What it is
Microneedling creates thousands of tiny contact points in the skin using a fine needle device. Each one is small enough to heal quickly but significant enough to trigger a wound-healing response, and that response is what lays down new collagen.
It is collagen induction rather than resurfacing. You are not stripping the skin, you are prompting it to rebuild itself, which is why the results appear over the following weeks rather than the following morning. If lifting and tightening are your bigger concern rather than texture, RF Microneedling and HIFU reaches deeper and adds a lifting effect that standard microneedling doesn’t.
What it helps with
The strongest results are on textural concerns, and how it works depends a little on which one you’re treating.
Acne scarring
Acne scarring is the concern microneedling is best known for, because it triggers new collagen exactly where the scarring sits. Expect a course, spaced roughly four weeks apart, rather than a single session: scarring needs repeated collagen induction to fill in properly.
Enlarged pores and texture
Pores that look permanently open and patches of rough texture both respond to the same collagen-building process. Most people notice pores looking tighter and skin feeling smoother within a few sessions, though a full course gives the most complete result.
Fine lines and sun damage
Fine lines and the uneven tone that comes with sun damage both improve as new collagen firms and evens out the skin. It’s a slower route than a filler or a peel, but the change comes from rebuilding your own skin rather than masking it.
Stretch marks
Stretch marks respond more slowly than facial concerns because the skin there is thicker, so a course spaced roughly four weeks apart is standard rather than optional. Improvement is gradual: expect softened texture and reduced visibility rather than complete disappearance.
How the session runs
Your therapist works across the treatment area with the device set to a depth chosen for your skin and your concern. A solution containing hyaluronic acid, minerals, vitamins and peptides goes on during the treatment, so the channels created are put to use immediately.
A full face takes around 45 minutes. Face and neck together takes a little longer.
Results and how many you need
Expect redness on the day, similar to mild sunburn. It usually settles within 24 to 48 hours, so by day two most people look close to normal, maybe with a little residual pinkness or tightness. Most people are comfortable back at work the next day; see our aftercare guide for how to look after skin in that window. The new collagen builds over the following weeks, so the honest answer on timing is that you will see the real result about a month after each session.
Scarring and stretch marks generally need a course spaced roughly four weeks apart. Your therapist will tell you at the consultation how many sessions your particular concern realistically needs, rather than selling you a fixed package.
Microneedling at our Bristol salons
Microneedling runs at all three of our salons: Clifton Down, Westbury on Trym and Westbury Park on Coldharbour Road. Every session is carried out by an NVQ Level 3 qualified therapist, and some of our team hold additional training in microneedling specifically. Book online at whichever salon suits you.