Microneedling in Boston

Who it is for

Acne scars, fine lines and wrinkles, crepey texture, enlarged pores, uneven tone and skin that has lost its bounce. It works on every skin tone, and it is one of the best options for clients who want real change in texture without a laser.

How microneedling builds collagen

Microneedling, also called collagen induction therapy, uses a sterile, single-use cartridge of ultra-fine needles to create thousands of tiny, controlled channels in the skin. Your skin treats each one as a small repair job, sending in fresh collagen and elastin to rebuild. Over the following weeks, that new collagen fills in scars, softens lines and tightens the look of pores. The channels also let serums reach deeper, so every product we apply works harder.

Acne scars it helps

• Rolling scars: soft, wavy depressions that make skin look uneven in side light. These respond especially well.
• Boxcar scars: wider depressions with defined edges. They soften and shallow out over a series.
• Texture and enlarged pores left behind after years of breakouts.
• Ice pick scars: very narrow, deep scars improve more slowly, and we will tell you honestly what to expect at your consultation.

Dark or red marks left after breakouts, without any change in texture, often respond better to a Green Herbal Peel or our acne care. We will point you to the right treatment.

Best in a series

Collagen takes time to build, so microneedling is a series treatment. Most clients see a smoother, brighter look within a week, with results continuing to build for about three months after each session. For acne scars, plan on three to six sessions spaced four to six weeks apart. For fine lines and general texture, three sessions is a great start. Many clients alternate microneedling with a Green Herbal Peel, and our Advanced membership makes a monthly series easy.

What happens during your visit

Your visit begins with an expert skin analysis. After a thorough cleanse, a numbing cream is applied for comfort. Your esthetician then works across the treatment area with a sterile, single-use needle cartridge, adjusting the depth for each area: deeper over scars, lighter around the eyes. Calming, hydrating serums finish the treatment, and you leave with written aftercare.

What to expect afterwards

• The same day: skin looks pink to red, like a mild sunburn, and may feel warm and tight.
• Days 1 to 2: redness fades to a light pink. Skin can feel dry or a little rough.
• Days 3 to 5: some light flaking is normal. Do not pick it.
• After 1 week: skin looks smoother and brighter, and collagen keeps building for weeks.

Before you book

This treatment is not recommended if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have taken isotretinoin in the past six months, have active cold sores, infection or open lesions, a recent sunburn or tan, or a tendency toward keloid scarring. Stop retinoids and exfoliating acids five to seven days before your visit, and tell us about any blood thinners or a history of cold sores. If you have had Botox, fillers, laser or other injections, please wait two weeks before your facial.

Aftercare

• Expect pinkness, like a mild sunburn, for one to two days.
• No makeup for at least 24 hours, so the tiny channels can close cleanly.
• Avoid heavy sweating and workouts for 24 to 48 hours.
• Skip swimming, saunas and steam rooms for a few days.
• No retinol, exfoliating acids or scrubs for at least one week.
• Use only a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser and moisturizer, sleep on a clean pillowcase, and wear SPF 30 or higher daily.
• Do not pick at any dryness or flaking.

Done for you, start to finish

We never hand you a cleanser and point you to a sink. Some spas make you wash your own face before they start. Here, every step is done for you, from the double cleanse to the final massage. Just lie back.

Membership pricing

Members save on every visit. The Signature membership is $129 a month for a 50-minute signature facial, and the Advanced membership is $199 a month. Students pay $99 Tuesday to Thursday with student happy hour.

Where we are

Proven in Dallas, now in Boston. Facial Theory began in Dallas, Texas, where our sister studio has earned over 100 five-star reviews. Facial Theory Boston is run separately, with the same method and the same standard of care.

Facial Theory is a private skin studio inside Sola Salon Studios at 3 Center Plaza, Government Center, one client at a time. See our location and directions.

Serving Back Bay, Newbury Street, Downtown Boston, Financial District, Beacon Hill, South End, Seaport, North End, Fenway and Kenmore, Charlestown, South Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Somerville, Newton, Quincy, Government Center, West End, Chestnut Hill, Brighton, Allston, Wellesley.