Here is what you can expect from your SkinPen microneedling treatment:

• Consultation & Patch Test Required: a minimum of 24 hours in advance of your first treatment.
• Treatment Time: Clinical sessions are highly efficient and typically take around 30 minutes for the face.
• Comfort & Sensation: To ensure maximum comfort, we apply a compounded topical numbing agent prior to the procedure. During the treatment, there may be slight discomfort as the single-use tip moves across the skin, though most guests find this very manageable. Certain, more delicate, areas will feel more sensitive.
• Number of Treatments: While a single session will provide subtle results, a series of 3 to 6 treatments, spaced 4–6 weeks apart, is recommended to achieve clinical results for fine lines, pigmentation and scarring.  Results will be most apparent 1-3 months post-treatment as collagen rebuilds and your skin goes through its’ natural recovery process.  
• Downtime & Recovery: You can expect 24 to 48 hours of mild redness and slight swelling, closely resembling a light sunburn. As the skin undergoes cellular turnover, mild peeling, flaking, dryness, and itching may occur during the first 3-5 days of healing.

Pre-Treatment

To ensure the most effective treatment and minimize skin sensitivity, please begin your preparation 5–7 days prior to your appointment:

• Sun Awareness: Stop unprotected sun exposure and UV tanning beds 48 hours prior to treatment. Intact skin barrier function is required; compromised, sunburned, or peeling skin cannot be treated due to elevated adverse risks.\
• Pause Actives and Exfoliants: Discontinue the use of topical retinoids (Retinol, Retin-A, Tretinoin), alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), betw hydroxy acids (BHAs), benzoyl peroxide, and mechanical exfoliants on the targeted area 3-5 days prior to your appointment, or as directed by your Clinical Aesthetician.
• Shave (if applicable) & Hair Removal: Avoid waxing, threading, or chemical depilatories on the treatment area for 5 days beforehand. For clients with coarse hair in the targeted zone, please shave the night before your appointment.  Do not shave the morning of the procedure to prevent raw micro-irritation.
• Cold Sore Prevention: If you are prone to facial cold sores, please notify us in advance so we can prescribe a prophylactic antiviral medication to take prior to your session.
• Blood Thinners: Avoid anti-inflammatories like Ibuprofen, Advil, or Aspirin for 24 hours prior (if medically safe) to minimize pinpoint bruising.
• Injectables & Barrier Function: You must wait a minimum of 2 weeks after receiving neurotoxins (Botox®) or dermal fillers before undergoing a microneedling treatment in that same area. For surgical scars, the incision must be completely closed, fully healed, and at least 3–6 months old. This treatment cannot be performed over active cystic acne breakouts, open wounds, eczema flares, or skin infections, and your appointment will be rescheduled.
  

Post-Treatment

Microneedling involves a specialized healing phase. Following these steps will protect your skin barrier, reduce the risk of infection and maximize your structural remodelling:

• The First 24 Hours: Use only the specific post-care products provided at your appointment (the SkinPen HG Lift gel and Hale Derma Hypochlorous spray). Hale Derma may be misted frequently to calm the skin, but do not apply moisturizers, cleansers, makeup, or SPF to the treated area during this initial 24-hour window.
• Avoid Heat & Friction: For the first 24 to 48 hours, refrain from extremely hot showers, saunas, steam rooms, and vigorous exercise to prevent unnecessary flushing and swelling.
• Gentle Cleansing & Hydration: After the first 24 hours, you may resume washing your face with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser and applying the recovery balm supplied by your Clinical Aesthetician to keep the skin deeply hydrated.
• Continue Pausing Actives: Strictly avoid all “actives” (Retinols, AHAs, BHAs, Vitamin C) and exfoliants for at least 3-5 days post-treatment to prevent severe irritation. You can resume your regular skincare routine once the inflammation has subsided and skin has stabilized.
• SPF Protection: Your freshly treated skin will be highly photosensitive. Apply a broad-spectrum, physical SPF 30+ daily to all treated areas to protect your result

If any of the following apply, you cannot undergo NanoFractional RF treatments at this time:

• Active bacterial, fungal or viral infections: Any active cold sores (Herpes Simplex), Psoriasis, eczema, warts or rashes in the treatment area.
• Active skin cancer: within the treatment area.
• Known allergy to stainless steel or topical anesthetics: The needles are medical-grade stainless steel.
• History of bleeding disorders: or hemostatic dysfunction (e.g., hemophilia).
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding: Clinical trials have not evaluated safety for pregnant/bursing mothers, and topical anesthetics may absorb systemically.
• History of bleeding disorders: or hemostatic dysfunction (e.g., hemophilia).

The following may require you to postpone your treatment or avoid specific areas:

• Active Skin Infections: Any active cold sores (Herpes Simplex), Psoriasis, eczema, or rashes in the treatment area.
• Recent Injectables: You must wait at least 2 weeks after receiving Botox or dermal fillers before treating that same area with Venus Viva™.
• Recent Resurfacing: Any deep chemical peeling or laser resurfacing in the treatment area within the last 3–6 months.
• Tattoos or Permanent Makeup: We cannot treat directly over any tattoos or permanent makeup in the targeted area.

Medication & Health Restrictions

• Isotretinoin (Accutane): Must be discontinued for at least 6-12 months prior to treatment.
• Healing Disorders: A history of keloid scarring or abnormal wound healing may make you ineligible for Microneedling.
• Uncontrolled Disorders: Poorly controlled endocrine disorders, such as Diabetes or thyroid conditions, can affect your skin’s healing response.
• Impaired immune system: Due to immunosuppresive diseases (such as HIV/AIDS or the current use of immunosuppresive therapies/medications.

**Please note – due to the cost of the single-use tip, there is an $80 patch test fee for this treatment.  Patch test must be completed prior to proceeding with treatment to ensure suitability and parameter settings.  Sk