Microneedling creates thousands of precise micro-channels in the skin — and your body responds the way it always has, by making new collagen and elastin. Optional regenerative serums applied during treatment amplify the result. Your skin, refined by its own repair pathway.
Microneedling is the most direct way to ask your skin to repair itself. The treatment is mechanical, not chemical — no acid, no laser. Your body provides the result.
A precision device with fine, sterile needles creates thousands of controlled micro-channels in the upper layers of the skin. Each channel is tiny and uniform — too small to cause visible injury, large enough to trigger the body's wound-healing response.
What happens next is the actual treatment: your skin recognizes the micro-channels as injuries and activates the full collagen induction cascade. Damaged tissue is cleared. Inflammation resolves. Fibroblasts (the cells that make collagen) move in. Over the following weeks and months, your skin lays down new collagen, new elastin, and stronger structural proteins than it had before. The skin gradually becomes smoother, firmer, more even in tone, and noticeably more resilient.
The result is your own collagen — not a filler, not an injectable, not a temporary plumping agent. It's the same skin you walked in with, with the repair pathway switched on. That's why it lasts: there's nothing to wear off.
What microneedling treats best: texture, pore size, fine lines, atrophic acne scars, stretch marks, mild hyperpigmentation, dullness, early laxity, and (on the scalp) follicle health for hair density. It's not a substitute for filler (volume), neurotoxin (movement-driven lines), or surgery (significant laxity).
The micro-channels created during microneedling temporarily open the skin to topical serums. The serums you apply in that window matter — they go where ordinary skincare can't. We use two regenerative serums, depending on your goals.
Cell-to-cell communication. Maximum regeneration.
Exosomes are tiny extracellular vesicles — essentially packages of signaling molecules (proteins, lipids, growth factors, micro-RNA) that cells use to talk to each other. The exosome serum is derived in laboratory conditions and applied topically during and after your microneedling treatment.
The micro-channels allow the serum to reach where it can do the most good. The signaling molecules amplify the natural healing cascade — supporting faster recovery, calmer post-treatment redness, and a measurably stronger collagen and elastin response than microneedling alone.
Best for: advanced fine lines, scarring, pigmentation, sensitive or reactive skin, and clients who want the strongest possible result from each session. Also our preferred serum for scalp treatments (hair density).
Important context: exosomes are not FDA-approved as a stand-alone injectable therapy. In our practice, they are used strictly as a topical serum during microneedling — they are not injected.
Salmon-derived. Repair-focused. Excellent value.
PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide) is a regenerative serum derived from purified salmon DNA fragments. It's been studied extensively in regenerative medicine for its ability to support tissue repair, improve elasticity, and calm inflammation. We call our microneedling-with-PDRN treatment VAMP.
PDRN is excellent for clients new to regenerative treatments, for hydration-focused goals, and for sensitive skin types that benefit from the anti-inflammatory effect. Many clients notice brighter tone, more bounce, and faster recovery compared to microneedling alone.
Best for: first-time microneedling clients, fine lines, dehydrated or dull skin, mild pigmentation, early collagen loss, and clients looking for a strong result without going to the premium tier.
The same mechanism — controlled micro-channels triggering collagen — works across the body, the scalp, and the lip area. The serum and protocol adjust to the goal.
The most common application. Refines pore size, smooths texture, softens fine lines, and brightens tone. Pairs with either exosomes or PDRN depending on the goal.
Texture · pores · fine lines · tone · scarringWhere exosomes truly shine. Stimulates follicle health, improves the scalp environment, and supports the natural hair growth cycle. Best for thinning, postpartum or stress-related shedding, and dry, itchy, or unhealthy scalp.
Hair thinning · shedding · scalp health · follicle supportFor stretch marks, surgical and acne scars on the body, crepey skin, and uneven texture. Common areas: abdomen, thighs, arms, chest. Pairs with exosomes or PDRN for accelerated repair.
Stretch marks · body scars · crepey skin · textureA natural alternative to filler for the lip and surrounding area. Stimulates collagen to soften vertical lip lines (smoker's lines), improve lip border definition, and address overall thinning — without adding volume.
Lip lines · perioral lines · border definition · thinningOne of the strongest evidence-based indications. Microneedling stimulates collagen remodeling to soften depressed (atrophic) acne scars. Best results with a series of 4–6 sessions.
Atrophic acne scars · post-acne textureBooking before a wedding, photo shoot, or vacation? A single microneedling session about 2 weeks out delivers a noticeable glow and refined texture without committing to a full series.
Pre-event glow · maintenance · one-off treatments30–45 min numbing, then microneedling and serum application. You'll leave pink and slightly warm — like a mild sunburn.
Redness fades steadily, mild tightness and possible light flaking. Mineral SPF, gentle cleanser, hydrating moisturizer only. Makeup OK after 24 hours.
Skin looks brighter, smoother, more even. The "immediate" microneedling glow peaks around day 5–7. New collagen production has already begun.
New collagen continues to form for 3–6 months. Improvements compound across sessions. A series of 3–6 treatments delivers the most meaningful result.
Standard microneedling works. Microneedling with a regenerative serum works more — faster recovery, calmer skin, and stronger collagen output. Here's how to think about the choice.
Microneedling can absolutely work as a single treatment — especially for a pre-event glow. But the real structural changes (scarring, fine lines, lasting smoothness, hair density) are series-driven.
Each treatment triggers a new collagen-building cycle that runs for 3–6 months. Spacing sessions 4–6 weeks apart lets the skin recover and start each cycle fresh. 3 sessions is a meaningful first commitment for most clients. 6 sessions is the gold-standard for acne scarring, stretch marks, advanced texture, or scalp/hair restoration.
After the series, most clients move to maintenance — one session every 3–4 months, or seasonally, to keep the result building.
Pricing depends on the area treated, whether a serum upgrade is included (exosomes, PDRN, or none), and whether you're booking a single session or a series. Series packages typically offer better per-session value. Full quotes are provided at consultation once we map the goal.
For combination plans — e.g. microneedling with exosomes for the face plus scalp microneedling for hair density — we can build a package across multiple areas. Hosting friends? See Glow Party for group savings.
Microneedling uses a precision device to create thousands of tiny, controlled micro-channels in the upper skin layers. Your body interprets these as injuries and activates the normal wound-healing cascade — clearing out damaged tissue and laying down new collagen and elastin.
The cosmetic result is smoother texture, refined pores, softened scarring, and a brighter overall tone. It's gradual, real, and yours — your own collagen, not a filler.
Exosomes are tiny extracellular vesicles — essentially packages of signaling molecules (proteins, lipids, growth factors, micro-RNA) that cells use to communicate. In skincare, exosomes derived in laboratory conditions are applied topically as a serum during and after microneedling.
The micro-channels created by the needling allow the serum to penetrate where it can do the most good — and the signaling molecules amplify the wound-healing response, supporting faster recovery, calmer redness, and stronger collagen output than microneedling alone.
To be clear: at Essence by Shine, exosomes are used as a topical serum during microneedling treatment. They are not injected and are not marketed as a stand-alone therapy.
Both are regenerative serums applied topically during microneedling. PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide) is derived from purified salmon DNA fragments and has been studied for its ability to support tissue repair, improve elasticity, and calm inflammation. Exosomes are derived from stem cells (in laboratory conditions) and act through cell-to-cell signaling.
Practically: PDRN is excellent for hydration, repair, and clients new to regenerative treatments. Exosomes go further on collagen stimulation, brightening, and recovery acceleration. We'll discuss which is right for your goals at consultation.
Most clients see noticeable glow and texture improvement after a single session — peak immediate effect is around the 1-week mark. For meaningful, lasting structural change (scarring, fine lines, pore refinement, hair restoration), a series of 3 to 6 treatments spaced 4–6 weeks apart is standard.
Collagen continues to build for 3–6 months after each session, so the full result of a series is visible 3–6 months after the last treatment.
We apply numbing cream for 30–45 minutes before treatment. With numbing, most clients describe the sensation as a mild prickly or scratching feeling — not painful. Bonier areas (forehead, jawline) can be slightly more sensitive.
Total appointment time is typically 60–90 minutes including numbing, treatment, and serum application.
Expect 24–72 hours of redness — similar to a sunburn — followed by mild tightness and possible light flaking for 2–4 days. Most clients are presentable the next day with makeup if desired (though we recommend avoiding makeup for the first 24 hours).
Use mineral SPF, gentle cleanser, and hydrating moisturizer only for the first 3–5 days. Avoid actives (retinol, AHAs, BHAs, vitamin C) for 5–7 days. With exosome or PDRN serum, redness and recovery are typically faster.
Yes — for many clients. Scalp microneedling stimulates blood flow to the follicles, releases growth factors, and (when paired with exosomes) provides regenerative signals to support the hair growth cycle.
Best for early to moderate hair thinning, postpartum or stress-related shedding, and clients with dry or itchy scalp. Significant pattern baldness or scarring alopecia requires evaluation by a dermatologist. We typically recommend a series of 3–6 scalp treatments spaced 4 weeks apart, with results visible over 3–6 months.
Yes — these are some of the strongest evidence-based indications. Microneedling stimulates collagen remodeling, which is exactly what acne scars and stretch marks need.
Atrophic (depressed) acne scars and newer (red or purple) stretch marks respond best. Older, white stretch marks improve more gradually but do improve. A series of 4–6 sessions is typically recommended.
Exosomes are not currently FDA-approved as a stand-alone injectable therapy in the United States. The FDA's position is that exosome products are biologics that require investigational approval for therapeutic claims.
At Essence by Shine, exosomes are used strictly as a topical serum applied during microneedling treatment — they are not injected and are not marketed as a treatment for any specific medical condition. Their role in our practice is as a regenerative skincare serum that takes advantage of the micro-channels created by microneedling to enhance the cosmetic result.
Pricing depends on the area treated, whether a serum upgrade is included (exosomes or PDRN), and whether you're booking a single session or a series. Series packages typically offer better per-session value. Full quotes are provided at consultation.
Yes. Microneedling is one of the safer collagen-stimulating treatments for all Fitzpatrick skin types, including melanin-rich skin. Unlike laser treatments that target pigment, microneedling creates uniform micro-channels regardless of skin tone.
With proper post-care (mineral SPF, avoiding sun exposure), the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is low.
We don't perform microneedling on clients who are pregnant or breastfeeding. While the procedure itself is mechanical (no chemicals introduced systemically), there isn't sufficient research to clear regenerative serums or numbing creams during pregnancy. We'll be here when you're ready.
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