How many microneedling sessions to reduce scars?

Author: Jillian Ruecker  |  Last update: Wednesday, January 14, 2026

You might be wondering how many sessions you'll need. The answer depends on the severity of your scars and your desired results. For mild to moderate scars, you may only need 3-6 sessions spaced 4-6 weeks apart. For more severe scars, you may need up to 12 sessions.

How many sessions of microneedling for scars?

By stimulating collagen production and eliminating scar tissue, Microneedling works to smooth the skin and reduce the appearance of acne scars. Typically, four to six treatments are required to achieve optimal cosmetic results from treatments.

Can microneedling remove scars completely?

You may need more than one treatment session to get the results you want. For example, if your dermatologist is treating acne scars, you may need 3 to 5 treatments, which are performed every 2 to 4 weeks. Studies have found that this treatment plan can fade acne scars by 50% to 70%.

How many microneedling sessions does it take to get rid of stretch marks?

How Many Microneedling Sessions Are Needed for Stretch Marks? Most patients require a series of three to six treatments for a visible reduction or full elimination of stretch marks.

Are 3 microneedling sessions enough?

In terms of how many microneedling sessions to see results, patients usually need 4-8 treatments. If you're looking to improve scar reduction, you'll likely need 3-6 treatments and collagen induction usually requires 3 treatments as a starting point.

Derma Pen! Don't do the same MISTAKE! KNOW HOW! Correct technique.

How to maximize microneedling results?

Microneedling Aftercare Tips
  1. Boosting progress with supplements.
  2. Avoiding intense activities.
  3. Staying out of hot showers and baths.
  4. Letting the skin rest before further treatments.
  5. Not wearing makeup.
  6. Protecting your skin from the sun.
  7. Avoiding caffeine and alcohol.

Is microneedling better than Botox?

As stand-alone treatments, these are both fantastic in their own ways. Botox will provide good visual results on the skin, as the area will look and feel smoother – although for firmer, plumper, healthy-looking skin, microneedling wins, hands-down.

What is the average price of a microneedling session?

The average cost of microneedling in the US is about $640 per session, according to over 300 patient experiences on RealSelf. This can vary between $300 to $700, however, depending on: Your location: Prices may be higher in major cities or upscale clinics.

Is microneedling once a year enough?

Most people need multiple microneedling treatments, usually about 3 weeks to 8 weeks apart. It can take 3 months to 6 months to see results. Afterward, you might need the procedure once a year for maintenance.

What is the success rate of microneedling?

Microneedling has been found to be effective in reducing even burn scars [Figure 5] by up to 80% in a study on 16 patients by Aust et al. It was stipulated that there is normalization of collagen-elastin matrix in the dermis at 1 year.

What does an atrophic scar look like?

Atrophic scars are the opposite of hypertrophic scars. They are depressed, sunken and often have a pitted appearance.

Why is microneedling so expensive?

Factors That Influence Microneedling Costs

If you have a larger treatment area, this would result in the price quoted increasing. Another factor is the option to have microneedling with PRP. Adding the PRP to your microneedling significantly increases the results and does incur an additional fee.

Does microneedling flatten scars?

Microneedling is an effective way to reduce scars by encouraging new collagen production. This treatment uses tiny needles to penetrate the skin. Micro-injuries stimulate your natural healing processes and rejuvenate the area over the following weeks and months. Scars appear softer and smoother as a result.

Why isn't microneedling working?

Only once your skin heals from these wounds and has had time to stimulate the extra collagen and have some cell turnover, will you see the full benefit from your treatment. This means results usually aren't visible until four to six weeks after your microneedling treatment.

Can you overdo microneedling?

Even though microneedling benefits the skin, overdoing it can cause serious risks, including skin irritation, redness, and inflammation, leading to discomfort. Overdoing treatments or not allowing ample time between sessions can lead to scarring and even hyperpigmentation.

How long will my face look bad after microneedling?

It's normal to experience certain side effects after a microneedling procedure. Your skin can be flushed or even bright red when you leave your visit. Within 48 hours, the majority of the redness you experience after microneedling will go away. Peeling, flaking and breakouts may take a little longer.

What is the best time of year to do microneedling?

Specifically, fall and winter are the optimal seasons for microneedling. Fall and winter are ideal for this treatment due to the reduced exposure to sunlight. Post-treatment skin can be highly sensitive to sun exposure, and overexposure could potentially slow down the healing process.

How long do microneedling results last?

In general, you can expect the results of SkinPen microneedling to last for four to six weeks. The longevity of these results can be attributed to the length of your natural cellular turnover cycle, as well as how long newly produced collagen can last in the skin.

Is microneedling really worth it?

One study showed that almost 100 percent of microneedling participants reported a noticeable difference, and 80 percent reported a vast improvement in the appearance of their acne scars after a treatment1, so yeah—microneedling is that girl.

What is the downside of microneedling?

Skin damage is a risk that commonly occurs with microneedling devices. The damage may include bleeding, bruising, redness, tightness, itching and peeling, and these typically go away without any treatment after a few days or weeks.

Is there anything better than microneedling?

Both microneedling and chemical peels can help to rejuvenate the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, however, for deeper wrinkles, Dr. Green may recommend adding Botox or dermal fillers to your treatment plan.

What comes first, Botox or microneedling?

If you want to have a traditional Botox injectable, you need to wait 14 days before a microneedling treatment to ensure the neurotoxin settles in the treatment area. Another option is to have a microneedling treatment first and a Botox injection after two or three days.

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