Microneedling

A treatment using a medical device with fine sterile needles to create thousands of microscopic channels in the skin, prompting a natural healing response that produces new collagen and elastin. It is also called collagen induction therapy.

Each micro-channel triggers the skin's repair cascade — inflammation, then proliferation, then remodelling. Over the following weeks, fibroblasts lay down new collagen, which is what fills out indented scarring and thickens thin, crepey skin.

With thirty minutes of topical anaesthetic, most patients find it very manageable — a vibrating, scratchy sensation rather than pain. Bonier areas such as the forehead and jawline are more sensitive than the cheeks.

For general skin quality, three sessions four to six weeks apart is a typical starting point. Acne scarring usually needs four to six. Dr Allison will give you an honest number at consultation rather than selling a single session.

Skin looks brighter within a week, but the real change is collagen-driven and takes time. Expect visible improvement at four to six weeks after each session, with the full effect of a course apparent around three to six months in.

The new collagen is your own, so improvement is durable — commonly a year or more after a full course. Skin continues to age, so most patients return for a maintenance session every six to twelve months.

Yes. Because microneedling uses no heat and no light, it carries a considerably lower risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation than laser resurfacing, which makes it one of the better options for deeper skin types.

Expect redness like moderate sunburn for twenty-four to forty-eight hours, sometimes with mild swelling on day one and light flaking around day three. Make-up is avoided for twenty-four hours and sun exposure for a week.