Sharing my experience with microneedling, what it is, and how it can improve your skin.
This post contains affiliate links.
It’s pretty well documented around here that I’m a big fan of taking care of my skin. Whether it’s refining my routine so I’m using products containing ingredients with proven results or amping things up with a BBL laser treatment to blast hyperpigmentation, I’m pretty passionate about keeping my skin in its best shape, whatever my age. My latest skincare venture? Microneedling.
I’m sharing it all here: what microneedling does, how long it takes to recover (hint: not long at all), and of course before and after shots. (I like to give the people what they want.)
So let’s dive in!
What is microneedling?
Microneedling is a skin procedure that involves a series of tiny needles that repeatedly penetrate that skin (typically via an FDA-approved device like a SkinPen) and form tiny puncture wounds (aka microdamage). This microdamage is actually a good thing— these small open channels in the skin signal the body to boost collagen production in the treated area.
Collagen is a protein that acts as one of the main building blocks for your skin (and bones, muscles, tendons, etc.). It’s what keeps the skin plump, elastic, and youthful. A boost in collagen levels means a decrease in fine lines, sun damage, acne scars, and an overall improvement of the skin’s appearance. More collagen = a more youthful appearance, plain and simple.
Now, tiny needles stabbing you repeatedly in the face? Sounds pretty painful– but it really isn’t! You’re numbed up so you don’t feel much of anything except the pen moving over your skin; you don’t feel the needle pricks. We’ll dig more into that below.
Microneedling Benefits
- A decrease in fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation, plus a boost in skin firmness. All thanks to collagen, baby! It’s a miracle worker. And it’s a natural process– microneedling opens the channels in the skin (or wounds), but the body heals itself via its own collagen. Genius.
- Smoother, softer skin. Take a seat, texture! Microneedling is a resurfacing treatment, so one benefit is soft, smooth skin with minimized pore size. (You know, like a baby.)
- No significant downtime. You’ll see some redness (some more than others– you’ll see my tomato face below!) but that almost completely resolves the morning after the treatment. After that, it’s all glow.
- It’s more affordable than other procedures. Clinical procedures aren’t cheap, but microneedling is much less than say, a Halo treatment. (Which I’ve had and I love– but it’s pricey!)
What to Expect During + After Your Microneedling Treatment
First of all, you should avoid direct sun exposure and super potent skincare products (like retinol or strong acids) a few days before a microneedling appointment. This makes sense: both the sun (bad for your skin) and some skincare ingredients (good for your skin) aggravate the skin. Microneedling also aggravates the skin, so don’t want to overdo it. Best to stick with a very gentle skincare routine in the days leading up to a microneedling session.
I came into my appointment with a clean face (no makeup, just a little moisturizer).
My aesthetician applied numbing cream to my face and neck. This is key! Once the numbing cream does its thing, you can barely feel the SkinPen and it makes microneedling a breeze. I sat for about 20 minutes with the cream on, making sure not to get it on my lips or in my mouth (numb lips and/or tongue are not my idea of a good time).
The microneedling treatment itself is pretty quick– just 20 minutes, give or take. My aesthetician ran the pen over areas of my face several times: forehead, around the eyes, the nose, cheeks, around the mouth, chin, under the chin and jaw, and along my neck. (So important to take care of your neck, folks! It ages, too!)
I didn’t feel much of anything during the microneedling treatment. I could feel the pen moving back and forth over my face, but absolutely zero pain. Probably the “worst” part was when we were doing my nose, and that’s only because it tickled and made my eyes water!
Very important to note here: even though it didn’t hurt, microneedling is a procedure you should only have done by a licensed professional at a medspa or dermatologist’s office you trust! (AesthetiCare in Leawood is my spot; I trust these guys implicitly because they’re the best.) This procedure is different from the derma rollers you’ve seen that can be used at home. The needles in a SkinPen go much deeper, so you need to make sure you’re in good hands!
My aesthetician applied a growth serum after the SkinPen opened up hundreds of channels on my face and neck. This serum speeds up the recovery process, helps with inflammation, and boosts your overall results. She used half a tube on my face right after the session and then gave me the rest to take home and use that night and first thing the following morning while the channels created by the microneedling were still open.
After the serum soaked in, my aesthetician slathered on a healthy layer of CeraVe moisturizer and sunscreen. CeraVe the stuff a ton of dermatologists and medspas reach for post-treatment because it’s deeply hydrating, gentle, and works on all types of skin. (Bonus: it’s super affordable!) Sunscreen is necessary post-treatment because the skin is very susceptible to UV damage after procedures like microneedling.
I was pretty red right after my treatment– splotchy and irritated. I intentionally made sure my social calendar was clear for the night!
Ten Minutes After Microneedling
My face was still pretty numb, but it felt a bit hot. The shine you see here is from the moisturizer. The concentrated areas of redness are little bits of blood– sounds gross, but totally normal. (And even preferred; this is what we call a clinical endpoint.) I put on a pair of big (really big, ha) sunglasses and drove home.
An hour later, the more irritated-looking patches and some of the redness had calmed down. It was similar to having a bit of a sunburn: the skin was warm and felt tight.
One Hour After Microneedling
I let my skin breathe all evening (no makeup until at least the next morning, per the rules) and only used the CeraVe moisturizer when my skin felt tight.
That night before bed, the redness returned.
Five Hours After Microneedling
That night, my face got really red. It felt like I had a bad sunburn. Hot to the touch (and just felt hot in general) and tight. Not terribly painful or anything, but noticeable. Felt as if I’d been in the sun all day without sunscreen (a big, fat no-no). This reaction is perfectly normal; this is the skin healing itself.
You could really tell how red my skin was when compared to the untreated area of my chest. I also had a little bit of swelling around my eyes– again, normal. That delicate part of the face often responds with swelling after procedures like microneedling. It wasn’t that puffy; I really only noticed it when I was examining my skin up close in the mirror.
To prep for bed, I gently rinsed my skin with water, applied the recovery serum, and put on a heavy layer of moisturizer.
The Morning After Microneedling
I was really surprised to see how much of the redness had resolved the next morning. Amazing! My skin also felt totally normal; no more tight, sunburnt feeling.
This is one of the biggest draws to microneedling: you get really amazing clinical results, but your skin is almost back to normal the next day. The downtime is so short, which means you don’t have to worry about looking crazy in public or on a Zoom call.
You can wear makeup the next day, too. I had a few important Zoom meetings that afternoon and looked totally normal with just a little bit of tinted moisturizer. Brilliant! First thing in the morning, though, I just rinsed with water, applied the last of the recovery serum, and finished up with moisturizer.
About a Week After Microneedling
I started to see a major glow a few days after the microneedling treatment, but things were really on point a little over a week after. My skin was super soft, too.
Per the post-care instructions, I avoided direct sun exposure for about 2 weeks after the microneedling treatment. Even though you look and feel normal 24-48 hours after microneedling, your skin is healing for a few weeks after (aka, building up all that fresh ‘n new collagen!) so you want to protect it.
My Microneedling Results
From my experience, microneedling is totally worth it. It’s less expensive than a BBL and Halo and you really cannot beat that super short downtime.
Now, it’s important to note: at 36, I don’t have many wrinkles just yet or issues with hyperpigmentation (sun spots, age spots, etc.). This is entirely thanks to diligent sunscreen use, clinical-strength products, and treatments like BBL. My former tanning bed-worshipping self would probably be a wrinkled ol’ raisin by now without them! But I loved microneedling and its results so much, I’m now adding it to the list of yearly procedures I’ll prioritize to keep my skin looking its best.
A series of microneedling treatments are usually needed to address more serious issues. For example, if I had very visible lines around my eyes or acne scarring, I would likely need 3 to 5 treatments in order to see fully realized results.
What does microneedling cost?
This will all depend on the medspa (I went to my go-to, AesthetiCare in Leawood), but I paid $260 for microneedling on my face and an additional $110 for my neck (aka $370). The recovery serum was another add-on and brought my total to $598.
You can definitely parse out what areas you treat when in order to balance costs. For example, you could forgo the serum (you will still get amazing results!) or just treat your face during one round and your neck at a later date.
For me, I plan on getting 1-2 microneedling treatments a year and will add the serum to one of those sessions.
__
I’m so happy to add microneedling to the list of treatments I love! It’s seriously one of the best, more affordable medspa treatments I’ve tried. You get a lot of bang for your buck!
Quick-Hit Questions About Microneedling
Microneedling is a minimally invasive skin procedure that uses a series of tiny needle pricks to boost collagen production. A trained aesthetician will use an FDA-approved device like a SkinPen to make tiny puncture wounds over areas like the face, neck, and chest. As the puncture wounds heal, it boosts collagen production in the treated area.
Collagen is one of the primary building blocks for your skin and is what keeps the skin plump and supple. More collagen means a more youthful appearance to the skin.
Microneedling is one of the affordable resurfacing skin treatments. In general, you can expect to pay the following for microneedling:
-Face: $260
-Neck: $110
Note: each medspa will set its own prices for microneedling and you should pay attention to sales and specials they may run to help make the treatment more cost-effective.
The main benefits of microneedling include a decrease in fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. Due to increased collagen, you can also expect increased skin firmness. The healing time from a microneedling treatment is also very quick (1-2 days), which makes it very convenient.
Linking up with Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, The Fashion Canvas, I Do DeClaire, Style Splash, Straight A Style, Jersey Girl Texan Heart, Is This Mutton, Effortlessly Sophisticated, Curly Crafty Mom + Doused in Pink, Mummabstylish, Nancy’s Fashion Style, Confessions of a Montreal Styling Diva, Shelbee on the Edge, The Grey Brunette, My Random Musings, Glass of Glam, My Bijou Life, and Away from the Blue.
That was really cool to see the progression. Others have talked about the process but you are the first who really showed it!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
I like to see what it looks like during and after when researching a treatment, so I thought I would show mine! So glad you found it helpful!
Thank you for sharing the step by step! Amazing to see how it really all looks before, in-between and after the procedure. I am turning the big 4-2 soon and this is a great option to keep in mind!
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com
Totally a great option for you! My mom is in her 60s and she loves it, too. I think it’s great for anyone looking to get some resurfacing action!
This was so informative! I definitely see that gorgeous glow you got from the treatment! I have been trying it at home, but would love to get it professionally done one day.
I was very pleased with the results- and just resurfacing in general is so key as we age!
wow what a cool post!
it looks a nice product!
please keep us updated!
Thank you!
I’ve gotten micro-needling twice and my skin glows afterwards. I’ve seen such a big difference. Have another appointment in a couple of weeks.
Jennifer
Curated By Jennifer
It’s all about that repition! Even if you only do 1-2 treatments a year, your skin is definitely getting a resurfacing benefit! The glow is real!
I have done several micro needling treatments and didn’t notice a major difference. I know everyone is different so I’m glad it works for you. I’m a Hydra facial girl!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Hydrafacials are awesome, too! So relaxing!
Your skin is glowing indeed! I’ve always wondered about like when needling! I’ve started using a radio frequency tool that heats up the skin building the collagen and I absolutely love it but I think micro needling would be fabulous to add to my regimen. You always look so beautiful even with no make up girl, you’re a stunner
I’m all about trying anything that builds collagen! Skincare is literally one of my fave things!
This is so interesting, I didn’t know that this much even went into it. Thank you for sharing!
It’s such a great treatment! I’m a huge fan now. 🙂
I’ve been wanting to try this, your skin looks seriously amazing!
Lee | LegalLee Blonde
I have zerooooo regrets about this treatment and definitely will be adding it to the list of regulars!
I love your thorough review and appreciate the time you took to write it! I’ve been thinking of trying this myself, so I enjoyed reading your thoughts!
Shauna
http://www.lipglossandlace.net
This is the kind of stuff I want to know (and see!) when considering a new procedure, so I figured I’d take everyone along for the ride! It’s important to know what to expect in terms of downtime, results, and cost!
What a wonderful result Ashely. Thanks for sharing the step by step.
OOXX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thank you for reading, Jodie! 🙂
I’ve heard a lot about this and it was fascinating to read your account. The results are wonderful. Thanks for linking!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Gail!
Thanks for this detailed post on micro needling and these before and after pictures. Your skin looks amazing!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Thanks so much, babe!
You look so sweet.. very interesting subject
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing this step by step. I have never tried micro needling, but I love that the downtime is so short, and that you only need it once or twice a year
Julia x
https://www.thevelvetrunway.com/
I really like how minimal the downtime is and that you only need a few treatments to see some results- amazing!
I just love this review so much. It has helpful information and your skin looks so gorgeous.
My birthday was yesterday and it was so much fun defiantly makes you in a festive mood for fall.
https://www.bauchlefashion.com/2021/10/trending-now-autumn-suits_21.html
Aw, happy belated birthday!
Very informative post! Thanks for sharing your experience , Ashley!
Kisses, Paola.
Expressyourself
My Instagram
Thanks so much, babe!
What an interesting post! I also do micro needling from time to time and it does wonders.
lots of love, Miri
http://www.meetmiri.com
It’s such a super effective treatment!
This is such an informative post! Thank you for sharing each step of the way. I always wanted to invest in microneedling. I love that there’s no downtime. Your skin looks beautiful!
Jill – Doused in Pink
It’s so worth it! I’m looking forward to my next treatment this winter!
Definitely an interesting read and it sounds like a great option for people who are interested and it fits into their budget. Your skin looks lovely,.
It really is!
I’ve heard of this, but I’ve never read such a thorough explanation of it with so many photos! I really want to start thinking about doing some treatments on my skin after I have my next birthday… I just need to find some time to research it all. I’ll be in my mid-forties next summer, so it is about time! Thankfully sunscreen and just using top notch products has helped me a lot so far. You look great, btw!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
I’m so glad you found it helpful- mid-40s a great time to start this treatment! You’ve already got an awesome head start by using quality products and wearing that SPF!
Your skin looks amazing! I love how you took the after photos too, and it doesn’t look like there’s much down time at all with it! I want to try it too!
Eileen | yesmissy.com
I was surprised (and pleased!) to see that everything had pretty much resolved by the next morning! Amazing!
So informative and interesting! Thanks for sharing this.
I’m super scared of needles, so I am going to stick to my dermaroller for a while and maybe someday I’ll try this…
have a great weekend,
S
Oh how exciting to do this and to share it all with us! Your skin looked great before but I do see a radiant glow. I want to do this but am afraid but maybe I could try it in a small area first. Great post!
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
Thanks for the detailed explanation about microneedling, love that is has little downtime.
Looks really effective.
Ann
https://roomsofinspiration.blogspot.com/
I knew a bit about it, but this was a great review and I appreciate it! I take care of my skin with pro grade products but have never had a treatment like this.
Your skin glows afterward.
thanks for linking!
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
I’ve never heard of microneedling, but I appreciate how you shared the process through words and pictures. Your face is always glowing, Ashley! But, I can see an even better glow after your treatment! I must confess I don’t like needles, but perhaps I will try this one day. 😉
https://lizzyslatest.com/
Looking great! And really very important to go to a professional just like you did when getting this treatment, I don’t trust at-home microneedling kits at all.
You are always glowing, and I need to have what you’re having! I had never heard of this procedure, and am super intrigued!
Green Fashionista
The results are great!!! I am 39 and no wrinkles at all, but I am sure I would love this on my skin but I suffer for anxiety of anything that can cause a bit of pain…I gave my my full paid SPL after few sessions because I was already afraid on my way to the salon…you can all laugh here :D.
You look great and the recovery images are amazing!
This was so informative and helpful post. I’m glad you loved the results. Your skin looks amazing. xx
https://www.ninakobi.com
Very informative. Thanks for sharing.
Micro-needling seems really great. Thanks for this informative post! Lovely post dear!
Allurerage
Thetrendybride
I loved that you showed us step by step!! You’ve sold me on this. Your skin is GLOWING!!! Thanks for sharing your experience hun.
-Nina
http://www.stylingwithnina.com/2021/10/sweater-season.html
This treatment is very interesting. Your skin is so glow. Great result Ashley!
https://chicchedimamma.com/
Great to read about this treatment, you look fabulous hunny. Jacqui x
It’s nice that this worked for you and you didn’t feel sore immediately after it but that redness looks so bad! I couldn’t do this – I don’t like the idea of needles and trying to avoid sun for 2 weeks would be impossible here in Queensland, haha!
Thanks for joining the #WeekdayWearLinkup! Hope that you are having a great week 🙂
Away From The Blue
Thanks so much for sharing such an informative post on your experience! I would love to give this a whirl at some point. Also goes without saying but you look gorge!
//teandtwosugars.blogspot.com xx
I hadn’t heard of this procedure. Intriguing!
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
what a cool post!
thanks for sharing!!
Now I know something new!
http://www.itzytrendy.com/2021/10/catrina-20.html
Oh my gosh, I’m definitely saving this post! I’ve been so curious about micro needling and this answered all of my questions. These pictures are SO helpful too!
xo Logan
https://peculiarporter.com/