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Your skin doesn’t just look better for a week. Microneedling triggers your body to rebuild collagen in the exact areas where it’s been lost—the spots where acne left divots, where sun damage created uneven tone, where fine lines started creeping in.
After your first session, you’ll notice tightness and a subtle glow. That’s the surface-level response. The real work happens underneath, where controlled micro-injuries tell your skin to repair itself from the inside out.
By your third treatment, the changes become obvious. Pores look smaller because the skin around them has thickened. Scars start to fill in as new collagen forms. Texture evens out. And because it’s your own collagen being built—not filler, not laser damage—it lasts.
Most people see their best results about four to six weeks after their final session. That’s when collagen production peaks. And unlike treatments that break down over time, this stays with you because the tissue you’ve built is yours.
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 earned first place internationally in the Pigmentation Artist of the Year category at The Skin Games—a competition that draws top practitioners from around the world.
We’re HydraFacial Master Certified and use SkinPen, the first and only FDA-approved microneedling device for treating wrinkles and acne scars. That certification and that equipment aren’t just credentials—they’re proof that what happens here meets medical-grade standards.
Dortches is a small community, and most of our clients come from Nash County or the surrounding Wake Forest area. You’re not walking into a high-volume clinic where you’re shuffled through. You get a one-on-one consultation, a custom treatment plan, and a provider who’s actually looking at your skin—not a script.
You’ll start with a free consultation where we evaluate your skin and talk through what you’re trying to fix. If microneedling makes sense, we’ll map out a treatment plan—usually three sessions spaced about four weeks apart.
On the day of your appointment, we apply a topical numbing cream and let it sit for about 20 minutes. Once you’re comfortable, we use the SkinPen device to create controlled micro-channels in your skin. The depth is adjusted based on what we’re treating—shallow for texture and tone, deeper for scars or wrinkles.
The process takes around 30 minutes. Your skin will be red afterward, similar to a mild sunburn, but that fades within a few hours. Most people go back to normal activities the same day. There’s no peeling, no downtime, no week of hiding at home.
Over the next few weeks, your skin starts producing new collagen and elastin. You’ll see some improvement right away, but the real transformation builds gradually as your skin heals and thickens. Each session adds to the last, which is why we recommend at least three treatments for lasting results.
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Microneedling works best for issues caused by lost collagen. That includes boxcar and rolling acne scars, which form when the skin doesn’t have enough structural support underneath. It’s also effective for large pores, fine lines, sun damage, hyperpigmentation, and mild skin laxity.
If you’ve dealt with acne scarring for years and tried everything short of lasers or surgery, this is worth considering. Clinical trials show microneedling improved acne scars in 100% of participants, with collagen levels staying elevated for up to a year after treatment.
For residents in Dortches and nearby Nash County, access to medical-grade aesthetic treatments has historically meant driving into Raleigh or Rocky Mount. We bring that level of care closer to home, with the same FDA-approved technology and certified expertise you’d find in a larger market—but with the attention and flexibility of a local practice.
Each treatment is customized. If you’re dealing with rosacea, we adjust the depth and technique. If it’s melasma or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, we may pair microneedling with other modalities. You’re not getting a one-size-fits-all protocol.
Yes, and the research backs it up. Microneedling has been shown to improve acne scars in 100% of clinical trial participants, particularly boxcar and rolling scars caused by collagen loss.
The reason it works comes down to how scars form. When your skin loses collagen during the healing process after acne, it creates a depression. Microneedling triggers your body to produce new collagen in those exact areas, which gradually fills in the scar tissue from below.
You won’t see full results after one session. Most people need at least three treatments spaced about a month apart to see significant improvement. The collagen your body builds continues to develop for weeks after each session, so the changes are progressive. And because it’s your own tissue being rebuilt—not filler or synthetic material—the results last.
The average cost for professional microneedling is around $425 per session. Most treatment plans involve three sessions, so you’re looking at roughly $1,275 total for a full series.
Compare that to laser resurfacing, which runs between $700 and $1,200 per session and often requires more downtime and carries higher risk for hyperpigmentation on darker skin tones. Or compare it to cosmetic surgery, which can cost thousands and comes with real recovery time.
Microneedling sits in a different category. It’s not as aggressive as lasers or surgery, but it’s far more effective than at-home rollers or topical treatments. You’re paying for FDA-approved equipment, a trained and certified esthetician, and a treatment that actually rebuilds your skin’s structure. If you’ve been dealing with acne scars, large pores, or stubborn texture issues that haven’t responded to anything else, the cost makes sense when you consider what you’re getting.
Your skin will be red for a few hours after treatment—similar to a sunburn. Most people notice the redness fades by the end of the day, though some slight pinkness can linger into the next morning depending on your skin type and the treatment depth.
There’s no peeling, no scabbing, and no need to take time off work. You can wear makeup the next day if you want, though we recommend waiting 24 hours to let your skin fully close and heal.
The biggest restriction is sun exposure. Your skin is more vulnerable immediately after treatment, so you’ll need to stay out of direct sunlight and wear SPF 30 or higher for at least a week. Avoid intense workouts, saunas, or anything that causes heavy sweating for the first 24 to 48 hours. Beyond that, you’re back to normal. The lack of downtime is one of the main reasons people choose microneedling over more invasive options.
At-home rollers don’t penetrate deep enough to trigger real collagen production. Most derma rollers sold online use needles that are 0.25mm to 0.5mm long, which might help with product absorption but won’t create the controlled injury needed to rebuild skin structure.
Professional microneedling uses the SkinPen device, which is FDA-approved and can be adjusted to depths of up to 2.5mm depending on what we’re treating. That depth matters because collagen remodeling happens in the deeper layers of your skin—the dermis—not just on the surface.
There’s also a safety factor. At-home devices aren’t sterile, and improper use can lead to infection, scarring, or worsening hyperpigmentation. When you come in for a professional treatment, the device is single-use and sterile, the depth is controlled, and the technique is tailored to your skin type and concern. You’re not guessing. You’re getting a medical-grade treatment performed by someone who’s trained and certified to do it correctly.
Yes. As you age, your body produces less collagen and elastin, which leads to thinner skin, fine lines, and sagging. Microneedling directly addresses that by stimulating your skin to produce new collagen and elastin fibers.
SkinPen is FDA-approved specifically for treating facial wrinkles, and studies show that collagen levels remain elevated for up to a year after a series of treatments. That means the improvements you see aren’t temporary—they’re the result of actual structural changes in your skin.
Microneedling works best on fine lines, mild skin laxity, and early signs of aging. If you’re dealing with deep wrinkles or significant volume loss, you might see better results combining microneedling with other treatments like Botox or dermal fillers. But for overall texture, tone, and firmness, microneedling is one of the most effective non-surgical options available. It’s especially useful if you want to avoid the risks and downtime that come with lasers or more invasive procedures.
Yes. One of the biggest advantages of microneedling over laser treatments is that it’s safe for all skin tones, including darker complexions that are at higher risk for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation with heat-based devices.
Microneedling doesn’t use heat or light. It works through controlled mechanical injury, which means there’s no risk of burning or damaging melanin in the skin. That makes it a much safer option for treating acne scars, melasma, or hyperpigmentation in people with medium to dark skin tones.
That said, technique still matters. If you have active acne, rosacea, or certain skin conditions, we’ll adjust the treatment protocol or recommend waiting until your skin is in a better state to heal. During your free consultation, we’ll evaluate your skin type, tone, and any underlying concerns to make sure microneedling is the right fit. If it’s not, we’ll tell you what would work better. You’re not getting pushed into a treatment that doesn’t make sense for your skin.
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