the skin. This triggers the body’s healing response and boosts collagen and elastin production. The result is better skin texture, fewer acne scars, smoother fine lines and a brighter complexion.
How Does the Microneedling Procedure Work?
Microneedling is simple in principle and that is what makes it so effective.
A medical-grade pen device moves across the skin. It creates controlled micro-injuries using tiny needles set to a precise depth. Your body responds by sending repair cells to the area. These cells produce new collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep skin firm and smooth.
This is why microneedling is also called collagen induction therapy. Nothing synthetic is added to your skin. Your body does the work itself.
At SF Aesthetics in Wigan, Joanne uses the Raffine professional microneedling device with sterile, single-use needle cartridges for every treatment. She sets the needle depth based on your skin concern. A home dermaroller cannot do this safely.
What Skin Concerns Can Microneedling Treat?
Microneedling is one of the most versatile skin treatments available. It works well for:
Acne scars. New collagen fills and remodels pitted scarring over a course of treatment. This is one of the strongest evidence bases for microneedling.
- Enlarged pores. New collagen tightens the skin around pores and reduces their appearance.
- Fine lines and early signs of ageing. Particularly effective for surface lines where collagen has reduced naturally. Deeper dynamic lines are better treated with Botox, which is also available at SF Aesthetics.
- Pigmentation and sun damage. Cell turnover helps break down excess melanin. Results improve further when combined with AlumierMD brightening skincare.
- Stretch marks. Collagen stimulation improves the look of stretch marks over several sessions.
- Dull or congested skin. Cell renewal and better circulation give the complexion a visible refresh.
- Skin laxity. Improving the collagen layer in the dermis makes skin firmer and more resilient over time.
Microneedling Before and After: What Results Can You Expect?
Results build gradually. That is why they look so natural.
- After session 1 (weeks 2 to 4): Skin looks brighter. Acne scars and rough texture begin to soften as collagen production starts.
- After session 3 (weeks 10 to 12): Clear improvement in the areas being treated. Texture is smoother, pores look tighter and acne scarring shows real structural change.
- After session 6 (months 6 to 7): For deeper scarring or more complex concerns, six sessions produces the best results. Texture, tone, firmness and scar appearance all improve significantly.
Because results come from your own collagen and not a filler, they look natural. Because they are natural.
Acne Scar Case Study
One of Joanne’s patients came to SF Aesthetics with moderate atrophic acne scarring on her cheeks and chin. She had lived with the scarring since her early twenties and had tried several skincare products without improvement. She also had enlarged pores and uneven skin tone.
Joanne carried out a full skin assessment and recommended a course of three microneedling sessions spaced four weeks apart, combined with an AlumierMD home care routine between sessions.
After the first session the patient noticed her skin looked brighter and her texture felt smoother. By the third session her scarring had visibly improved, her pores appeared smaller and her skin tone was more even. She described it as the first time in years she felt comfortable leaving the house without foundation.
Results vary between patients depending on skin type, severity of scarring and lifestyle. A consultation with Joanne will give you a clear picture of what to expect for your own skin.
Does Microneedling Hurt?
Less than most people expect.
Before every treatment at SF Aesthetics, Joanne applies a numbing cream and leaves it for 30 minutes. During treatment most patients feel mild warmth or vibration. Some areas like the forehead and sides of the nose feel slightly more sensitive but stay manageable.
After treatment the skin looks red, like a mild sunburn, and may feel a little tight. This is a normal response and usually settles within 24 to 48 hours.
Microneedling Side Effects and Downtime
Microneedling is often called a lunchtime treatment because the downtime is so minimal.
Common side effects include redness and warmth for 24 to 48 hours, mild tightness or dryness for a couple of days and occasional very mild flaking. Minor bruising can happen but is not common.
Rare side effects include infection or temporary skin darkening. These are almost always linked to at-home devices or untrained practitioners, not professional clinic treatment.
Most patients return to work the same day. You can wear foundation from six hours after treatment.
Microneedling Aftercare
Good aftercare protects your results. Joanne gives written instructions at every appointment.
For the first 24 hours: skip makeup for at least six hours, avoid strong skincare ingredients like retinol and acids, avoid alcohol and intense exercise, and do not touch the treated area.
For the first 48 hours: avoid heat sources like saunas and steam rooms.
Ongoing: wear SPF every day. Your skin is more sensitive to sun exposure during healing and skipping SPF will reduce your results.
Joanne recommends AlumierMD Recovery Balm for the days after treatment. It is available at SF Aesthetics.
Professional Microneedling vs At-Home Dermarollers
This is an important difference. There has been significant media coverage of skin damage caused by at-home microneedling devices and it is worth understanding why.
Professional microneedling uses a motorised pen with sterile single-use needle cartridges. Joanne controls the depth precisely for each area of the face. Treatment takes place in a clean clinical setting.
Home dermarollers drag needles across the skin at an angle instead of puncturing straight down. This creates uneven micro-injuries. The needles are rarely replaced often enough, which raises the risk of infection. Without training, depth cannot be controlled, which raises the risk of scarring and skin darkening, particularly in darker skin tones.
Professional microneedling and home rolling are not the same treatment. Professional treatment is safer, more effective and produces far better results.
Microneedling With Regenerative Treatments
One of the biggest developments in professional microneedling is combining it with regenerative treatments. This is where SF Aesthetics goes further than a standard clinic.
Microneedling with exosomes. Exosomes are messengers that carry regenerative signals between cells. Applied right after microneedling, they go deep through the channels and boost collagen production, calm inflammation and speed up healing. This is one of the most advanced combinations available in 2026.
Microneedling with PRP. A small sample of your blood is processed to extract platelet-rich plasma. This is applied after microneedling and the growth factors it contains pass through the channels to amplify the collagen response.
Microneedling with polynucleotides. Applied after treatment, these support collagen production, improve hydration and help the skin heal.
Joanne discusses these combinations at your consultation and recommends the right approach for your skin.
Who Is Suitable for Microneedling?
Microneedling is safe for all skin types and tones including darker skin, where some laser treatments carry a higher risk of skin darkening.
It works well for adults with acne scars, enlarged pores, fine lines, pigmentation, loose skin, stretch marks or a dull complexion.
Who Should Avoid Microneedling?
Microneedling is not right for everyone. Joanne assesses suitability at every consultation. As a general guide, avoid microneedling if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have active acne or a skin infection in the area, have a history of raised scarring, are taking blood thinners or have had radiotherapy to the area recently.
How Many Sessions Are Needed?
| Concern | Sessions | Spacing |
|---|---|---|
| Skin glow and maintenance | 1 to 3 | Every 4 to 6 weeks |
| Fine lines and mild texture | 3 | Every 4 to 6 weeks |
| Moderate acne scarring | 3 to 6 | Every 4 to 6 weeks |
| Significant acne scarring | 6+ | Every 4 to 6 weeks |
| Stretch marks | 4 to 6 | Every 4 to 6 weeks |
All sessions are spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. Joanne will give you an honest recommendation at your consultation. Never more sessions than your skin actually needs.
Microneedling Price at SF Aesthetics Wigan
Single microneedling session: 176 pounds.
This includes the consultation, the treatment and post-treatment aftercare from Joanne.
Book your microneedling consultation with Joanne at SF Aesthetics Wigan.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly does microneedling do?
Microneedling creates tiny channels in the skin using fine needles. This triggers the healing response and stimulates collagen and elastin production. The result is better skin texture, fewer acne scars, smoother fine lines and more even skin tone.
What is the downside of microneedling?
Results build gradually rather than appearing straight away. A course of sessions is needed for significant improvement. There is some redness and sensitivity for 24 to 48 hours after treatment. Rare side effects include bruising, infection or skin darkening, which is why professional treatment matters.
Is microneedling better than Botox?
They treat different things. Microneedling improves skin quality including texture, acne scars, pigmentation and firmness. Botox relaxes muscles to soften expression lines. Many patients benefit from both.
At SF Aesthetics, Shelley delivers injectable treatments and Joanne handles microneedling. You can have both at the same clinic.
How long does microneedling last?
Results from a course typically last 12 months or more. Annual maintenance sessions help sustain and build on what has been achieved.
Is 40 too old for microneedling?
No. Skin in its 40s actually responds very well to microneedling because collagen production has naturally declined. There is no upper age limit. Joanne treats patients of all ages at SF Aesthetics.
Can microneedling damage skin?
When performed by a trained professional with a medical-grade device and sterile needles, microneedling is very safe. Risks are almost always linked to at-home devices or untrained practitioners.
What age should you start microneedling?
From 18 onwards for concerns like acne scars. For collagen maintenance and prevention, many people start in their late 20s or early 30s. It is never too late. Joanne treats patients of all ages.
