Microneedling creates fine channels in the skin so it repairs itself with new collagen. At our Orchard Road clinic Dr Sin Yong sets the depth for each area and the course for the concern.
WhatsApp to Enquire →Key facts ↓Microneedling, or collagen induction therapy, uses fine sterile needles to make controlled micro-channels in the skin, prompting repair and new collagen. It suits mild acne scars, enlarged pores, fine lines and dull texture. A course of three to six sessions about four weeks apart is typical. For deeper scars or laxity, RF microneedling adds heat at depth.
Each pass of the needles creates small, evenly spaced channels through the outer skin into the dermis. The skin treats them as minor wounds. Over the following weeks, platelets and repair cells release growth factors, blood supply increases, and fibroblasts lay down new collagen and elastin. The channels themselves close within hours.
Because the surface is punctured rather than burned away, most of the epidermis stays intact. That is why the pigment risk is lower than with ablative resurfacing, which matters in the Fitzpatrick III to V skin common in Singapore. The detailed mechanism is explained in our microneedling guide; this page covers how the treatment is planned and what it is like.
Dr Sin Yong maps the face before treatment. Cheeks with acne scars may be treated deeper than the forehead, where bone sits close beneath thin skin, and the skin around the eyes is treated shallowly or not at all. Several passes at chosen depths are used rather than one aggressive pass.
A sterile hyaluronic acid serum is used as the glide, because anything placed on freshly needled skin penetrates further than usual; fragranced or active products are kept off for several days. Sessions are spaced about four weeks apart so each cycle of repair can progress. For tethered rolling scars, subcision may be planned first so the scar can lift.
“Depth is chosen for the problem, not for how dramatic the session feels. The forehead and an acne scar should never get the same setting.”
The two are related but do different amounts of work:
| Microneedling | RF microneedling | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Needle injury alone | Needles plus heat at the tip |
| Suits | Texture, fine lines, mild scars | Deeper scars, pores, mild laxity |
| Recovery | Redness for 1–2 days | Redness and grid marks for a few days |
| At IN | Single-use sterile cartridge | Secret Duo platform |
If your concern is deeper boxcar or rolling scarring, enlarged pores or early loosening, RF microneedling is usually the better fit. The comparison is explored further in microneedling vs RF microneedling.
Numbing cream is applied for 30 to 45 minutes first. During treatment most people feel a scratchy vibration; areas over bone, such as the forehead and jawline, are more noticeable than the cheeks. Pinpoint bleeding is expected at scar depths and stops within minutes.
Afterwards the skin feels warm and tight, like mild sunburn, for a few hours.
Day 0. Treatment takes about 30 to 45 minutes after numbing. The skin is red and may show tiny dots of blood, which settle quickly. No make-up for the rest of the day.
Days 1–3. Redness fades over one to two days for most people. Skin feels dry and tight; use the bland moisturiser and sunscreen advised, and avoid retinoids and exfoliating acids.
Week 1. Fine flaking is common. Active skincare can usually be reintroduced at the end of the week.
Weeks 2–4. Collagen remodelling is under way but not yet visible in a meaningful way. The next session is planned at about four weeks.
Review. Change is judged around three months after the last session of a course, using standard photographs.
No. Clinic microneedling uses sterile, single-use needle cartridges at depths chosen for each area and concern, with numbing and medical aftercare. Home rollers have much shorter needles, are reused and are hard to keep sterile. They are designed to help creams absorb rather than to remodel the dermis, so they do a different job.
It can soften mild rolling and shallow boxcar scars over a course of sessions. Deep ice-pick scars, tethered scars and more severe scarring usually need other tools such as TCA CROSS, subcision, CO2 laser or RF microneedling, often combined in a staged plan. Dr Sin Yong identifies each scar type before choosing which to use.
Generally yes. Because the surface is largely preserved, the risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation is lower than with ablative lasers. It is still possible, particularly with aggressive depth or poor sun protection, so depth, aftercare products and strict sunscreen are planned around your skin type, and a gentler first session may be used.
Not over active, inflamed acne. Needling through infected or inflamed skin can spread bacteria, worsen inflammation and raise the chance of new marks. Active acne is brought under control first with medical treatment, and scar treatment follows once breakouts have settled. Isolated small spots may simply be avoided during the session.
Most courses are three to six sessions about four weeks apart. Mild texture concerns usually need fewer; acne scarring needs more and is often combined with other methods. The plan is reviewed after each session, and the overall result is judged with photographs about three months after the final session, when collagen has matured.
Cost depends on the areas treated, the number of sessions in the course, and whether it is combined with other steps such as subcision or skin boosters. IN Eternity Clinic explains the plan and cost at consultation before treatment begins.
IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210. By appointment with Medical Director Dr Sin Yong. Monday to Saturday, 11am to 8pm. WhatsApp or call +65 8815 3008.
These sources describe mechanisms and general evidence. They are not a promise of any individual result; suitability is decided at an in-person assessment.