Microneedling Facial in London

No Microneedling should not be and is not painful and if it is, something isn't right.

In reality, most clients describe the sensation as mild pressure — noticeable, but far more comfortable than they expected. Some areas of the face are naturally more sensitive than others, and Monique adjusts her approach throughout based on how your skin is responding.

If you've seen the videos online — red, raw skin and faces covered in blood — it's completely understandable to feel apprehensive. But those videos don't represent how we work. At UDB, every treatment is guided by a nurturing, considered approach. We're not here to put your skin through unnecessary stress.

The goal is always controlled stimulation, not your skin waving a white flag.

That depends entirely on your skin and what you're looking to achieve — which is why we never give a one-size-fits-all answer before we've assessed you properly.

As a general guide, most clients looking to improve overall skin quality, texture, or early signs of ageing will see meaningful results from a course of three sessions, spaced four to six weeks apart. For more specific concerns like acne scarring or deeper lines, a longer course may be recommended to get the results you're after.

For the best possible outcome, we recommend a course of six — and this is where the real transformation happens. Our course of six includes the neck and décolletage as standard, because as Monique always says, true rejuvenation doesn't stop at the jawline.

That said, a single session is never wasted. Some clients come in for a one-off treatment to give their skin a reset — whether ahead of a big event or simply as part of their wider skin health routine — and see a visible difference from that alone.

Monique will advise exactly what she recommends and why during your consultation — based on your skin, not a standard package.

This is where Micro Needling differs from a lot of treatments — the results don't just hold, they continue to develop long after your session is over.

In the days immediately following your treatment, you'll likely notice your skin looking brighter and feeling smoother. But the deeper work — the collagen and elastin remodelling triggered by your treatment — continues for months afterwards. Your skin at three months will look better than it did at three weeks.

How long those results last depends on a few things: your skin, your age, your lifestyle, and importantly, what you're doing at home between sessions. Clients who support their results with the right homecare routine consistently see better and longer-lasting outcomes than those who don't — which is why we put as much thought into what you do at home as what we do in the treatment room.

For most clients, a maintenance session every three to four months is enough to keep the skin performing at its best. For those who complete a full course of six, the foundation you've built means your results are deeper, longer lasting, and far more resilient.

Yes — and this is one of Micro Needling's great strengths as a treatment.

Unlike certain laser or light-based treatments, which carry a higher risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation on deeper skin tones, Micro Needling works mechanically rather than with heat or light. This makes it a safe and effective option across the full spectrum of skin tones — including darker skin types that are often underserved or excluded by other rejuvenation treatments.

At UDB, we treat skin of every type, tone, and condition. East London is one of the most diverse communities in the country, and our approach reflects that. Monique's 20 years of clinical experience includes extensive work across all skin tones — so you can be confident that your skin will be assessed, understood, and treated as the individual skin it is.

That said, there are some skin conditions and circumstances where we would delay or adapt the treatment — for example, active breakouts, certain skin sensitivities, or specific medical conditions. This is exactly why the consultation comes first. If Micro Needling isn't right for your skin right now, Monique will tell you honestly — and recommend what is.

For most clients, downtime is minimal. Immediately after your treatment you'll likely notice some redness — similar to a moderate flush or mild sunburn — and your skin may feel warm and slightly sensitive to the touch. This is completely normal and is simply your skin's natural response to the treatment.

For the majority of clients this settles within 24 to 48 hours, leaving skin looking clearer, brighter, and more alive than it did going in.

In the days that follow you may notice some light flaking or dryness as your skin begins to turn over — again, completely normal and a sign that the regeneration process is underway. This is not the time to reach for harsh exfoliants or actives. Your post-treatment plan will tell you exactly what to use and what to avoid while your skin does its work.

What you won't experience — at least not at UDB — is the raw, heavily inflamed skin you may have seen online. That level of reaction is not the goal, not the standard, and not something we consider acceptable. Precision and care throughout the treatment means your skin is stimulated, not overwhelmed, and your recovery reflects that.

Most clients are comfortable returning to their normal routine within 48 hours. We simply ask that you follow your aftercare plan and let your skin breathe in the meantime.

It's a fair question — and the honest answer is that they're not really comparable.

Home derma rollers use much shorter, less precise needles that roll across the skin in a way that can cause inconsistent, tearing micro-injuries rather than the clean, controlled channels created by a professional device. At best, they offer very superficial stimulation. At worst, used incorrectly — which is easy to do without training — they can cause irritation, breakouts, and in some cases, long-term damage to the skin barrier.

Professional Micro Needling at UDB uses a medical-grade device with precision control over needle depth and speed, calibrated specifically to your skin on the day. The micro-channels created are clean, consistent, and deliberately placed — which is what triggers the collagen response effectively and safely. Add to that the bespoke mesotherapy serums applied during treatment, and you have something a home tool simply cannot replicate.

There's also the question of hygiene. Our device uses sterile, single-use cartridges every single time. A dermaroller used at home — even one that's regularly cleaned — carries a contamination risk that a professional clinical setting eliminates entirely.

Home tools have their place in a skincare routine, but if you're looking for real, measurable change in your skin, professional treatment is a different thing altogether. Monique will always be honest about what's worth your money and what isn't — and this is one area where the difference genuinely shows in your results.

We recommend keeping your skin completely free from makeup for at least 24 hours after your treatment — ideally 48.

Here's why: immediately after Micro Needling, your micro-channels are open and your skin is in active repair mode. Applying makeup — even products you've used for years without issue — introduces bacteria, chemicals, and potential irritants directly into those channels. The same properties that make the treatment so effective at delivering beneficial ingredients also make your skin temporarily more vulnerable to anything you put on it.

We know that's not always easy, especially if you have somewhere to be. Our honest advice is to plan your treatment around a period where you can give your skin that breathing space — a quiet weekend works well for most clients.

After 48 hours, once the initial response has settled, you can return to your normal routine. Your post-treatment plan will give you clear guidance on exactly when it's safe to reintroduce your usual products — and flag anything worth temporarily setting aside while your skin is in its recovery window.

The short-term compromise is well worth it. Protecting your skin in those first 48 hours is part of getting the most from your treatment.

Getting your skin ready in the days before your treatment makes a real difference to both your experience and your results. Here's what Monique recommends:

In the week before your treatment
Avoid any harsh exfoliants, acids, or active ingredients — particularly AHAs and BHAs. These sensitise the skin and can increase the risk of irritation during treatment. If you're unsure whether a product in your current routine counts, just ask us.

Retinol specifically
Stop using retinol at least 48 to 72 hours before your appointment. Retinol accelerates skin cell turnover and increases sensitivity, which can make the skin more reactive during treatment and slow your recovery afterwards. If you're using a prescription-strength retinoid, flag this during your consultation and Monique will advise accordingly.

In the 24 to 48 hours before
Keep your skincare simple — cleanse and moisturise, nothing more. Avoid anything that could cause unnecessary sensitivity, including waxing, threading, or any other facial treatments in the immediate lead-up to your appointment.

On the day
Arrive with clean skin, free from makeup, SPF, and any skincare products. The less your skin has on it, the better prepared it is for treatment.

Sun exposure
If you've had significant sun exposure or have active sunburn on the treatment area, we'll need to reschedule. Treating compromised skin isn't something we're prepared to do — your safety always comes first.

You'll receive a full personalised preparation guide when you book, so nothing is left to guesswork. If anything comes up in the days before your appointment — a breakout, a reaction, a change in your skin — just get in touch and we'll advise accordingly.

Some clients notice a difference almost immediately — skin that looks brighter, feels smoother, and has a certain luminosity that wasn't there before. This initial glow is partly down to the increased circulation triggered by the treatment and the mesotherapy serums absorbed during your session.

But the more significant changes come later.

The collagen and elastin remodelling that Micro Needling stimulates is a gradual process — one that continues for months after your appointment. Most clients see a noticeable improvement in skin texture and firmness within four to six weeks, with results continuing to develop well beyond that. Your skin at three months will look better than it did at three weeks, and better still after a full course.

This is why we always encourage clients to document their skin before they start — a photo taken in consistent lighting before your first session is worth more than memory when it comes to tracking real change. It's easy to forget where your skin was when you're looking at it every day.

The honest answer is that results vary depending on your skin, your age, your concern, and how well you support your skin at home between sessions. What we can tell you is that the process is always working — even when it isn't immediately visible. Trust it.

Yes — and in many cases, combining treatments is where the most significant results are achieved.

Micro Needling works exceptionally well alongside a number of other treatments and enhancements. Within the session itself, we already combine it with bespoke Mesotherapy serums as standard — and depending on your skin goals, Monique may recommend adding Exosomes, Skin Boosters, or Polynucleotides to further amplify your results.

Beyond the treatment room, Micro Needling sits very comfortably within a wider skin health plan. Clients following a ZO Skin Health homecare programme alongside their treatments consistently see better and faster results than those treating in isolation — because what you do at home every day has just as much impact as what happens in the clinic.

What we don't recommend is combining Micro Needling with other active facial treatments in the same short window — for example, chemical peels or laser treatments need to be appropriately spaced to allow your skin to recover and respond properly between sessions. Monique will map this out for you as part of your treatment plan, so there's never any guesswork about what to do and when.

The goal is always a considered, sequenced approach — treatments that work together intelligently rather than competing for your skin's attention. That's exactly the kind of plan Monique will build with you from your very first consultation.

It's a question worth asking — and the honest answer is no.

There's a tendency in the aesthetics industry to market treatments around the equipment. The latest device, the most impressive numbers, the most advanced technology. And while having quality tools matters, the device is only ever as good as the person holding it.

Think of it this way, Lewis Hamilton in a Volkswagen would almost certainly beat an average driver in a Ferrari. The machine doesn't make the result. The expertise, the judgement, the experience, and the understanding of what's in front of you, that's what makes the difference.

Micro Needling in the hands of someone who truly understands skin, who can read how it's responding in real time, adjust depth and pressure accordingly, select the right serums for your specific concerns, and know when to push and when to hold back will always outperform the same treatment delivered by someone simply following a protocol from the manufacturer.

This is why at UDB, we lead with Monique's 20 years of experience before we ever talk about equipment. The results our clients see aren't because of the device. They're because of the hands, the knowledge, and the considered approach behind it.