You’ve invested in your skincare. You cleanse, you treat, you moisturize, you SPF. And for a while, that was enough. But at some point — usually in your 40s or early 50s — you start to notice that even the best products aren’t moving the needle the way they once did.
That’s not a failure of your routine. That’s biology.
Collagen production slows significantly after 30, accelerating through perimenopause and beyond. Skin cell turnover slows. The structural scaffolding that gives skin its firmness, smoothness, and resilience begins to thin. Topical skincare can support and protect that structure — but it cannot rebuild it.
That’s where microneedling comes in.
What Microneedling Actually Does
Microneedling is a medical-grade treatment that uses fine, precision-controlled needles to create controlled micro-channels in the skin. This process triggers your skin’s natural repair response — stimulating the production of collagen and elastin from the inside out.
The result isn’t a surface-level improvement. It’s a structural one.
At Aura, microneedling is performed using the SkinPen by Revance — the first FDA-cleared microneedling device on the market, and one of the most rigorously studied. SkinPen’s design allows for consistent, precise depth control that produces reproducible results with a strong safety profile.
Who Is This For?
Microneedling is one of the most versatile treatments we offer at Aura. It’s appropriate for a wide range of skin concerns and a wide range of patients. You may be a strong candidate if you’re noticing:
- Fine lines and early wrinkles, particularly around the eyes, mouth, and forehead
- Skin texture changes — roughness, unevenness, or a loss of the “lit from within” quality
- Large or enlarged pores
- Acne scarring or other textural scarring
- Hyperpigmentation or uneven skin tone
- Mild laxity or early thinning of the skin
- Dullness that skincare alone isn’t correcting
Microneedling is effective as a corrective treatment for established concerns — and equally valuable as a maintenance tool for patients who want to stay ahead of the aging process rather than catch up to it. Many of our clients incorporate it into their annual skin health plan the same way they think about other preventive care.
The Experience: What to Actually Expect
This is where I want to correct a misconception that keeps some patients from booking sooner than they should.
Microneedling has a reputation for being uncomfortable or requiring significant downtime. In practice, neither is accurate — particularly when performed by a medical provider with appropriate numbing protocols.
At Aura, a topical numbing cream is applied prior to treatment, making the procedure very well-tolerated. Most patients describe the sensation as mild pressure or warmth — not pain. The appointment itself typically takes about 60 to 90 minutes, including numbing time.
As for recovery: you will experience redness immediately following treatment — your skin will look and feel like a moderate sunburn for 24 to 48 hours. By day three, most patients look completely normal and are back to their full routine. There is no peeling, no significant swelling, and no extended social downtime.
For a treatment that produces genuine structural change in the skin, the recovery is remarkably straightforward.
Microneedling vs. RF Microneedling — What’s the Difference?
Both treatments use the same foundational mechanism — controlled micro-channels that stimulate collagen production — but RF microneedling adds a layer of radiofrequency energy delivered directly into the dermis at the time of treatment.
That additional energy produces more significant skin tightening and is particularly effective for patients with mild to moderate laxity, enlarged pores, and deeper textural changes. RF microneedling is often the right choice for patients who want more pronounced results or who are targeting the lower face, jawline, or neck.
Standard microneedling is an excellent option for overall skin quality improvement, fine lines, tone, texture, and pigmentation — and is typically more appropriate for patients earlier in the aging process or those maintaining results between RF treatments.
During your consultation, we’ll assess which option is the right fit for your skin and your goals.
A Note on Who Is Performing Your Treatment
Microneedling is offered at a wide range of facilities — but not all microneedling is the same, and who performs it matters significantly.
As a Physician Assistant with over 15 years of clinical experience, I am able to use the full therapeutic depth range of the SkinPen — adjusted precisely for your skin type, your concern, and your treatment area. That level of depth control is not available in every setting, and it directly affects your outcomes.
Medical-grade microneedling in a clinically supervised environment also allows for add-on therapies — including PRP, PDGF, and medical-grade serums delivered during the treatment — that further enhance results in ways that aren’t possible at every provider level.
When you choose Aura, you’re choosing the full clinical capability of the device and the treatment.
What Results Look Like — and When
Most patients begin to notice improved skin texture and a subtle luminosity within the first two to three weeks following a single treatment, as the initial collagen remodeling begins.
More significant improvement — including reduction in fine lines, pore size, and scarring — develops over six to eight weeks as deeper collagen remodeling continues. A series of three treatments, spaced four to six weeks apart, produces the most substantial and lasting results for patients with established concerns.
Maintenance treatments, typically once or twice annually, help preserve and build on those results over time.
Who Is This For? (FAQ Section)
How many sessions do I need? For corrective goals — addressing texture, scarring, lines, or pores — a series of three treatments spaced four to six weeks apart is the standard starting point. For maintenance, one to two treatments per year is typical. We’ll build your plan at your consultation.
Can microneedling be combined with other treatments? Yes — and often it should be. Microneedling pairs particularly well with PRP or PDGF serums applied during treatment, and it complements injectable treatments, laser, and medical skincare as part of a comprehensive plan.
Is it safe for all skin tones? SkinPen microneedling is cleared for use across all Fitzpatrick skin types and is one of the more inclusive resurfacing options available, particularly compared to certain laser treatments.
What should I avoid before and after? We’ll provide a full pre- and post-care protocol at booking. In general: avoid retinoids and active exfoliants for several days before and after, and apply SPF diligently during the healing window.
How does it compare to a chemical peel or laser? Microneedling targets the dermis — the deeper structural layer — while many peels and lighter lasers work primarily at the surface. It’s not that one is better than the other; they treat different layers and often work best in combination. We’ll help you understand which is right for where you are.
Ready to See What Your Skin Is Actually Capable Of?
If you’ve been thinking about microneedling — or if this is the first time it’s landed on your radar as something to consider — a consultation is the right next step. We’ll take a thorough look at your skin, understand your goals, and build a plan that makes sense for you.
👉 Book your consultation now or call (864) 640-2379 to schedule.
Aging is inevitable…feeling great is optional.