SkinPen Microneedling
Medical microneedling that triggers your own collagen to soften acne scars, pores, fine lines, and texture — minimal downtime, safe for all skin tones.
SkinPen is a medical microneedling device that creates thousands of tiny channels in the skin to trigger the body’s natural repair — building new collagen and elastin. It softens acne scars, fine lines, pores, and texture with minimal downtime, and is safe for all skin tones.
SkinPen — Collagen Induction
SkinPen is the first FDA-cleared microneedling device. Fine needles create controlled micro-injuries that the body heals by producing fresh collagen and elastin — a process called collagen induction therapy. Over the weeks that follow, skin becomes smoother, firmer, and more even.
It’s especially effective for acne scarring, enlarged pores, rough texture, and fine lines, and because it relies on your own healing rather than heat or pigment targeting, it’s safe across all skin tones.
Results build with a series — typically three sessions spaced about a month apart — and can be enhanced by pairing with topical serums or other treatments.
- Acne scars and textural scarring
- Enlarged pores
- Fine lines and early wrinkles
- Uneven texture and tone
Because it works through your own healing response rather than heat or light, microneedling carries low pigment risk across skin types.
What to Expect
✓ Medically reviewed by Dr. Andre Y. Levesque, MD · Board-certified plastic surgeon (ABPS) · Last reviewed April 7, 2026
A SkinPen session is comfortable and quick.
Numbing & Prep
We apply a topical numbing cream and cleanse the skin thoroughly.
Your Treatment
The SkinPen is passed over the treatment area, creating the microchannels. A full face takes roughly 30 minutes.
Recovery
Expect redness like a mild sunburn for a day or two. Skin renews over the following weeks, with results building across a series.
Is SkinPen Right for You?
SkinPen is a versatile, all-skin-tone option for texture and scarring. You may be a good fit if you:
- Want to soften acne scars, pores, or rough texture
- Prefer minimal downtime and no heat or light on the skin
- Have a deeper skin tone and want a low pigment-risk option
- Can commit to a short series for best results
For deeper tightening we may recommend RF microneedling (Morpheus8); for surface texture and scars, classic SkinPen is a great, gentler choice.
Results & Aftercare
In the first day or two, skin looks and feels like a mild sunburn — slightly pink and tight. That settles quickly, and the real work happens underneath: over the following four to six weeks, new collagen and elastin form, gradually smoothing texture, refining pores, and softening scars. Improvement continues to build across a series, which is why we typically recommend about three sessions spaced a month apart.
Aftercare is straightforward. Keep the skin clean and hydrated, avoid active ingredients (retinoids, acids) and heavy sweating for a couple of days, and protect it from the sun — new skin is more vulnerable to pigment change. Microneedling also pairs well with topical serums and, in some cases, PRP (“vampire facial”) to amplify the collagen response.
- Acne and other textural scars
- Enlarged pores
- Fine lines and early aging
- Overall skin quality and glow
Collagen induction, precisely delivered
SkinPen was the first microneedling device cleared by the FDA, and precision is its advantage. A sterile tip of fine needles creates thousands of controlled micro-channels in the skin; each one is a tiny, well-defined injury that switches on the body’s natural repair process — new collagen and elastin — without the heat or ablation of a laser. Over the weeks that follow, that remodeling smooths texture, softens scarring, and refines pores while keeping the surface largely intact. Sterile single-use cartridges make each treatment clean and consistent.
Comfort & recovery
We apply a numbing cream first, so treatment is comfortable; a session usually takes about 30 minutes for the face. Afterward the skin looks flushed, similar to a mild sunburn, for a day or so, occasionally with light dryness or flaking as it recovers.
Most people return to normal activities the next day and use mineral makeup once the skin has settled. Because collagen builds gradually, a series of treatments spaced about a month apart delivers the most noticeable, lasting improvement.
- Acne scars and uneven texture
- Fine lines and enlarged pores
- Dull tone and early aging
- All skin tones — no light-based pigment risk
Frequently Asked Questions
Collagen induction, controlled
SkinPen was the first microneedling device cleared by the FDA, and it works through a process called collagen induction therapy. A sterile tip creates thousands of precise micro-channels in the skin; your body responds by producing fresh collagen and elastin as it heals. Over a series of treatments, that rebuilt scaffolding softens acne scars, refines pores and texture, smooths fine lines, and gives skin a healthier, firmer quality.
Because the depth is adjustable and the device is precise, SkinPen can be tuned to your skin and your goals. Most patients do a series of about three sessions spaced four to six weeks apart, since collagen builds gradually. It also pairs well with topicals or PRP for an added boost.
A safe choice across skin tones
Because microneedling creates a controlled mechanical injury rather than heat, it carries a lower risk of pigment changes than many lasers — which makes it a particularly good option for medium and darker skin tones that can be more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Minimal downtime, physician-led
Downtime is short. Most people have redness that looks and feels like a mild sunburn for a day or two, sometimes with slight flaking as the skin renews. You'll avoid sun and harsh actives for a few days and keep the skin well moisturized. Because SkinPen is performed here under Dr. Levesque's medical oversight — not in an unsupervised setting — sterile technique and appropriate depth are never left to chance.
Microneedling isn't recommended if you have an active breakout or skin infection in the area, an active cold sore, a history of keloid scarring, or if you've recently taken isotretinoin (Accutane). It's also avoided during pregnancy. We'll review your history and skin at your visit and, if SkinPen isn't the right fit, point you toward an option that is.
Smoother skin,
fewer scars?
Book a consultation to see whether SkinPen microneedling is right for your skin.
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