People ask me about microneedling almost every week. Usually it starts with a question about texture, fine lines, old acne marks, or skin that just looks tired and does not respond to creams anymore. So I want to explain, in plain terms, how microneedling works in my studio and what actually happens when you come in for it.
I am Teresa Divis Tabibi, and I have been doing this treatment for years at Dermitalia. This is not a brochure. I am not going to tell you it will change your life or give you skin like a filter. What I can tell you is what the session involves, how deep I go on a first visit, when you can realistically expect to see something in the mirror, and who I turn away because the treatment is not right for them.
If you have read three other articles on this and still feel unsure, that is fair. Most of what is online is written to sell you something. This is written to help you decide whether to book, or not.
What I do during a microneedling session, step by step
When you arrive, I settle you in and we talk before anything touches your skin. I ask what you've noticed, what you've tried, and what you want to change. Then I look at your skin properly under a good light, checking texture, active breakouts, any areas of irritation, and how your skin has been behaving in the last week or two. This is also when I confirm you're a good fit for how microneedling works on that day.
Once we're happy to proceed, I do a double cleanse. First pass lifts off makeup, sunscreen and the surface layer of oil. Second pass gets the skin properly clean so nothing sits between the device and you.
Then I apply a numbing cream and let it sit for around 20 to 30 minutes, depending on your skin. I check in during that time. You'll feel it going a bit heavy or tingly, and that's normal.
While that's working, I prepare the device with a fresh, sealed cartridge and set the depth. For a first visit I usually start conservative, around 0.5mm, and adjust by area. Bone-close zones like the forehead get less than fleshier areas like the cheeks.
When I start the pass, most people describe it as a prickly vibration rather than pain. I'm watching for even pinpoint redness across the area, not bleeding, not white patches. I go section by section, keeping the skin taut, and I'm reading how your skin is responding the whole time. Initial results tend to show around the four-week mark as collagen builds.
Microneedling suits most healthy adult skins wanting to work on texture, fine lines, scarring or general dullness. It's not for you if you're pregnant, have active acne breakouts in the treatment area, eczema or psoriasis flaring, a recent sunburn, or you're on certain medications like isotretinoin.
This is general information, not medical advice. Individual results vary. If you have a skin condition, are pregnant, or are unsure whether a treatment is right for you, talk to me directly before booking.
When you're ready, you can book with me at Dermitalia and we'll take it from there.
What the device is actually doing to the skin
When I run the device across your skin, a cluster of very fine needles moves up and down at speed, creating tiny vertical channels in the upper layers. That is the honest description. No heat, no cutting, no removal of tissue. Just small, controlled openings, spaced closely together, at a depth I set based on the area and your skin.
Your skin reads those micro-channels as something to repair. That is the part that matters. The body sends its own repair signals to the treated zone and starts laying down fresh collagen and elastin in the weeks that follow. I am not adding anything structural to your skin. I am prompting your skin to rebuild its own support.
Because the channels are small and evenly distributed, the repair happens across the whole treated area rather than in one spot. Over time, that is what shifts texture. Rougher patches feel smoother. Shallow scarring softens at the edges. Tone looks more even because the surface is being renewed in a consistent way rather than patchy.
None of this happens in one session, and it does not happen the next morning. The channels close quickly. The rebuilding underneath is slower and quieter, and that slower work is really the point of the treatment. That is how microneedling works, in plain terms.
Typical needle depth for a first visit
For a first session, I keep the needle depth conservative. Most new clients sit somewhere in the 0.25mm to 0.5mm range on the face, and I only go deeper in specific areas if the skin genuinely calls for it. This is a judgement I make in the room, looking at your skin, not a number I decide in advance.
I start lower rather than higher for a straightforward reason. I do not yet know how your skin responds. Some people flush heavily, some barely pink up, some hold onto redness for a day or two longer than expected. Going in cautiously the first time gives me real information without pushing your skin past what it can comfortably repair. It also lets you see how your skin behaves in the days after, which tells me a lot before the next appointment.
In later sessions, depth may be adjusted. If your skin healed well and the concern we are working on needs more, I will take it deeper in the areas that warrant it, for example acne scarring on the cheeks or texture around the mouth. Other zones might stay shallower. It is tailored each time, not a fixed setting.
If you want to talk it through, book in with me at Dermitalia and we will plan it together.
Immediately after and the days that follow
Straight after a session your skin looks flushed. Think of the colour you get after a brisk walk on a cold day, or a mild sunburn without the sting. It feels warm to the touch and a little tight. Some clients see tiny pinpoint spots where the needles worked deeper, and that settles quickly.
The redness usually calms within 24 to 48 hours. For most people that is the whole of the visible downtime. You can go back to normal life the same day, though I tell clients not to plan anything social for that evening if they would rather not be seen a bit pink.
For the first few days I ask you to keep things simple. No makeup for at least 24 hours so the skin can close over properly. No hot showers, saunas, steam rooms, or hard workouts that make you sweat heavily for around 48 hours. Stay out of direct sun and use a high factor SPF once the skin is comfortable enough for products. Skip retinoids, acids, and scrubs for about a week.
Wash with a gentle cleanser, use a plain moisturiser, and drink water. That is genuinely it. If you feel any unusual heat, swelling, or reaction beyond mild redness, message me and I will talk you through it.
When results tend to show and why a course helps
Most people want to know when they'll actually see something in the mirror. My honest answer: usually around the four-week mark. That timing isn't marketing. It's how long your skin needs to run through its own repair cycle after the session. The tiny channels I create trigger collagen and elastin production underneath, and that process is slow by design. In the first week or two you might notice your skin looks a bit fresher or feels smoother, but the more meaningful change, softer texture, more even tone, a bit of firmness, tends to show up once that deeper repair has had time to work.
That's also why I rarely suggest a single session on its own. One treatment can help, but a course, typically spaced three to six weeks apart depending on your skin, builds on the last. Each round adds to the collagen response rather than starting from scratch. For scarring, deeper lines, or long-standing texture issues, a course is where the real difference sits.
I can't promise a specific outcome or timeline. Skin varies.
This is general information, not medical advice. Individual results vary. If you have a skin condition, are pregnant, or are unsure whether a treatment is right for you, talk to me directly before booking with Teresa at Dermitalia.
Who microneedling suits and who should check with me first
In my experience, microneedling tends to suit people who are dealing with the kind of skin concerns that build up over time. Fine lines starting to settle in, dull texture, shallow acne scarring, uneven tone, enlarged pores, or that general tired look skin gets after years of sun exposure. If your skin is generally healthy and you want to nudge it into behaving better, it is usually a sensible option.
It also suits people who prefer a gradual, natural change rather than something dramatic. You are working with your own collagen, so the results build quietly over weeks.
There are people I ask to wait, or to speak with me before booking. If you have active breakouts, cystic acne, or open blemishes across the area, I will not needle over that skin. It can spread bacteria and make things worse. The same applies if you have an active cold sore, eczema flare, or psoriasis in the treatment area.
I also do not treat during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Certain skin conditions, including rosacea in a reactive phase, keloid scarring tendencies, or recent use of strong retinoids or acid peels, need a proper conversation first. If you are on any medication that affects healing, tell me before we book.
This is general information, not medical advice. Individual results vary. If you have a skin condition, are pregnant, or are unsure whether a treatment is right for you, talk to me directly before booking.
When you are ready, you can book with me at Dermitalia and we will take it from there.
Next step: speak to Teresa at Dermitalia
If you have read this far and you are wondering whether microneedling is right for your skin, the sensible next move is a conversation, not a booking.
I keep consultations straightforward. You tell me what is bothering you, I look at your skin, ask about your history, and give you a plain answer. Sometimes that answer is yes, microneedling suits you. Sometimes it is not the right fit and I will say so.
This is general information, not medical advice. Individual results vary. If you have a skin condition, are pregnant, or are unsure whether a treatment is right for you, talk to me directly before booking.
No pressure to commit on the day. Come in, ask what you need to ask, and decide afterwards. You can book a consultation with me at Dermitalia through the site or by getting in touch directly.
If you want more on this, start with Facial & Skin.
