Controlled micro-injuries. Real collagen response. Texture, scarring, and tone concerns treated by a physician who reads your skin before writing a plan.
What Microneedling Actually Does — and Why It Works
Microneedling creates thousands of precise, controlled micro-channels in the skin using fine needles. That controlled injury triggers your skin's wound-healing response, stimulating collagen and elastin production in the deeper dermis — the structural layer where most visible concerns originate.
The result is gradual, progressive improvement in skin texture, firmness, pore size, and tone. It is one of the most evidence-supported treatments for acne scarring and is regularly used for fine lines, uneven skin tone, and general resurfacing.
What separates effective microneedling from ineffective treatment is depth calibration. Needle depth must match the concern being treated and the skin being treated. Too shallow and the stimulus is insufficient. Too deep and the risk of adverse effects increases. At Ageless Beauty Doctors, Dr. Erdman reviews your Alma IQ skin analysis before every treatment plan is written — so depth, session spacing, and combination sequencing are based on your actual skin data, not a standard protocol.
What We Treat With Microneedling
- Acne scarring — including rolling, boxcar, and icepick scar types
- Enlarged or congested pores
- Uneven skin texture and rough surface tone
- Fine lines and early laxity, particularly around the eyes and mouth
- Hyperpigmentation and post-inflammatory discoloration
- General skin resurfacing and collagen maintenance
How the Alma IQ Scan Changes What Microneedling Can Do
Before any treatment is recommended, we run a multi-spectral Alma IQ skin analysis. The scan measures pigmentation depth, redness, texture irregularity, pore density, and UV damage across your full face — giving us a baseline that a visual exam cannot replicate.
That data tells us which concerns are superficial and which are dermal. It tells us whether microneedling is the right tool, whether it should be sequenced with a chemical peel or laser treatment, and what a realistic improvement timeline looks like for your specific skin.
After your treatment series, we re-scan. You see the difference as a measurable shift in the data, not just a subjective impression.
What to Expect at Your Appointment
Step 1: Consultation and Skin Scan
Dr. Erdman reviews your skin history, current concerns, and the Alma IQ scan data. If microneedling is appropriate, she outlines depth targets, session count, and any combination treatments that would improve your outcome.
Step 2: Topical Numbing
A topical anesthetic is applied and allowed to absorb for approximately 30 minutes before treatment begins. Discomfort during microneedling is typically described as mild pressure or warmth — not pain.
Step 3: Treatment
The microneedling device is passed across the treatment area in a consistent, controlled pattern. A full-face treatment takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes. Serum application is included during treatment to support the skin's absorption response.
Step 4: Aftercare Guidance
You leave with written aftercare instructions and direct text access to Dr. Erdman if you have questions during recovery. Most patients experience redness and mild swelling for 24 to 48 hours. Skin typically feels smoother within a week as the surface heals.
How Many Sessions Will You Need?
Most patients see meaningful improvement after a series of three to six sessions, spaced four to six weeks apart. Acne scarring and deeper texture concerns typically require the higher end of that range. Maintenance treatments once or twice per year help sustain collagen density over time.
We do not sell packages. Each session is booked individually, and Dr. Erdman reassesses your progress before recommending the next step. You are never locked into a treatment plan you cannot modify.
Microneedling Alongside Other Treatments
Microneedling pairs well with several other treatments we offer. A chemical peel in the weeks before a microneedling series can clear surface congestion and improve the skin's response to deeper treatment. For patients with both texture concerns and active pigmentation, sequencing microneedling with laser hyperpigmentation treatment often produces faster results than either treatment alone.
If you have rosacea or significant vascular concerns, we typically address those with our VascuPen laser before introducing microneedling. Dr. Erdman sequences treatments based on what your skin can tolerate and what will move the needle fastest — not on what fills a calendar.
Why Patients Choose Ageless Beauty Doctors for Microneedling
Is microneedling safe for all skin tones?
Yes. Microneedling is one of the few resurfacing treatments that is safe across all Fitzpatrick skin types, including deeper skin tones that carry higher risk with certain laser treatments. Because it does not use heat or light energy, the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is significantly lower than with ablative laser resurfacing. Dr. Erdman reviews your skin type and history before any treatment is recommended.How long does it take to see results from microneedling?
Initial improvement in texture and tone is often visible within one to two weeks as the surface heals. Deeper collagen remodeling continues for four to six weeks after each session. Most patients see their most significant results after their second or third treatment, with continued improvement between sessions.Can microneedling help with acne scars?
It is one of the most well-supported treatments for atrophic acne scarring — the depressed, pitted scars left after inflammatory acne. Rolling and boxcar scars typically respond best. Icepick scars are deeper and may require additional approaches. Dr. Erdman will assess your scar type during the consultation and tell you directly what microneedling can and cannot accomplish for your specific presentation.What is the downtime after microneedling?
Expect redness and mild swelling for 24 to 48 hours. Most patients return to normal activity the following day. Makeup should be avoided for at least 24 hours. Sun exposure should be limited and SPF applied consistently in the days following treatment. Dr. Erdman provides written aftercare instructions and is reachable by text if anything comes up.How does microneedling compare to laser skin resurfacing?
Both stimulate collagen production, but they work differently. Microneedling uses mechanical micro-injury and is appropriate for all skin tones with minimal heat risk. Laser resurfacing uses controlled light energy to remodel the dermis and can address pigmentation concerns that microneedling cannot. For some patients, one is clearly the better fit. For others, a sequenced combination produces better results than either treatment alone. We use the Alma IQ scan to make that determination based on your actual skin data.Do you offer microneedling near Rocky River or Westlake?
Our practice is located at Salon Lofts, 3141 Westgate Mall Dr, Loft 22, Fairview Park — a few minutes from Rocky River, Westlake, Bay Village, and Lakewood. Online booking is available through Jane, or you can text us directly at 216-202-4261 to ask a question before you schedule.
