Microneedling

Skin quality

Work on the texture beneath your makeup

Smoother skin with SkinPen in Hale, Altrincham

SkinPen microneedling stimulates your own collagen to soften certain acne scars, improve uneven texture and smooth fine lines - helping your skin look better with or without makeup.

Your spots may have settled years ago, but the little dents are still there. Or perhaps it's roughness, visible pores or fine creases that catch your eye when you apply foundation. You'd like to improve the skin itself.

SkinPen uses very fine needles to trigger a controlled repair response. As the skin rebuilds, its texture can become smoother and more even. It works gradually over a course, with a short period of redness after each treatment.

i

SkinPen treatment with Dr Alex at SONÜ.

Book a consultation Learn more
Price
£350 for the full face
Downtime
Usually 1-3 days of redness
Results
Develop over weeks and months
Appointment
90 minutes for the full face

What you might notice

When makeup can cover colour, but not texture

Some skin changes still show through your usual skincare and makeup. Microneedling gives you a way to work on them directly.

Old acne has left little dents

You notice shallow pits or uneven patches on your cheeks, particularly when the light catches them from the side. Your active spots may be gone, but the surface still bothers you.

Pores and roughness look more obvious

Foundation seems to settle into the uneven bits. You'd like your skin to feel smoother and look less patchy in texture.

Fine lines are starting to stay put

Little creases remain when your face is relaxed, or your neck looks more finely lined. You want to encourage your own skin to renew rather than add volume.

At a glance

What to plan for

SkinPen is usually given as a course, with time between appointments for the skin to rebuild.

Price
£350 for the full face
Half-face treatment £250; other area prices are listed below.
Downtime
Usually 1-3 days of redness
Your skin can feel warm, tight or dry; aftercare restrictions last beyond the first day.
Results
Develop over weeks and months
Collagen remodelling continues after the initial redness has settled.
Appointment
90 minutes for the full face
This is the booked appointment, allowing time for preparation as well as needling.
Treatment plan
Usually a course
Sessions are spaced to allow healing, with progress reviewed along the way.

The result

A smoother surface, built by your own skin

SkinPen can soften the appearance of suitable acne scars and fine lines, with gradual improvement in overall texture.

The aim is for the uneven areas to catch your eye less: shallower-looking acne dents, softer fine creases and skin that feels smoother when you cleanse it. Pores may look less obvious as the surrounding texture improves.

The first few days are recovery, not the finished result. Improvements build over the weeks and months that follow a course. Some deeper scars need a combination of treatments, so Dr Alex will explain which changes SkinPen is most likely to make for you.

✓

✓

Softens the appearance of selected indented acne scars.

✓

Improves roughness and uneven skin texture.

✓

Can smooth fine lines on the face and neck.

✓

Encourages collagen renewal without injecting a volumising product.

Is it right for you?

For texture you can see and feel

SkinPen may suit you if your main concern is the surface of your skin, and you're happy to let improvement build over several appointments.

Your acne is under control
You'd like to improve the scars that remain. Dr Alex looks at their shape and depth to decide whether microneedling can help or whether another scar treatment needs to come first.
You want gradual skin renewal
Early lines and roughness bother you, but you don't need a dramatic change in facial shape. A course of collagen-stimulating treatment may fit that goal.
You can make room for aftercare
A few pink days and some temporary changes to makeup, exercise and skincare are manageable. You'd prefer that to the recovery involved in more intensive resurfacing.

Choosing your treatment

Different scars need different approaches

Deep, narrow pits and scars tethered down beneath the skin may need a different approach or combination treatment. Raised scars, active acne and inflamed skin also need separate assessment. Dr Alex can compare SkinPen with laser, RF microneedling or other scar treatments rather than assuming one device will suit every mark.

How it works

Tiny needles set a repair process in motion

The SkinPen device creates precise, tiny channels in the skin. This controlled injury starts the skin renewing collagen and other supporting tissue.

A fresh, sterile needle cartridge is used for each treatment, and the depth is adjusted to the area and concern. SkinPen uses the physical action of the needles to stimulate repair, without adding radiofrequency heat.

In selected treatment plans, Dr Alex also uses preparations applied to the skin during microneedling. These may include PRP, polynucleotide preparations or mesotherapy-type products. He will explain the proposed combination and the reason for choosing it for your skin.

Your appointment

From assessment to aftercare

The full-face appointment is booked for 90 minutes. The needling takes only part of that time; preparation and comfort are important too.

Consultation

Look closely at the texture

Show Dr Alex what you notice in the mirror or in photographs. He'll assess scars or lines, discuss your skin's healing history and check medicines, skincare and recent treatments.
Before needling

Prepare and numb the skin

Your skin is cleansed and numbing cream is used where appropriate. If an additional preparation is planned, Dr Alex will explain what it contains and how it will be used. The treatment area and aftercare are confirmed before starting.
During needling

Treat the agreed areas

The pen moves over the skin in controlled passes. You may feel vibration, scratching or pressure, with some areas more sensitive than others. You can ask for a pause at any point.
Afterwards

Give your skin time to settle

Expect some redness and warmth. You'll leave with instructions about the products to use, sun avoidance, makeup and exercise, plus a plan for the next session if you're having a course.

Why Dr Alex

Experience across scar and skin treatments

Dr Alex works with SkinPen, RF microneedling and CO2 laser, and teaches other medical professionals about energy-based treatments including CO2 laser and HIFU. That gives him several ways to approach texture and scarring.

For SkinPen, his assessment includes the type of scar or line, how your skin heals and how much recovery you can manage. He can explain where needling is likely to help and where a different treatment would be a better use of your time and money.

GMC-registered doctor · 7072776

Full Member of BCAM

International toxin trainer

Aesthetics Awards winner 2021

Safety and aftercare

A short recovery, with a few important rules

Redness, warmth, tightness, dryness and some swelling are expected after microneedling. Most visible redness settles within a few days, although deeper treatment can take longer.

Possible side effects

Use the recommended aftercare and avoid adding your usual active serums immediately. Leave makeup off for at least 24 hours and follow your instructions on restarting products and sunscreen. Avoid direct sun and strenuous exercise during the early recovery period.

Less common risks include infection, cold-sore outbreaks, prolonged irritation, pigment changes and scarring. Tell Dr Alex about poor healing, keloids, cold sores and any previous treatment reactions. If another preparation is used during treatment, its ingredients, possible reactions and aftercare also need to be considered. Tell Dr Alex about known allergies or previous reactions to skin products.

When to get urgent help

Contact the clinic promptly for increasing pain, spreading redness, pus, fever or swelling that is getting worse rather than settling. Rapidly spreading redness or feeling very unwell needs urgent medical assessment.

When treatment needs to wait

Active infection, inflamed acne, an eczema flare or damaged skin in the area may mean postponing treatment. Pregnancy, isotretinoin, blood-thinning medicines and conditions affecting healing also need review. Don't stop prescribed medicines yourself. New or changing lesions need assessment by your GP or dermatologist; SONÜ does not diagnose skin lesions.

You can ask for a pause or decide against treatment after the assessment.

Treatment costs

SkinPen microneedling prices

Full-face treatment costs £350, half face £250, neck £350, and face plus neck £500. Other options include the chest, hands, abdomen and selected scars.

Full face
£350per treatment
Half face
£250per treatment
Neck
£350per treatment
Face and neck
£500per treatment
Other areas and any PRP, polynucleotide or mesotherapy additions are discussed and priced separately.
A consultation with Dr Alex costs £75. If you choose to have treatment within 3 months of your consultation, you can put this fee towards it, including at a later appointment. It cannot be used towards skincare products. If you decide not to have treatment, the fee covers your consultation.
Book a consultation
We'll confirm the area and likely course before you book. If PRP, a polynucleotide preparation or a mesotherapy product is proposed alongside SkinPen, we'll explain the full treatment price before you decide.

Your questions

More about SkinPen microneedling

Results, comfort and the practical details before you book.

Does SkinPen help acne scars?
It can improve certain indented acne scars by encouraging collagen remodelling. Shallow scars often need a different plan from deep, narrow pits or tethered scars. Dr Alex assesses the pattern first and may recommend a combination of treatments. Active acne needs to be controlled before needling the affected skin.
Can I combine microneedling with PRP or skin boosters?
Yes. Dr Alex offers selected combinations using preparations applied to the skin during microneedling. These may include PRP, polynucleotide preparations or mesotherapy-type products. He will explain the particular formulation, what it is intended to add and any changes to cost or aftercare. Using a preparation this way is different from injecting it.
Does it hurt?
Numbing cream helps make it manageable. You may feel vibration, scratching or pressure as the pen moves across the skin; the forehead and other bony areas can feel more sensitive. Tell Dr Alex how it feels so he can adjust treatment or give you a pause.
How long will I look red?
Usually around 1-3 days, with the strongest redness early on. Your skin may also feel tight or dry. This is mostly social downtime, so you can still do many ordinary things, but makeup, exercise and skincare need some temporary adjustments. Leave extra time before an important event.
When can I wear makeup or go to the gym?
Keep makeup off for at least the first 24 hours and wait longer if your skin is still irritated. Avoid strenuous exercise and heavy sweating for 72 hours. Follow the aftercare given for your session, including how to protect your skin from the sun while it settles.
How many treatments will I need?
A course is usually recommended for scars, fine lines or established texture changes. The number and spacing depend on the area, the concern and your response. We'll review progress rather than keep repeating sessions when a different approach would be more useful.
When will I see results, and do they last?
SkinPen's collagen effect develops over weeks and months as the skin remodels. Ageing and sun exposure continue, so some people choose maintenance for general skin quality. Improvement in an established scar can be lasting, though it won't erase the scar completely. If an additional preparation is used, its expected benefits and duration are discussed separately.
How is it different from RF microneedling?
SkinPen uses the physical action of fine needles. RF microneedling adds controlled heat, which can be useful when firmness or deeper tissue changes are part of the goal. More technology doesn't automatically make it the better choice; Dr Alex will explain which approach suits your skin.
Can darker skin have SkinPen?
Yes, microneedling can be an option across skin tones. Your tendency to develop pigmentation or raised scars still needs assessment, and the depth and aftercare should suit your skin. Tell Dr Alex about any dark marks or scarring after previous injuries or procedures.
Can you treat the neck or body too?
Yes. SONÜ offers SkinPen for the neck, chest, hands, abdomen and selected scars as well as the face. Suitability depends on the skin concern and how mature a scar or stretch mark is. We'll assess the area and confirm the fee before treatment.

Other options

Other ways to work on texture

CO2 laser, CoolPeel and RF microneedling offer different approaches to resurfacing or collagen stimulation. Mesotherapy and other skin boosters focus more on hydration. Our acne-scar treatment page explains how different scar types can be approached together.

CoolPeel CO2 laser in Hale, Altrincham

Fade sun-related pigmentation, smooth texture and bring back a brighter glow with CoolPeel CO2 laser at SONÜ. Treatment with Dr Alex.

Radiofrequency microneedling in Hale, Altrincham

Focus Dual RF microneedling for smoother texture, less obvious pores, softer fine lines and mild wrinkles, and firmer skin.

Mesotherapy for hydrated, glowing skin in Hale, Altrincham

Injectable hydration for skin that looks dull or thirsty, with a softer, dewier finish.

Your next step

Ready to work on those uneven patches?

Book a SkinPen consultation at SONÜ in Hale, Altrincham. Bring the texture, marks or lines that bother you to Dr Alex, and he'll explain what a course could realistically improve.

Book a consultation Contact the clinic
SONÜ Medical Aesthetics

34 Hale Road, Hale, Altrincham, WA14 2EX

Doctor-led treatment in a relaxed, private clinic

Close to Hale station and easy to reach from Altrincham, Manchester and Cheshire