Hear from Our Customers
You’re not looking for another product that sits on the surface. You want something that works below it—where acne scars formed, where collagen broke down, where sun damage settled in.
Microneedling creates controlled micro-injuries that force your skin to rebuild itself. That means new collagen, tighter texture, smaller pores, and a reduction in the depth of scars and lines you’ve been covering up with makeup.
After a series of treatments, most people notice their skin holds moisture better, sits smoother under foundation, and looks more even in natural light. The kind of improvement that makes you feel comfortable going bare-faced to the gym or grocery store.
This isn’t an overnight fix. It takes three to six sessions spaced about four weeks apart. But the results build on each other, and they last because you’re actually changing the structure of your skin—not just temporarily plumping it.
Wake Skincare is led by Jacqueline Grace, a licensed esthetician who’s been named Best Esthetician in Wake County three years running. She’s also a first-place winner in the Pigmentation Artist of the Year category at The Skin Games, an international competition that doesn’t hand out participation trophies.
We use SkinPen, the first and only FDA-approved microneedling device for treating wrinkles and acne scars. That approval matters because it means the device has been tested for safety and efficacy at the depth needed to actually work—not just tickle the surface like cheaper alternatives.
Norlina is part of our service area across Wake County, and we’ve built a reputation on being straight with people about what microneedling can and can’t do. If you’re a good candidate, we’ll tell you. If another treatment makes more sense for your skin, we’ll say that too.
Every treatment starts with a free consultation where we look at your skin, talk about what’s bothering you, and figure out if microneedling is the right move. No pressure, no upselling—just an honest assessment.
If we move forward, your actual treatment day starts with a numbing cream applied to your face for about 30 minutes. Once you’re comfortable, we use the SkinPen device to create thousands of tiny, controlled punctures in the skin. The depth is adjusted based on what we’re treating—shallow for fine lines, deeper for acne scars.
The process takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Your face will be red afterward, similar to a moderate sunburn, and that usually lasts one to two days. You’ll also experience some dryness and flaking for about a week as your skin starts its repair process.
Most people need three to six sessions spaced four to six weeks apart. You’ll start seeing improvements after the first session, but the real transformation happens as collagen continues to rebuild over the following months.
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Each microneedling appointment includes a full skin assessment, customized needle depth settings, numbing cream for comfort, the SkinPen treatment itself, and post-care instructions that actually matter.
We’re not just running a device over your face and sending you home. The depth, speed, and technique all get adjusted based on your skin type, the concern we’re addressing, and how your skin responded in previous sessions if you’ve had them.
For clients in Norlina and the surrounding Warren County area, we’re seeing a lot of requests for acne scar treatment and sun damage reversal. That makes sense given the outdoor lifestyle here and the lack of medical-grade skincare options nearby. Both of those concerns respond well to microneedling because we’re treating the dermis, not just the epidermis.
You’ll also get a free consultation before booking anything. That’s where we determine if you’re a good candidate, talk about realistic timelines, and answer the questions you’ve been Googling at midnight. No commitment required.
It’s uncomfortable, not painful—and there’s a difference. We apply a topical numbing cream 30 minutes before your treatment, which takes the edge off significantly.
Most people describe the sensation as a light scratching or vibrating feeling. It’s not pleasant, but it’s not the kind of pain that makes you want to stop. The areas around your nose and forehead tend to be more sensitive than your cheeks.
If you’ve ever had a deep facial or chemical peel, this is similar in terms of discomfort level. Totally manageable, and over quickly. The redness and tightness afterward is more annoying than the treatment itself.
You’ll see some immediate improvement in texture and glow right after your first session, but that’s mostly from increased circulation and mild swelling. The real results start showing up around four to six weeks later as new collagen forms.
For acne scars, fine lines, and pore size reduction, most people notice visible changes after their second or third treatment. The improvements continue for up to six months after your last session because collagen production doesn’t stop the day you finish treatment.
This is why we recommend a series of three to six sessions spaced a month apart. One treatment can give you a boost, but multiple treatments give you transformation. Think of it like working out—one gym session feels good, but three months of consistent work changes your body.
Depth, sterility, and precision. At-home rollers typically max out at 0.25mm to 0.5mm, which is fine for product absorption but doesn’t reach the dermis where collagen production happens.
Professional microneedling with SkinPen can safely go up to 2.5mm deep, depending on what we’re treating. That depth is what actually triggers your skin’s wound-healing response and creates new collagen and elastin. At-home devices can’t and shouldn’t go that deep because of infection risk and lack of proper technique.
We’re also using an FDA-approved device in a sterile environment with medical-grade numbing and aftercare. At-home rollers can cause more harm than good if you’re not careful about sanitization or if you apply too much pressure. If you’re serious about treating acne scars or wrinkles, professional treatment is the only option that will give you real results.
Microneedling is actually one of the most effective treatments for acne scars, especially rolling scars and boxcar scars. It works by breaking up the fibrous tissue that’s pulling your skin down and stimulating new collagen to fill in the depressed areas.
You won’t see scars completely disappear, but you can expect a 50-70% improvement in depth and texture after a full series of treatments. That’s significant enough that most people stop feeling like they need to cover them with makeup.
Fine lines and wrinkles also respond well because microneedling boosts collagen and elastin production, which naturally decreases as you age. We adjust the needle depth based on what we’re treating—deeper for scars, shallower for fine lines around the eyes and mouth.
For the first 24 hours, skip makeup, active skincare ingredients like retinol or acids, heavy sweating, and direct sun exposure. Your skin has thousands of tiny open channels, and you don’t want to introduce bacteria or irritation while it’s healing.
After that first day, you can wear mineral makeup and gentle moisturizer, but you’ll still want to avoid harsh products for about a week. Your skin will be dry and possibly flaky during this time, which is normal and means the healing process is working.
Sunscreen is non-negotiable for at least two weeks post-treatment. Your skin is more vulnerable to UV damage during the healing phase, and sun exposure can lead to hyperpigmentation, which defeats the purpose of the treatment. We’ll give you a specific aftercare plan based on your skin type and the depth of your treatment.
Pricing varies based on the area being treated and how many sessions you need, but most people invest between $200-$400 per session. A full treatment plan of three to six sessions is a real financial commitment, and we’re upfront about that during your consultation.
Is it worth it? That depends on what you’re trying to fix and what you’ve already tried. If you’ve spent years buying serums and creams that didn’t touch your acne scars or sun damage, microneedling addresses the problem at a deeper level that topical products can’t reach.
The results last because you’re rebuilding your skin’s structure, not just temporarily improving its appearance. Most clients maintain their results with one or two maintenance sessions per year. Compare that to injectables that need to be repeated every few months, and the value proposition makes more sense for people dealing with texture issues rather than volume loss.
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