Does Microneedling Hurt? My Honest Experience From the Other Side of the Pen
A Full Confession Before We Begin
I’ve been offering microneedling at my Kitsilano clinic for the past three years. And here’s something I’ve never admitted to my clients: until recently, I had never tried it myself.
The reason was simple. I was afraid it would be too painful.
What finally changed my mind was hearing Dr. Anthony Youn, a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Troy, Michigan, tell OB-GYN Dr. Mary Claire Haver that microneedling can increase collagen production by up to 400%. That number stopped me in my tracks. Full disclosure, I didn’t take it at face value. I did my own research to verify it, and that statistic is correct. One widely cited study found collagen and elastin increased by up to 400% six months after a series of four treatments.
I needed no more convincing.
So when Dermalogica offered a full-day professional training clinic on microneedling, I signed up. Part of that training included receiving my own microneedling session. I finally got to experience exactly what my clients do.
Here’s my honest account.
Is Microneedling Painful?
Yes. I’m not going to sugarcoat it.
Numbing cream was applied liberally to my face before the treatment, and we waited a full 20 minutes before the needling started. The numbing absolutely helps, but it doesn’t make you feel nothing.
Where It Hurt the Most
The most painful areas were where the skin is the thinnest:
- Forehead
- Nose
- Chin
- Temples
The forehead was the worst for me. The pen felt buzzy and painful here. My temples were a bit stingy too. My provider also worked around the orbital area under my eyes by gently pulling the skin down, and that stung a bit as well. She did two passes down the bridge of my nose and that made me want to sneeze. The feeling only lasted a few seconds.
Where It Didn’t Hurt at All
My cheeks were a completely different story. I didn’t find them painful in the slightest. It just felt a little ticklish.
What Does Microneedling Feel Like?
The best way I can describe it is a sharp, stinging sensation with a vibration attached to it. The buzzing of the pen is constant, and on the thinner-skinned areas, that buzz comes with a sting. On fleshier areas like the cheeks, the vibration is really all you notice.
How Long Does a Microneedling Session Take?
One thing that surprised me is how little of the appointment is actually spent needling. Most of the time goes into preparing the skin properly, which is exactly how it should be.
Prepping the Skin Takes About 30 Minutes
Here’s what my prep looked like:
- My face was cleansed twice, first with a makeup remover and then with a skin cleanser
- Numbing cream was applied and left on for 20 minutes
- My face was cleansed again to remove the numbing cream
- Hyaluronic acid was applied so the pen would glide smoothly over the skin
The Microneedling Itself Takes About 15 Minutes
The face isn’t made up of large areas, so the needling goes quickly. From start to finish, it took less than 15 minutes:
- My forehead, the most painful area, took about two minutes
- My nose received two passes with the pen and was over quickly
- Each cheek took about two minutes per side
So if you’re nervous about the pain, take comfort in knowing that the most uncomfortable parts are over in just a couple of minutes each.
What Microneedling Recovery Actually Felt Like
What surprised me most was the aftermath. I fully expected to be more uncomfortable after my session than during it. I wasn’t.
My skin was red and felt hot, but it was completely manageable. I used Dermalogica’s Calming Mist to take the heat out, and it helped a lot. I didn’t wash my face that night because of all the product still on my skin.
The Morning After
The next morning, my forehead had some red blotches where there had been pinpoint bleeding during the treatment. The rest of my face had already settled down.
If you’d like to see exactly what my skin looked like 18 hours after treatment, you can check out my Instagram post @julienelsontcm post here https://www.instagram.com/p/DfILICzv7tP/.
The Bottom Line: Would I Do It Again?
Is microneedling painful? Yes. But it’s not unbearable, the worst of it lasts only minutes, and the recovery was easier than I expected.
Would I do it again? Absolutely. In four weeks I’ll be having my next session, and I’ll continue monthly for the next four months. I’ll also be adding red light therapy to support the treatment and help generate even more collagen.
After three years of performing this treatment on my clients, I can now tell them honestly what to expect, because I’ve been in that chair myself. If you’ve been curious about microneedling but nervous about the pain, I completely understand. I was too. Book a consultation at my Kitsilano clinic here and let’s talk about whether it’s right for your skin.
Is Microneedling for Everyone?
Short answer no. Head to my website for a complete breakdown of who is not a suitable candidate. If you have any questions book a free 15 minute consultation here.
