Skin looks flushed for 12-24 hours, sometimes 48 - like a light sunburn. Most clients return to normal by the next morning. Day 3-5 you might see mild peeling - that's a good sign, not a bad one.

What's the difference between microneedling and at-home dermarollers?

Significant. Medical microneedling uses sterile single-use needles at controlled depths (0.5-2.5mm). At-home rollers are usually short, blunter, and can't be properly sterilised.

Can I have microneedling during summer?

You can - but SPF compliance becomes critical. Sun exposure on freshly-treated skin causes pigmentation. If you're going on holiday in the next 4 weeks, we'd typically wait.

No. 04 · Nurse-led

Microneedling
in Whitley Bay.

Q: How many sessions do I need?

A course of 3 sessions, four weeks apart, is the standard protocol for proper results. For deeper scarring or stubborn pigmentation, we might recommend 4-6.

Q: Will microneedling help with acne scars?

Yes - microneedling is one of the few treatments with strong evidence for atrophic (pitted) acne scarring. Realistic improvement takes 4-6 sessions over 6-9 months.

Q: Will it help with pigmentation?

Often, yes - especially sun damage and post-inflammatory marks. For melasma we're more cautious because heat or trauma can sometimes worsen it.

Q: Can I have it if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?

Pregnancy: no - we'd wait. Breastfeeding: limited evidence; we generally defer until breastfeeding is complete.

SkinPen collagen induction with medical-grade serums. Soft pink after. Brighter skin in weeks.

St Mary’s Lighthouse at Whitley Bay, near Refined Medical Aesthetics in Seaton Delaval.

Duration

60 mins

Downtime

24 hrs redness

From

£80

The approach

What to expect.

SkinPen is the only FDA-cleared microneedling device. I pair it with targeted serums. It reduces scarring. Tightens pores. Restores even, glowing tone.

Areas we treat: Texture · Scarring · Brightening

Microneedling treatment at Refined Medical Aesthetics, Seaton Delaval near Whitley Bay.

How it works

Three steps.

Consultation

A proper chat first. Your goals. Your history. Suitability. No needle today.

Treatment

Done by me. Medical-grade products. Sourced through licensed UK suppliers.

Two-week review

Included with every appointment. Small tweaks at this review? On the house.

Pricing

What it costs.

Microneedling is priced per session. The mesotherapy upgrade adds growth-factor and vitamin infusion. For clients who want a bigger glow at the same appointment.

Treatment	Per session
Microneedling facial. 60 mins	£80	Book
Microneedling with mesotherapy. 60 mins	£110	Book
Glow Package. 3 sessions + complimentary skin booster on session 3	£280

Three sessions, four weeks apart. That’s the protocol most clients need for proper results. Free 30-minute consultation if you’re new.

The science, plainly

What it actually does.

Microneedling uses a precision medical pen. Sterile, single-use micro-needles. It creates thousands of controlled, microscopic punctures in the upper layer of your skin. The skin reads these as injuries. It triggers its own repair process. New collagen. New elastin. Healthier tissue as it heals.

That’s why it’s called “collagen induction therapy”. I’m not adding anything to the skin. Unless we add mesotherapy serum. I’m asking the skin to make more of what it’s already capable of. Just less efficiently as you age.

Best results come over 3 sessions, four weeks apart. The spacing matters. Collagen production peaks around 3 to 4 weeks after each session. Doing it more often doesn’t speed it up. Doing it less often means each session starts from a colder baseline.

The mesotherapy upgrade infuses growth factors, peptides or vitamins through the same micro-channels at the end of the session. For clients who want the brightness boost at the same appointment.

Suitability

Who this is for.

Microneedling suits you if you:

Have acne scarring you’ve been told is “permanent”
Want to soften pigmentation, sun damage or stretch marks
Have enlarged pores or uneven texture
Want general skin-quality improvement without injectables
Are happy to commit to a 3-session course for proper results
Are 18+, in good general health

I’ll postpone or send you elsewhere if you:

Have active acne (cystic or inflamed). We’d wait until it’s calmed
Have a current cold sore or active skin infection
Are on roaccutane / isotretinoin (need to be 6 months off before microneedling)
Are pregnant or breastfeeding
Have a history of keloid scarring
Have wedding photos or events in the next 5-7 days. Pinpoint redness can take 2-3 days to fade

On the day

From door to done.

Numbing cream goes on for 20 minutes. Longer than for filler. We’re treating the whole face. While we wait, I cleanse the skin thoroughly. We go over the plan.

The microneedling itself takes 20 to 30 minutes. Needle depth is adjusted by area. Deeper on the cheeks where the skin is more robust. Shallower around the eyes and forehead. You hear the device. Feel a vibrating sensation. Some prickling. Manageable rather than painful.

If we’re doing mesotherapy, the serum is massaged in at the end. We finish with a calming mask and SPF. Whole appointment is around 60 minutes.

Aftercare

The first 24 hours.

Skin will look like a light sunburn for 12-24 hours, sometimes 48
No makeup for 24 hours. The micro-channels need to close first
No active skincare (retinol, AHAs, vitamin C) for 5-7 days. Just a gentle cleanser and the post-treatment moisturiser
SPF 30+ daily, no exceptions, for at least 2 weeks
No saunas, hot yoga or swimming pools for 48 hours
No exercise on the day of treatment
Mild peeling 3-5 days later is normal and a good sign
The full result builds over 6-8 weeks as new collagen forms

Risks, openly

What I tell everyone.

Common: redness for 24 to 48 hours. Mild swelling. Mild peeling at days 3 to 5. Occasional pinpoint bleeding during the session.

Less common: post-inflammatory pigmentation in clients with darker skin. I adjust depth and aftercare to manage it. Temporary breakout from the disturbance to the skin barrier. Prolonged redness in very sensitive skin.

Rare: infection. Preventable with strict aftercare. Worsening of pigmentation if SPF isn’t used religiously.

NMC-registered. Fully indemnified. On the regulators’ lists at NMC, Save Face and JCCP.

Common questions

Good to know.

Does it hurt?

Numbing cream goes on for 20 minutes first. With that, most clients describe a mild prickling and vibrating sensation. Not pain. Cheeks are usually the most comfortable area. Forehead and around the lips can be more sensitive.

How many sessions do I need?

3 sessions, four weeks apart, is the standard protocol for proper results. For deeper scarring or stubborn pigmentation, I might recommend 4 to 6.

What’s the downtime?

Skin looks flushed for 12 to 24 hours. Sometimes 48. Like a light sunburn. Most clients are back to normal by the next morning. Day 3 to 5 you might see mild peeling. That’s a good sign. Not a bad one.

Will it help with acne scars?

Yes. Microneedling is one of the few treatments with strong evidence for atrophic (pitted) acne scarring. Realistic improvement takes 4 to 6 sessions over 6 to 9 months. We agree on realistic targets at consultation.

Will it help with pigmentation?

Often, yes. Especially sun damage and post-inflammatory marks. For melasma I’m more cautious. Heat or trauma can sometimes make it worse. I adjust depth and aftercare carefully if you have melasma.

What’s the difference between microneedling and dermarollers/at-home rollers?

Significant. Medical microneedling uses sterile single-use needles at controlled depths (0.5 to 2.5mm). At-home rollers are short. Blunter. They can’t be properly sterilised. Fine for product penetration. They don’t trigger a real collagen response. And they can introduce infection.

What’s mesotherapy and is it worth the upgrade?

Mesotherapy infuses growth factors, peptides or vitamin cocktails through the same micro-channels at the end of the session. Worth it if you want maximum brightness at the same appointment. For pure scarring or texture, basic microneedling is enough.

Can I have it during summer?

You can. But SPF discipline becomes critical. Sun on freshly-treated skin causes pigmentation. Going on holiday in the next 4 weeks? We usually wait.

What if I’ve been on roaccutane?

You need to be at least 6 months off roaccutane (isotretinoin) before microneedling. The medication affects how your skin heals for that long.

Can I have it if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?

Pregnancy: no. We wait. Breastfeeding: limited evidence. I usually wait until breastfeeding is finished.

Take it home

Homecare pairing.

I often pair microneedling with WBco’s prebiotic cleansing balm. Gentle post-session cleanse. Shop the WBco homecare range at shop.refinedmedicalaesthetics.uk.

Ready?