Microneedling is a cosmetic procedure. It involves pricking the skin with tiny sterilized needles. The small wounds cause your body to make more collagen and elastin, which heal your skin and help you look younger. You might also hear it called collagen induction therapy.

The procedure usually takes 10-20 minutes, depending on how big the area is. Most people need 4-6 treatments to see a difference. The goal of the procedure is to start your body’s healing process by sending collagen and elastin to patch up the tiny injuries. Collagen helps fill in and smooth out wrinkles. Most people get microneedling on the face, but it can also done on other parts of the body, such as your stomach or thighs.

Microneedling is less expensive than laser treatments, which can cost about four times as much. Microneedling may work better for people with darker skin tones because it doesn’t involve heat the way laser treatments do, which can affect your skin’s pigmentation, or color. Ask your dermatologist what’s best for your skin -- and your budget.

Microneedling is a very safe and effective procedure. However, like any procedure, microneedling can cause possible complications, including bleeding, bruising, infection, scarring, and pigment problems.