Microneedling in Brighton & Hove

Think quieter change rather than transformation: some uneven texture may look smoother and early fine lines softer.⁵ The change develops gradually rather than appearing overnight.

Here, “fresher” simply means smoother-looking texture. It is a patient description—not a separate promise of glow, tightening or lifting. Not every concern described as dull, tired or uneven comes from something microneedling can change.

“Uneven skin” is not a diagnosis. I separate changes in structure, colour, inflammation and facial support before deciding whether a needle makes sense. Controlled repair is useful only when it can reach the cause.

Microneedling can improve selected atrophic acne scars, but it cannot make scars disappear. Scar type, depth and tethering decide whether it fits, needs a combined approach or is not the right tool.

Many faces contain more than one scar type, together with redness or pigmentation left by acne. Marks are not indentations, and active inflammatory acne is settled before repeatedly treating the scars it is still producing.

Stretch marks are dermal scars. Research gives initial support to needling-based treatments, but devices and protocols differ. The realistic aim is softer texture and contrast—not erasure.⁶

Surgical and traumatic scars need their own assessment. Age, width, colour, thickness, symptoms and any tendency to hypertrophic or keloid scarring all matter. A raised, active or symptomatic scar is not approached like a mature, flat one.

No. Melasma, post-inflammatory pigmentation, solar lentigines and the uneven appearance associated with photoageing do not share one cause. Colour is assessed separately from texture.

Microneedling at odNOVA is offered only to adults aged 18 and over.

Age alone does not decide suitability. The condition of the skin, the change you want to address and its cause matter more.

20s

A specific concern such as post-acne texture or selected indented scars—not universal “preventative ageing”.

30s

Early lines or textural change, with gradual remodelling and more even light reflection.

40s

Fine lines, texture, elasticity and skin quality while keeping the face recognisably unchanged.

50s +

The skin-quality part of a broader plan, preserving facial character.

Practical orientation, not age-stratified trial evidence.

Sterile needles create a planned pattern of microchannels through the epidermis while leaving much of the surface between them intact. The barrier is briefly disrupted; that is the trigger, not the benefit.

The micro-injury begins an organised healing response. Fibroblasts help lay down and reorganise the extracellular matrix, including new collagen. Early repair collagen matures over weeks and months. Greater redness, bleeding or downtime does not mean a better result.¹⁸²⁴²⁵

• Smoother, more refined texture through gradual remodelling.
• Softer selected fine lines—not every line.
• More even light reflection where surface irregularity becomes less obvious.
• Selected atrophic acne scars—the strongest direct evidence.
• Possible gradual improvement in firmness or elasticity—explicitly not a lift.

It is not filler, lifting or ablative resurfacing. It does not shed the skin, reposition tissue, restore lost volume or reverse facial ageing. Brightening, “glow” and pigment removal are not the aim.

No single percentage improvement applies to everyone.

I assess the concern in normal and directional light and, where useful, while moving the skin. For scars I look at type, depth, edges, tethering, distribution and active acne. For texture or pigment, I consider whether the cause is epidermal, dermal, inflammatory or structural.

We decide whether needling is appropriate, which areas to treat, the reasonable intensity for each area, whether it stands alone or forms part of a staged plan, how much recovery is workable and when to review.

One depth is not used across the whole face because skin thickness, scar depth, anatomy and the purpose of treatment vary from one area to another.

The endpoint is an appropriate, even tissue response—not maximum bleeding. Too little may fail to create worthwhile remodelling; unnecessary intensity adds recovery and risk without guaranteeing a better result. Published protocols vary widely in depth, passes and intervals.⁵¹⁴

Standardised photographs matter. The daily mirror, changing light and short-term swelling are unreliable ways to judge gradual remodelling.

Microneedling can be uncomfortable and, in some areas, painful. Topical anaesthetic is used where appropriate, but it may not remove sensation completely. Most people describe scratching, warmth and tightness, with sharper sensation over bone or at more intensive settings. I check in throughout, and you can ask to pause at any time.

• Skin and healing: cold sores, new rashes, active acne, infection, recent illness or delayed healing.
• Medicines: isotretinoin, anticoagulants, antiplatelets, steroids, immunosuppressants and all other prescribed or non-prescribed medicines.
• Previous reactions: local anaesthetic, relevant metals or topical products.
• Sun and skincare: deliberate tanning, recent significant sun exposure and irritating active skincare.
• Other procedures: recent or planned peels, lasers, injectables, waxing and prescription skin treatment.

Arrive with clean skin where possible. Do not stop prescribed medication without the responsible prescriber. Pause active skincare only when advised rather than guessing.

Treatment may be rescheduled if the skin is not in a condition to heal predictably.

Tell me about recent or planned peels, lasers, injectables, waxing and prescription skin treatment. The interval depends on what was done, how the skin recovered and what comes next; it should not be guessed from a generic calendar.

The skin is temporarily more reactive and permeable. The immediate priority is to let the barrier recover without adding irritation.

Do not plan around the shortest possible recovery. Redness may settle quickly, but dryness, flaking, bruising or an individual reaction can remain visible for longer. For an important event, allow at least one week; intensive scar treatment may justify more.

Often, yes. If work or an event limits the recovery you can accept, tell me during planning. A more conservative session may settle sooner, but the likely change may also be more modest and the course may need adjusting.

• Keep the skin clean and use only the products advised.
• Do not pick, scrub or exfoliate flaking skin.
• Avoid retinoids, exfoliating acids and strong actives until the skin has recovered and you have been advised to restart.
• Avoid deliberate sun exposure and follow the sun-protection advice provided.
• Leave makeup off for at least 24 hours—often 48 hours or longer after more intensive treatment, and until the skin has settled.
• Avoid sweaty exercise, sauna, steam rooms, pools and hot tubs for 72 hours; longer if the barrier has not recovered.

This is a guide, not a promise. Intensity, body area, skin response and individual healing change the timeline.

Three sessions, usually four to six weeks apart, is a common starting plan. It gives the skin time to recover and respond before the next treatment. It is not proof that three sessions are enough for everyone and it is not a result sold in advance.

Research ranges from three to eight sessions at two-to-four-week intervals. Devices, protocols and grading scales differ, so the schedules cannot be turned into one universal prescription.

Yes. One session is a reasonable starting point if you do not want to commit to a course. The change is likely to be smaller, but it lets us see how your skin responds before deciding what—if anything—should follow.

Early freshness is not a completed result. Changes in skin quality and scar remodelling are judged over months, using photographs and consistent light. Further treatment is based on the response achieved—not on completing a pre-sold number of sessions.

Both skin-quality change and scar remodelling are gradual. A course is reviewed rather than repeated on a calendar. If the change is smaller than hoped, the next step is to reassess the original concern, the response achieved and whether another or staged route would serve you better—not simply book more of the same. Sometimes the honest answer is more time or no further treatment yet.

Treatment may be unsuitable, modified or postponed with:

• Active infection or unsettled skin: cold sore, rash, open skin, significant inflammation or active acne.
• Healing or scarring factors: keloid or problematic hypertrophic scarring, immune suppression, uncontrolled diabetes or unstable inflammatory skin disease.
• Known allergy: relevant metals, topical anaesthetic or products used with treatment.
• Lesions in the field: a suspicious lesion, wart or mole.
• Sun and timing: recent tanning, unavoidable significant sun exposure during recovery, pregnancy or another factor making healing less predictable.

This is a screening guide, not a remote diagnosis. Some factors rule treatment out; others change timing, depth, preparation or aftercare.

This is not an exhaustive list. Other side effects or complications may occur. Individual risk depends on your skin, medical history, the treatment area, intensity, device and any products used.

Some studies reported better acne-scar scores, satisfaction or shorter redness when PRP was added. However, reviews overlap, protocols differ and certainty is low or very low. I can combine PRP with needling selectively, but only when each part has a clear purpose. It is not an automatic upgrade.⁴¹⁰

Combination studies reported better acne-scar outcomes than either treatment alone, but protocols differ. That does not mean both should happen automatically in the same appointment. I generally stage them so that purpose, recovery and pigment risk remain clear.⁴¹⁷

RF microneedling adds radiofrequency heat. It uses different devices and has different potential benefits, risks and consent. In October 2025, the US FDA issued a safety communication after reports of serious complications with certain aesthetic uses.¹²

RF microneedling is not offered at odNOVA.