By Victor Amorim | Amorim Aesthetics Clinic, London
There are a lot of skin treatments out there that promise big results. Peels, lasers, facials, serums the list goes on. Some deliver, some don’t. And in an industry that isn’t short of overpromising, it can be genuinely difficult to know what’s actually worth your time and money.
Microneedling is one of the treatments I consistently recommend and not just because it’s popular. Because it works. It works across a wide range of skin concerns, it works for most skin types, and when done properly, the results are visible and lasting.
Here’s why.
What Actually Happens During Microneedling
The name gives most of it away. A device fitted with very fine, sterile needles passes across the surface of the skin, creating tiny punctures micro-injuries at a controlled depth.
That sounds more alarming than it is. The needles are fine enough that the treatment doesn’t damage the skin in any meaningful way. What it does is trick the skin into thinking it’s been injured. And when the skin thinks it’s been injured, it does what it always does it starts repairing itself.
That repair process is where the results come from.
The skin responds by producing new collagen and elastin the two proteins responsible for keeping skin firm, smooth, and structured. At the same time, cell turnover increases, the skin’s overall quality improves, and the surface starts to look and feel noticeably different.
It’s not a quick fix applied from the outside. It’s the skin doing its own work, just with a push in the right direction.
What Microneedling Actually Treats
This is where microneedling separates itself from a lot of other treatments the range of concerns it can genuinely address.
Acne Scarring
One of the most common reasons people come in asking about microneedling. Acne scars particularly the depressed, pitted kind form because the skin loses collagen during a breakout. Microneedling stimulates new collagen production directly in and around those scars, gradually filling them in and smoothing the surface over time. It won’t erase deep scarring in a single session, but a proper course of treatment can make a significant and visible difference.
Skin Texture and Enlarged Pores
If your skin feels rough, looks uneven, or your pores seem more noticeable than they used to, microneedling improves all three. As new collagen forms and cell turnover increases, the surface of the skin becomes smoother, pores appear tighter, and the overall texture evens out.
Fine Lines and Early Ageing
Collagen loss is one of the main drivers of fine lines and skin laxity. By stimulating the skin to produce more of it, microneedling helps restore some of that firmness and softness to areas like the forehead, around the eyes, and the corners of the mouth.
Sun Damage and Uneven Skin Tone
Years of sun exposure can leave the skin looking patchy and uneven. The increased cell turnover from microneedling helps bring fresher, healthier skin to the surface, gradually improving pigmentation and overall tone.
Stretch Marks and Body Skin
Microneedling isn’t limited to the face. It can be used on the neck, décolletage, and body areas where the skin has lost elasticity or shows stretch marks. The same principle applies — stimulate collagen, improve the skin’s structure from within.
Why a Course of Treatment Matters
This is something worth being honest about upfront. One session of microneedling will show some improvement — your skin will look fresher and feel smoother. But a single session is not where the real results are.
Collagen production is a slow process. It takes weeks for the skin to fully respond to the treatment, and the results continue developing for up to six weeks after each session. To get the kind of improvement that’s actually noticeable — particularly for concerns like scarring or significant texture issues a course of three to six sessions, spaced four weeks apart, is what delivers.
Think of it less like a one-off procedure and more like a programme. Each session builds on the last. The skin gets progressively better, and by the end of the course, the difference is clear.
The Polynucleotides Add-On Worth Considering
One of the upgrades available with microneedling at Amorim Aesthetics Clinic is the addition of Polynucleotides.
Polynucleotides are fragments of DNA derived from purified fish DNA that have a strong affinity for human skin tissue. When applied during microneedling where the micro-channels allow them to penetrate deeply they work alongside the skin’s natural repair process to accelerate tissue regeneration, improve hydration at a cellular level, and enhance the overall quality of the result.
For clients dealing with more significant scarring, chronic dehydration, or skin that’s been through a lot sun damage, post-pregnancy changes, ageing adding Polynucleotides to a microneedling course is one of the more intelligent upgrades available. It’s not a gimmick. The science behind it is solid.
What to Expect on the Day
Before the treatment begins, a numbing cream is applied to the skin and left for around 20 to 30 minutes. By the time the microneedling starts, most clients feel very little a mild sensation of pressure or warmth across the skin, but nothing uncomfortable.
The treatment itself takes around 30 to 45 minutes depending on the area covered.
Immediately after, the skin will look red similar to a mild sunburn. This is completely normal and is simply the skin’s response to the treatment. For most clients, the redness settles significantly within 24 hours and is largely gone within 48.
During that time, keep it simple. Gentle cleanser, good moisturiser, SPF. No active skincare ingredients like retinol or acids for a few days. No intense heat saunas, steam rooms, very hot showers for 24 to 48 hours. And no makeup on the day of treatment.
After that, you’re back to normal.
Who is Microneedling Suitable For?
Most people are good candidates. Microneedling works across a wide range of skin types and tones unlike some laser treatments, which carry a higher risk of pigmentation changes on darker skin, microneedling is generally considered safe across all skin tones when performed correctly.
There are some situations where microneedling isn’t appropriate active acne breakouts, certain skin conditions, pregnancy, or very recent use of some medications. This is why a consultation before any treatment is non-negotiable. It’s not a formality. It’s how we make sure the treatment is actually the right choice for you before anything happens.
How It Compares to Other Skin Treatments
People often ask how microneedling stacks up against chemical peels or laser treatments. It’s a fair question.
Chemical peels work primarily on the surface of the skin they’re excellent for pigmentation, mild texture, and general brightness, but they don’t reach deep enough to address structural concerns like scarring or collagen loss in the same way.
Laser treatments can be highly effective but tend to come with more downtime, a higher risk profile on certain skin tones, and a significantly higher price point per session.
Microneedling sits in a particularly useful middle ground. It works deeper than a peel, it’s safer across a broader range of skin types than most lasers, and it’s more accessible in terms of cost and recovery time. For a lot of clients, it delivers results that used to require much more intensive procedures.
The Honest Summary
Microneedling isn’t magic. No single treatment is. But it’s one of the most clinically sound and consistently effective options available for improving skin quality particularly for texture, scarring, and the gradual loss of firmness that comes with age.
Done properly, with the right number of sessions and the right aftercare, it produces real, visible results that last. Not because of anything applied to the surface, but because it puts your own skin to work.
If you’ve been sitting on the fence about it, a consultation is the best place to start. We’ll look at your skin properly, talk through what you’re hoping to improve, and be straightforward about whether microneedling is the right fit and if so, what a realistic course of treatment looks like for you.
Book a Consultation
📞 +44 7946 570179 📧 info@amorimclinic.co.uk 📍 Fitzrovia, London W1T 4PS
Victor Amorim is the founder and lead practitioner at Amorim Aesthetics Clinic, London. Fully qualified with VTCT Levels 2, 3 and 4, certified in advanced injectables, and fully insured.