It is collagen induction, not an exfoliation. Electronically controlled microneedles open microchannels in the epidermis and the superficial dermis, and that repair sets your own collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid to work.
The microchannels also serve as a way in: during the session, active ingredients are applied — hyaluronic acid, vitamins, antioxidants, growth factors — which penetrate far more than when simply put on top.
The number of sessions depends on the goal: 3 or 4, one every 4 weeks, for texture and radiance; 4 to 6, every 3–4 weeks, for wrinkles or scars; 6 or more on the body. After that, maintenance every 3 or 4 months.
Each session takes 30 to 60 minutes and leaves 24–48 hours of mild redness. It does not force you to stop work or social life, but it does require sun protection and no make-up for the first few days.
It is not done with active inflammatory processes, skin infections, severe active acne, in pregnancy or on anticoagulant treatment: that is ruled out at the prior medical assessment.
At the Instituto de Cirugía Plástica del Mediterráneo (ICPM), in Valencia, we are specialists in advanced medical-aesthetic treatments on a scientific footing. One of the procedures most in demand and most valued by our patients is microneedling with Dermapen, a minimally invasive technique that visibly improves the quality, texture and firmness of the skin with sustained use, with natural, gradual results.
Below we explain everything you need to know about this treatment: its real benefits, the clinical indications, the protocol we follow at our clinic and what you can expect at each stage of the process.
Would you like to book a consultation to have your case assessed?
Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, is a treatment that stimulates the skin’s natural capacity to regenerate. It is carried out with a device called a Dermapen, which uses electronically controlled microneedles to create microchannels in the epidermis and the superficial dermis.
These micro-punctures cause no significant damage, but they activate a cascade of physiological repair processes that promote the production of collagen, elastin and the body’s own hyaluronic acid. This natural stimulation improves the structure of the skin, increases its firmness and improves its ability to hold water.
The channels created also allow active ingredients to penetrate deeply — hyaluronic acid, peptides, antioxidants and vitamins — multiplying the effectiveness of the cosmeceuticals applied during the session.
Clinical indications for the treatment
Microneedling with Dermapen has a number of clinical applications, both on the face and on the body. At ICPM we use it particularly for:
Overall facial rejuvenation
Reducing fine lines and expression lines
Treating dark circles and mild eyelid bags
Improving texture and enlarged pores
Correcting hyperpigmentation and sun spots
Improving acne scars and other atrophic scars
Treating stretch marks and mild body laxity
Skin redensification on the neck, décolletage and hands
Every case is assessed individually to determine whether this treatment is the most suitable, according to the patient’s skin type, phototype, age, hormonal status and lifestyle.
Why choose Dermapen over other treatments?
Dermapen stands out for being precise, safe and highly adaptable. Compared with other rejuvenation devices or techniques, it has several objective advantages:
Greater depth and regularity in needle penetration, which translates into better clinical results.
Lower risk of bruising or side effects, since the speed and the depth are controlled electronically.
Compatibility with tailored topical actives that enhance the benefits according to what the skin needs.
Use on demanding areas such as the eyelids, lips or neck, which call for a delicate and effective tool.
The treatment protocol at ICPM
At the Instituto de Cirugía Plástica del Mediterráneo we apply individual, standardised clinical protocols to guarantee safety, effectiveness and satisfaction. Our treatment includes:
1. Prior medical assessment
We carry out an in-person diagnostic consultation in which the skin type and the aesthetic goals are analysed and possible medical contraindications are ruled out, such as active inflammatory processes, skin infections, severe active acne, pregnancy or the use of anticoagulants.
2. Preparing the skin
The area to be treated is deep cleansed and, if it is felt necessary, a medical peel is carried out beforehand to optimise the penetration of the actives. In some cases a topical anaesthetic is used to make the patient more comfortable.
3. Applying the Dermapen
The device is glided gently over the skin, creating uniform micro-punctures. During the session we apply a tailored mixture of actives such as hyaluronic acid, vitamins, growth factors or antioxidants, which penetrate directly through the microchannels.
4. Recovery and post-treatment care
The skin may show mild redness and slight sensitivity for 24 to 48 hours. We recommend a specific post-treatment routine with regenerating products, sun protection and no make-up for the first few days. There is no need to interrupt work or social life.
5. Clinical follow-up
Our practitioners carry out a review after each session to assess how the treatment is progressing and to adjust the protocol if necessary.
How many sessions are needed?
The number of sessions depends on the clinical goal. As a general guide:
To improve texture and radiance: 3 to 4 sessions, one every 4 weeks.
To reduce wrinkles or scars: 4 to 6 sessions, one every 3 to 4 weeks.
For body treatments (stretch marks, laxity): 6 or more sessions.
Once the desired result is reached, a maintenance session every 3 or 4 months is recommended to keep the collagen stimulated.
Visible results with sustained use
Results begin to show with the first sessions, but become more noticeable over time and as the sessions accumulate:
Greater radiance and a softer feel
Less visible pores
Reduction of dark circles and fine lines
Improved skin elasticity
As the treatment advances, a gradual improvement is seen in firmness, dermal density and an even tone. These changes are due to a real biological process of regeneration, not to a superficial or temporary effect.
What improves when it is combined
Microneedling has a virtue that is unusual among salon treatments: it has been compared against itself. That is, there are trials that measure what adding something to it contributes, and that makes it possible to say with reasonable precision what the result depends on.
The best-studied combination is with platelet-rich plasma in acne scarring. A meta-analysis of 14 controlled studies and 472 patients found that adding PRP almost tripled the odds of an improvement greater than 50% — an odds ratio of 2.97 — and quadrupled satisfaction, with no more serious adverse effects than microneedling alone.
The other combination with direct evidence is with a chemical peel. A randomised trial of 40 patients with atrophic scarring compared microneedling with 35% glycolic acid against microneedling with 15% TCA: both regimens were equally effective on the scars, and the glycolic acid one added an extra improvement in skin texture.
From all of this comes the sensible way to approach it: microneedling is not a session, it is a protocol. The needle opens the repair pathway, and what is combined with it — and how many sessions are done — is what decides how far the result goes.
Safety and medical backing
Microneedling with Dermapen is a safe treatment, provided it is carried out in a medical clinic under professional supervision. At ICPM, every session is indicated by specialist doctors or by healthcare staff trained in advanced aesthetic medicine.
We also work with latest-generation devices certified in the EU and products with pharmacological backing. We do not use automated techniques or non-medical versions of the treatment.
Book an appointment
You can book your own appointment. Pick the day and time from the free slots in the diary, in a panel that opens right here, without leaving this page.
We have a team of specialists in aesthetic medicine and plastic surgery with extensive experience. Our approach combines science, clinical precision and personal attention.
Individual medical assessment
Advanced technology and safe materials
Treatment tailored to skin type and goal
Continuous clinical follow-up
Natural, gradual results
Book your microneedling / Dermapen appointment in Valencia
At ICPM we help you achieve firmer, more even and healthier skin with a treatment that respects your biology and activates your skin’s own mechanisms of regeneration.
Book your first consultation and let our team advise you. Microneedling / Dermapen treatment in Valencia is an investment in your wellbeing and your self-esteem.
Kang C, Lu D.Combined Effect of Microneedling and Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Acne Scars: A Meta-Analysis. Front Med (Lausanne). 2022;8:788754. PMID 35237616 — 472 patients: an odds ratio of 2.97 for an improvement greater than 50% and of 4.15 for satisfaction when PRP is added.
Dayal S, Kaur R, Sahu P.Efficacy of Microneedling With 35% Glycolic Acid Peels Versus Microneedling With 15% Trichloroacetic Acid Peels in Treatment of Atrophic Acne Scars: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Dermatol Surg. 2022;48(11):1203-1209. PMID 36342251 — 40 patients: both combinations equally effective, with an added improvement in texture in the glycolic acid group.
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