The Microneedling Deep-Dive: What Works, What’s Hype

Interview with Amber Lewis, Owner & Lead Aesthetician / Cosmetic Injector / Surgical Assistant / Medical Assistant

Microneedling has been called everything from “natural Botox” to the secret behind glowing, ageless skin—but not all microneedling is created equal. At Luminous Aesthetics, it’s more than a trendy treatment; it’s a customizable, collagen-activating workhorse that can tighten, brighten, and completely refresh tired or textured skin. In this Q&A, Amber breaks down what microneedling really does, who it’s ideal for, and how to get the absolute best bang for your skincare buck.

For a client who is already investing in quality aesthetic care, how do you position microneedling in terms of cost benefit?

Microneedling works really well for somebody who's already taking great care of their skin, but it’s also a fantastic option for someone starting at square one. Microneedling is known as collagen induction therapy because it “wakes up” the sleepy collagen and elastin fibers that are the foundation of tighter, healthier skin. So if someone is concerned with laxity, skin quality, texture, tone, pores, scarring, or they just feel like their skin isn't as bright and vibrant, microneedling addresses all of that. You can put all the creams, the caviar, the gold on your face, but if the skin is dry and tough, nothing penetrates deeply.

By doing collagen induction therapy, we’re creating tiny little micro-channels that allow new, healthier skin to surface. That new skin gives you barrier repair, which means your creams, lotions, and serums penetrate better—directly benefiting someone who already invests in high-quality skincare.

How does your surgical assist experience, benefit your clients seeking microneedling?

Microneedling isn't a one-size-fits-all treatment because every person’s skin is different. Your skin may require a completely different depth from the next person based on texture, age, laxity, thickness, and overall health of the tissue.

Thin or damaged skin around the eyes requires a very superficial setting; going too deep can actually damage tissue and cause long-term problems. That’s why you need a specialist who understands depth, anatomy, and technique. The face, neck, body, and hands all require different depths, too. Depth is always customized during service and addressed during your complimentary consultation based on your goals and the area being treated.

My experience as a surgical assistant and consultant to a plastic surgeon, means I'm not just analysing the surface of your skin. When I'm looking at you I can actually see what's deeper, what's under the skin - muscle, bone, fat pads, etc. It's kind of crazy, once you've literally been in a surgery and seen what's under the skin - you can't unsee it. Every person I look at, I'm surveying their face and envisioning what's underneath- almost like having xray vision. Sorry if that's creepy!

Can you expand a little bit on microneedling treatments for the hands and the neck?

The neck and hands are fantastic treatment areas for microneedling because there’s minimal downtime. With the hands, we’re usually dealing with sun damage, aging, and volume loss. With microneedling, we can also micro-needle in stem cells, PDRN, filler, or even Botox to improve skin quality, texture, and volume.

The neck benefits greatly because we lose tone, texture, and tightness there. Microneedling with Botox is an amazing option for the neck because we can address the platysma bands—what people call “turkey neck.” It’s a sensitive zone for people, but it’s honestly the best place to treat with microneedling. We can stimulate those collagen and elastin fibers to wake back up and start lifting again. Collagen breaks down everywhere, but the rate is faster in the neck, which is why treating it early and consistently matters.

How many microneedling treatments does someone realistically need, and what does maintenance look like for someone with an active lifestyle and professional schedule?

It depends entirely on the person and why they’re coming in. Deep ice-pick acne scars or old surgical scars usually need 6–12 treatments because it took many years to create that tissue—and we can’t rush the repair. Treatments must be spaced 4–6 weeks apart. Too close together can cause more damage because the new collagen needs time to form.

If you just want a quick pick-me-up before an event, one treatment is great—ideally done two weeks before photos or a big occasion. For tightening and toning, most people need a package of three to six spread throughout the year. Staying within that four-to-six-week window ensures each treatment builds on the last. If we push past six weeks, we lose some of the cumulative benefit and essentially “start over.” Your lifestyle, events, and work schedule can all be accommodated within that realistic spacing.

Is microneedling an option included in your quarterly and monthly memberships?

Absolutely you can have mirconeedling as part or your Luminous Memberships. And the great thing is that each visit doesn’t have to be the same treatment. I personally alternate between microneedling and chemical peels because I have adult acne and fine lines.

Microneedling is like aerating your lawn and then dropping in fertilizer. If you come in October after a summer full of sun exposure, we can micro-needle in a chemical peel to address pigmentation. If you come in January for a refresh, we can micro-needle in stem cells to signal your existing stem cells to tighten, lighten, and brighten. We can also use PDRN. It’s completely customizable. “Microneedling” is the general treatment name, but what we can do within that treatment is far beyond generic.

So microneedling can be the amplifier for other treatments—chemical peels, Botox, etc.

Yes, absolutely. Microneedling is the road, and we have many cars we can drive on that road. It helps us penetrate deeper into the layers of tissue—where pigment cells, collagen, and elastin live—far beyond what any topical product can do.

What is the pricing for your microneedling packages?

Treatments range from $350 to $650 per area. $650 is the top tier because it includes stem cells, Botox for skin quality and texture (like crepiness), PDRN, bio stimulators, amino acids, and vitamins—a customized cocktail your skin truly benefits from.

$350 is ideal for someone who wants to try microneedling or is on a budget. It’s still a great treatment, but it doesn’t include all the bioactive boosters. When the skin is open, flooding it with regenerative ingredients gives the best results. But both pricing tiers offer value depending on goals and budget.

Microneedling has been nicknamed the “natural Botox,” but how do you compare microneedling vs. Botox or other injectables?

I love that comparison, but they’re very different. Microneedling improves skin quality. Botox/Dysport is a neuromodulator that relaxes muscle movement.

Together, they’re an all-star team. If we’re working on frown lines with microneedling to build healthy tissue, Botox prevents those lines from returning. We can also micro-needle Botox superficially—not into the muscle—for glow, smoothness, and refined texture. That’s great around the eyes, neck, or mouth when we don’t want to restrict movement. They pair beautifully but serve different purposes.

For clients with busy schedules — what’s a realistic downtime?

Downtime is what worries people the most. A light treatment means you’ll look a little flushed, like you went for a run. That requires 24 hours clean and dry—no makeup.

A deeper treatment still requires 24 hours clean and dry, but you may have redness or slight spot dryness/scabbing for 3–5 days depending on your skin’s healing cycle. Some people’s skin cycles are slow, so results may appear closer to two weeks. Others heal quickly and look great within 3–5 days.

The more we treat your skin, the faster it heals. Regardless of treatment depth, if you have a major event the next day, wait—we need that 24-hour clean window so we don’t introduce bacteria into those micro-channels. After 24 hours you can wear makeup to cover redness or any minor bruising.

Is Brusing Common with Microneedling?

Bruising is possible with any needle-based appointment and varies from person to person. Avoid alcohol, aspirin, or blood thinners 24 hours before to help minimize risk, but there’s never a guarantee. Some clients on blood thinners never bruise; others with no risk factors bruise easily. If bruising occurs, you can come in after 24 hours for LED light therapy to help heal faster. And again, after 24 hours you can resume wearing make-up to cover any bruising that might occur.

When clients are comparing microneedling treatments with other options—facials, peels, fillers, lasers—what do you ask them to ensure they understand how microneedling fits into their treatment plan?

There’s so much information on the internet, and the average consumer can get overwhelmed—there are thousands of lasers promising results. My surgical background helps me guide patients through both surgical and non-surgical options.

Not everyone needs microneedling, and not everyone will get the results they’re imagining. If something else will give you better results for your investment, I’ll tell you. Honesty and ethics matter. Some people are better candidates for surgical approaches if excess skin or other factors mean microneedling won’t give the outcome they want.

During your complimentary consultation, we make sure we’re on the same page about your goals, your skin concerns, and what’s truly achievable. If I can get you the results you want, I will. If microneedling isn’t the right treatment—because of medical issues, healing limitations, or because your goals require something more advanced—I’ll guide you toward the right option.