MicroNeedling for smoother skin, fine lines and acne scars

What would you like to improve?

• Acne scars: certain indented scars may become less visible. Deep or tethered scars often need a combined approach.
• Fine lines and texture: gradual improvement in skin smoothness and quality.
• Visible pores: their appearance may improve, but pores are not permanently erased.
• Uneven tone: MicroNeedling may be part of a wider plan for selected pigmentation concerns. The cause of the marks matters.

MicroNeedling does not replace a surgical facelift or treatment for volume loss. Active inflammatory acne needs care first. Treating acne scars is not the same as treating acne.

What is MicroNeedling and how does it work?

Sterile microneedles create controlled tiny injuries in the skin. These trigger healing and collagen remodeling. Changes develop over the following weeks and months, not simply on the day of treatment.

A pen-style device allows the treatment depth to be adjusted. “Dermapen” is often used to describe this type of device, but the name alone does not identify the model or protocol. Skin assessment, sterile single-use cartridges and the right intensity matter.

MicroNeedling, RF MicroNeedling or mesotherapy?

The choice starts with the concern. Scars, fine lines, pigmentation and loss of firmness do not always need the same treatment.

How should you prepare?

• Tell us about medication and supplements, cold sores, unusual scarring or healing problems.
• Bring details of your skin care, especially retinoids, acids and products that sting. Any pause is agreed according to your skin and treatment plan.
• Avoid tanning and tanning beds. Contact the clinic before your appointment if you have sunburn, irritation or infection.
• Tell us about any important event so that enough recovery time can be allowed.

Do not stop prescribed medication, including blood thinners, on your own.

What happens at ESTERA?

1. Assessment. Your goals, skin, health history and current skin care are discussed.
2. Preparation. Skin cleansing, appropriate preparation and numbing cream if needed.
3. Area-by-area treatment. Depth and intensity are adapted to the area, skin thickness and concern.
4. Aftercare and planning. Soothing care and home instructions, followed by a plan for review and any further treatment.

You may feel stinging, warmth or scratching. Numbing cream can reduce discomfort, but a completely painless treatment is not promised. Strong redness or pinpoint bleeding does not prove a better result.

When will you see results and how many treatments are needed?

Skin may look fresher once the initial reaction settles. Texture and scar improvement are assessed over weeks and months. The full effect of a series may take several months; Cleveland Clinic gives a broad timeframe of 3–6 months.

Several treatments are often needed, but there is no single series for everyone. The scar type or other concern, treatment intensity and skin response guide the plan. Published patient guidance commonly gives intervals of 3–8 weeks. This is not a fixed ESTERA package.

Skin care and sun protection help maintain results. Maintenance depends on your skin, not a compulsory monthly schedule. We do not promise a percentage improvement or permanent scar removal.

Recovery and aftercare: what is normal and when should you call?

Redness, warmth, mild sensitivity, tightness and light flaking can occur. After gentler treatment these often settle within 1–3 days. More intensive treatment may cause a reaction lasting several days to around a week.

• Makeup: wait at least 24 hours, and longer if the skin has not settled or your instructions require it.
• Cleansing and hydration: use the gentle products recommended for you. Do not rub the skin or pick flakes.
• Active products: restart retinoids, acids, scrubs and products that sting only when the skin has recovered and according to your instructions.
• Sun: avoid direct exposure and use sun protection according to your aftercare plan.
• Heat and exercise: pause saunas, swimming and intense exercise as directed for your treatment and skin response.

Contact the clinic promptly for increasing pain or swelling, spreading redness, pus, blisters, fever or bleeding that will not stop. Do not wait for your next review. The general aftercare guide (Serbian) is supporting information; your personal instructions take priority.

Who is a candidate and when should treatment wait?

MicroNeedling may be an option for a range of skin tones. It is not risk-free: infection, prolonged irritation, pigment changes and scarring are possible. Appropriate assessment and aftercare reduce risk.

• Active inflammatory acne, cold sores, open wounds or infection in the area need care first.
• Active eczema, psoriasis or another inflammatory skin condition needs assessment before treatment.
• Keloid tendency, poor healing, immune suppression and blood-clotting disorders affect the decision.
• Tell us about pregnancy, breastfeeding, current or recent isotretinoin, blood thinners, chemotherapy or radiation treatment. Suitability and timing are decided after assessment.

Melasma or a tendency to pigment changes needs particular care. MicroNeedling is not presented as a universal treatment for rosacea, active acne or excessive sweating.

PRP, serums and exosomes: what does an add-on change?

Selected protocols may combine MicroNeedling with PRP (Serbian) or suitable preparations. Microchannels change skin permeability, so an everyday skin-care product is not automatically suitable for freshly treated skin. Product selection and application matter as much as the needling itself.

Exosomes are being studied as an add-on. A 2026 systematic review included eight studies with 171 patients and found promising but limited data. Different products and protocols cannot be treated as equivalent, and long-term safety and additional benefit remain uncertain.

At ESTERA, exosomes are used only topically, applied to the skin, not injected. We do not promise that they always shorten recovery or improve results for every patient. Consultation is the time to discuss whether an add-on fits your goal.

Neck, décolletage, stretch marks and scalp

After assessment, MicroNeedling may be considered for other areas or selected stretch marks. Skin thickness and the type of change guide intensity. Stretch marks and scars may become less noticeable, but disappearance is not promised.

For selected forms of hair loss it is studied as an adjunct to therapy, not a universal solution. The cause of hair loss should be assessed first. Read about scalp MicroNeedling.

Stretch marks on the body

On the body, MicroNeedling is most often performed on the abdomen, hips, thighs, breasts and upper arms. Fresh, reddish stretch marks (striae rubrae) respond better than older, whitish ones (striae albae) – with older marks the goal is to make them less noticeable, not to erase them. A course of sessions is usually needed, and stretch marks are often combined with other methods; more: our stretch-mark treatment guide.

Scars on the body

Surgical scars and post-acne marks on the back and décolleté can also be softened with MicroNeedling, by the same principle as on the face – stimulating collagen remodelling. Larger and deeper scars are often treated in combination with laser; more: laser scar removal and our acne-scar page.

How many sessions and what aftercare on the body?

Body skin is thicker, so the settings differ from the face, and the course is usually 3-6 sessions. After the session, protect the area from clothing friction, saunas and sun for 24-48 hours; use SPF on exposed areas. Recovery is short – redness and mild sensitivity for a day or two.

The scalp

Scalp MicroNeedling with serums (PDRN, exosomes) is a topic of its own – more on the new page: scalp MicroNeedling.

What does the evidence mean for your choice?

The 2024 review by Jaiswal and Jawade in Cureus describes mechanisms, applications and risks. It is a literature review, not proof that one device or add-on produces the same result in every patient. AAD and Cleveland Clinic also describe gradual results, a series for some concerns and the need for assessment.

Your plan should follow your concern and a realistic goal, not advertising percentages about “doubled collagen”, a guaranteed lift or permanently removed pores.

Cost and your next step

Cost depends on the area and selected protocol. View the current ESTERA price list (Serbian). At consultation, discuss the proposed number of treatments, intervals and overall plan before deciding.

If you want smoother skin or less visible acne marks, start with an assessment. Book a consultation to choose an approach suited to your skin.

References

• Jaiswal S, Jawade S. Microneedling in Dermatology: A Comprehensive Review of Applications, Techniques, and Outcomes. Cureus. 2024;16(9):e70033. doi:10.7759/cureus.70033.
• American Academy of Dermatology. Microneedling can fade scars, uneven skin tone, and more.
• Cleveland Clinic. Microneedling. 2022.
• Dhaliwal NK, Moothathamby T, Sokhal BS, Gkini MA. The Use of Microneedling With Exosomes in Dermatology: A Systematic Review. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2026;25:e70881. doi:10.1111/jocd.70881.