Acne scarring causes considerable distress as well as contributing to premature aging of the skin. Skin Needling provides effective treatment for depressed Acne Scars and cosmetic improvement.
What is skin needling?
Skin needling is a procedure that uses a medical roller to create multiple tiny punctures into the skin to induce new collagen growth to repair acne scarring and improve the skins appearance.
Skin needling has been used for many years and first popularised by a South African plastic surgeon Dr Des Fernandez.
How does skin needling improve acne scars?
The process of skin needling induces collagen production which creates progressive repair and support under depressed acne scars. A series of treatments is required, and results are generally seen after about 6 weeks, though the new collagen production continues for 12 months after the last treatment.
Cara responded on 14 Jul 2008 at 6:45 am #
I hate my acne scars and had read about skin needling and wanted to give it a try. I am a little scared, it sound quite painful. Also where in Brisbane are you located and how often would I need to get the skin needling? Thankyou.
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 14 Jul 2008 at 7:11 am #
Hi Cara, Yes we have a before and after pictures of skin needling for acne scars.
1. You need 6 treatments, spaced one month apart
2. The cost of skin needling varies according to the area, $275-$330 is the general pricing.
3. The recovery time for skin needling is basically 24 hours, I know it sounds impossible, but because the surface of the skin is basically intact, it seal and heals very quickly, by day 2 there is really nothing visible.
Call us on 33505447 to book a consultation and we will explain everything and be able to give an accurate quote. Jo
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 14 Jul 2008 at 7:13 am #
Hi Cara,
1. We use a topical local anesthetic so the needling does not hurt as such. I know it sounds like medieval torture, but it isn’t.
2. I will email you details of where we are located in Brisbane
3. With the skin needling for acne scars we generally look at 6 treatments spaced one month apart. Jo
Skin Needling | Skin Needling Brisbane responded on 01 Aug 2008 at 11:45 am #
[…] Acne scars are caused from damage to deeper layers of skin from trauma and infection of acne. The deeper layer scars effectively tether the surface giving shallow depressions. Needling stimulates new collagen and effectively restructures under the scar and decreases the depth and appearance on the surface. Read more on needling acne scars. […]
Roseanna responded on 01 Aug 2008 at 4:39 pm #
I am amazed at this. How can sticking needles into the skin repair acne scars? If it works I want treatment. I have been looking at laser resurfacing, and this costs so much and the risks sound really horrible. How much does the needling cost? How long does it take to repair afterwards? And what are the risks associated with it? Thankyou Rosie
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 04 Aug 2008 at 5:19 am #
Hi Roseanna, I know it does sound amazing, and it really is, so much of the focus of cosmetic medicine has changed because of the research showing that skin needling skin stimulates collagen repair. Our understanding of how best to rejuvenate skin after acne scars and even wrinkling has taken on a whole new dimension.
More amazing, the downtime is 1-2 days with skin needling, there is no risk to normal skin and is tolerated in people even with dark skin types. The best part skin needling is affordable: the cost varies according to the extend of acne scarring, as a ball park it ranges between $275- $330, which is certainly better than thousands for laser resurfacing. Call us on 33505447 to book for an assessment or email if you have further queries.
Mark responded on 04 Aug 2008 at 9:05 am #
Do you have offices in Sydney?
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 04 Aug 2008 at 4:53 pm #
Hi Mark, no we do not have clinics in Sydney, however I will email you with the details of a clinic in Sydney that are very experienced in skin needling for acne scars. Jo
Medical Needling | Skin Needling Brisbane responded on 05 Aug 2008 at 7:20 am #
[…] Read more on needling acne scars. […]
Jamie responded on 11 Aug 2008 at 9:06 pm #
Are the prices quoted above per session? (ie. ~$200 x 6 sessions)
Thank you
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 12 Aug 2008 at 1:07 am #
Hi Jamie, yes the price is per skin needling treatment.
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 12 Aug 2008 at 1:08 am #
Hi Shaz, sorry we are based in Brisbane, and I do not know a clinic in Perth that does the skin needling. I will email a contact you may be able to follow a lead.
Elisha responded on 05 Sep 2008 at 9:41 pm #
Hi Dr. Joanne!
As I was reading this thread someone asked if there are any offices in Sydney and you stated that you will let them know about a clinic experienced in skin needling located in Sydney. I was wondering if you could do the same for me, although I’m based in Melbourne.
Thanks,
Elisha
p.s By the way I think it’s fabulous that you have set up a thread which makes it so EASY for people to ask questions with you answering them directly. (Well it’s pretty ‘direct’ for our generation anyway :P)
yogi responded on 30 Sep 2008 at 1:28 pm #
hi…i liv in perth …can you pls give me contact details who does scar treatment in perth..
thanks..
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 04 Oct 2008 at 5:07 pm #
Hi Yogi, I do not have contact details for anyone who does skin needling for acne scars in Perth, however if you do a google search with skin needling, skin needling for acne scars, or skin needling for acne scarring with Perth in the search as well you should be able to find someone closer to home. I hope this has been of help.
regards Jo
Natalie responded on 29 Oct 2008 at 12:57 pm #
Hi, can you please email me the details of the clinic in Sydney that does skin needling? thankyou!
Mandy responded on 11 Nov 2008 at 12:47 am #
Hi,
Im living in Sydney right now, and am having my 1st treatment with caci in a week.
I am relocating to Brisbane shorty afterwards.
You have the same pics as her website, do you use the same roller/techniques?
Its a long way to travel to get needled…BUT i was going to do it!
Be great to have found an affiliate up there.
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 11 Nov 2008 at 6:08 am #
Hi Mandy, yes we use the clear skin care rollers, were trained in skin needling by clear skin care. We have adjusted the protocols we use slightly however the skin needling is essentially the same as you will get in Sydney. We would be more than happy to take over your treatment if you wish as this may be a more cost effective way for you to finish your course of needling. I will email details of our location and phone number. Jo
susan richter responded on 17 Nov 2008 at 12:22 am #
I am very interested in this procedure for my son who has mild to moderate acne scars. Do you know of any professionals who perform this procedure in the nyc area.
Vu responded on 20 Nov 2008 at 1:06 am #
Hi,
I have got a lot of acne scars on my face over 10 years. Would the needling be effective? Can I claim it over OSHC insurance?
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 20 Nov 2008 at 7:00 am #
Hi Vu, you would need to ask your insurance company to see if they would cover the needling for acne scarring. We can give you a letter to say what the treatment is for, but it is up to them to see if they will cover it.
regards Jo
max responded on 22 Nov 2008 at 11:22 pm #
hello doc, one question noone has asked which is a very important one, how long does it last? Is it perminant? Or will I have to repeat the procedure every certain of time
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 24 Nov 2008 at 8:03 am #
Hi Max, skin needling works to stimulate collagen in the skin. This is the way it works to repair acne scarring. Therefore it is about improving the health of the skin. Our skin naturally looses collagen (by the time we are 40 we are loosing it at a rate of 1% per year). So the collagen stimulation that occurs is never lost, ie it is a permanent effect, however the normal loss of collagen that occurs from the skin continues. Using skin needling for acne scarring we do not generally recommend a repeat course, with wrinkle treatment a repeat of the procedure yearly could be an advantage as obviously you are loosing the collagen continually, however because it stimulates collagen the procedure can be repeated. I hope this has answered your question. Jo
deep responded on 15 Jan 2009 at 3:04 pm #
hi ,i am from india and I want to know whehter this needling technology for acne scars is available here?
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 06 Feb 2009 at 12:52 pm #
Hi Deepak,
I am sorry I cannot say for sure if the medical needling for acne scarring is available in India, but I am sure it is. Perhaps if you do a local search in Google and put in the terms acne scarring and needling, plus your local area you will come up with a solution. I am sorry I could not be of greater assistance.
regards Jo
Clement responded on 21 Feb 2009 at 4:09 pm #
Hello Joanne. Just want to ask if this treatment is available for people who have extremely sensitive skin. I have a face that is very sensitive, especially around the mouth area. I am very well known to people close to me for the redness/dryness of the face. Whenever I smile or something like that the area around my mouth becomes very red and everybody notices. I use to have quite severe acne but now it’s a bit better. If I am to come in to visit the clinic, what would you suggest me do? Is it possible for a combination of treatment e.g. treat the redness then acne scars with needling etc…
Thank you
Regards
Clement
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 07 Mar 2009 at 4:02 pm #
Hi Clement, yes the best thing is to come in for a medical consultation at the outset. We will do a full assessment of your face and routinuely address multiple concerns, ie combine treatments. We do not use or recommend expensive skin care products (we use skin care with a scientific base) and I would be optimistic we could come up with a plan to help you with your skin as well as acne scar treatment. The best thing is to call us on 33504625 to book a consultation with me.
Regards Jo
Dr Jo Turner
Isba responded on 27 Mar 2009 at 8:46 am #
Hi,
I live in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Can you send me any contact info for a clinic that does this procedure for pigmented / rolling acne scars in my area?
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 02 Apr 2009 at 11:06 am #
Hi Isba, I am sorry I do not have any contacts for clinics that do skin needling closer to you. Perhaps if you do a Google search with skin needling and local area included you may be able to find a clinic near you. regards Jo
Sam responded on 25 Apr 2009 at 11:04 pm #
Dear Joanne
I’ve suffered from acne on my back since I was 14yrs old. I am now 26 and whilst it has mainly calmed down the last few years I am now left with scaring. My scaring however does not appear to fit the category of under depressed acne scars. The scaring I have has affected my skin pigmentation moreso and I have been left with purple scar marks all over my back. Is there any treatment you can recommend for this type of scaring? I would dearly like this to be treated as it has affected my confidence greatly and stopped me from doing activities I enjoy e.g. going to the beach with friends etc.
Kind regards,
Sam
michael responded on 11 May 2009 at 5:33 pm #
hi, since there are no skin needling offices in sydney, can u please email me the details of other acne scar treatment located in sydney? thanks
michael
Katie responded on 03 Jun 2009 at 2:00 am #
Hi there!
I am very interested in this procedure but I live in Sydney. Do you have any branches there or know of any skin needling offices in Sydney?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Katie
Gillian responded on 09 Jun 2009 at 10:57 am #
I am asking about a MELBOURNE clinic( googled Melbourne!?) I am 48 very mild acne scars, so from what you are saying should be a good result, and skin quite young looking for age, main concern couple of smallish lumps under skin, not whiteheads a bit bigger, plus some whiteheads not too many, is that a problem for needling?
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 10 Jun 2009 at 4:16 pm #
Hi Gillian, I do not specifically know of a clinic in Melbourne that does the skin needling, the best thing would be to call Clear Skin Care, who provide the medical rollers we use and they will be able to make a recommendation.
Sorry I could not be of more help.
zena responded on 03 Jul 2009 at 8:13 pm #
hi joanne im 17 and have had acne before i no longer have acne but my face is scared. i live in melbourne i was wondering if there’s any treatment like this here and if so would medicare cover it. hope to hear from u soon. thanks zena
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 12 Jul 2009 at 4:25 pm #
Hi Zena, the best thing is to contact clear skin care in sydney, they distribute the medical needling rollers we use and would be able to provide you with the name of a reputable clinic in Melbourne. I hope this has been of help.
Regards Jo
joe responded on 06 Aug 2009 at 9:02 pm #
hi,
just wondering how much it costs from start to finish for most people.. including consultations..
chers
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 08 Aug 2009 at 8:31 am #
Hi Joe,
The consultation is free to assess if you are suitable for the skin needling.
The treatment we use for acne scarring is prescription medication and skin needling. The cost for the skin needling is generally $330 per treatment and we recommend 6 spaced monthly to two monthly. Total cost $1980 over 6-12 month period. The prescription cream we use costs $30 per tube and this lasts 6-8 weeks. So you are looking at $260 for twelve months of the tretinoin. So that is $2240 over a 6-12 month period.
We would need to assess you to say for sure that you are suitable for the needling. There is no obligation with the assessment so call us on 33504625 to book at free consultation at the outset.
Regards Jo
John responded on 31 Oct 2009 at 3:09 pm #
what is the difference between subcision and needling? which is better? in needling is an actual needle put in the skin just like subcision?
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 04 Nov 2009 at 9:23 am #
Hi John, subcision and skin needling describe different treatments for acne scarring. Subcision is used for deep tethered scars such as ice pick scars and the subcision needle is inserted and used to cut the tethering to release it. With the skin needling it involves a medical roller creating thousands of pin point insertion wounds. It does not penetrate to the depth of the subcision needle and is best for treating shallow atrophic acne scars. The subcision and skin needling can and often are used in combination, as different types of acne scars respond to different treatments. I hope this has been of help. If you wish to come in for a free assessment consultation call us on 33505447. regards Jo
Jake responded on 14 Nov 2009 at 3:48 pm #
Hi, I am living in Sydney and would like to try skin needling, can you provide me with the clinic details? How does skin needling compare to fraxel laser treatments which uses the same logic for healing acne scars?
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 09 Dec 2009 at 5:11 am #
In Sydney, the best clinic that specialises in skin needling for acne scarring is Clear Skin Care. You are correct that Fraxel laser works in the same way as skin needling and I think the outcome is pretty similar (some say that skin needling is better) and it certainly costs much less. I hope this has been of help. regards Jo
Elisha responded on 20 Dec 2009 at 11:47 pm #
Hi Jo,
At the age of 31 I still experience violent flares of cystic acne whenever I go off my medication (Diane 35-ED pill) - I have basically resigned myself to the fact that I will have active acne forever. I have been told that laser resurfacing can only be perfomed on skin that no longer has active acne - so my question is, can needling be done on active-acne skin? Or is it also just for scarred (but otherwise clear) skin?
Thanks in advance for your reply,
Elisha
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 21 Dec 2009 at 2:12 pm #
Hi Elisha, we only do skin needling once the acne has settled as well. regards Jo
Jenni responded on 02 Jan 2010 at 8:34 am #
Hi Jo
I am a 50 yo lady who has acne scaring on my face, arms and chest. I believe that i did suffer from adult acne as well as teenage acne. I am at a point in my life now that it has affected my confidence and would like to know what would be the best treatment, effectivity, duration of course, side effects and approx costs.
Regards
Jenni
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 11 Jan 2010 at 12:03 pm #
Hi Jenni, we use a combination of prescription creams, skin needling and more recently plasma regeneration treatment. The best thing is to come in for a free consultation, we look at the areas of concern and would be able to advise the best treatment options and give and accurate quote. There is no obligation with the assessment so the best thing is to call on 33505447 to book a free assessment at the outset. regards Jo
tom responded on 23 Jan 2010 at 7:43 pm #
Hi , Dr Jo
I’m Tom and i’ve acne scar on my face long time! i feel uncomfortable and if should be please send email for me (address and phone number could i contact) cause now i’m living in the sydney.
Thanks for your help ! i hope to hear from u soon !
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 24 Jan 2010 at 12:02 pm #
Hi Tom, I have emailed the details of the best clinic in Sydney to do skin needling for acne scarring. regards Jo
Aaron responded on 25 Jan 2010 at 10:22 am #
Hi Dr Turner
Would there be an improvement of the acne scars after one treatment?
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 26 Jan 2010 at 12:30 pm #
Hi Aaron, We would start you on a treatment that will reduce blackhead size before starting the skin needling to treat the acne scars. Although it is perfectly safe to use skin needling over blackheads the cosmetic outcome is better if we do treat the blackheads at the same time. regards Dr Jo
Aaron responded on 28 Jan 2010 at 12:45 pm #
Hi Dr Turner
Can you also confirm if skin needling can be done if there is some blackheads on the surface of the skin? Thanks
Dr Joanne Turner responded on 29 Jan 2010 at 2:28 pm #
Hi Aaron, generally the skin needling is a series of treatments, although some people do see some response after one treatment, the outcome is progressive and we do recommend going through with the whole series. regards Jo