Microneedling in Houston, TX
SkinPen microneedling on its own or with PRP from your own blood, for texture, pores, and fine lines.
- SkinPen from $400
- 250+ five star reviews
- Nurse practitioner led, Galleria area
Microneedling can improve skin texture, pore appearance, fine lines, and sun damage by prompting your skin to build new collagen. At Derma Theory Aesthetics Clinic and Academy, a nurse practitioner owned and led regenerative aesthetics clinic in the Galleria area of Houston, we offer SkinPen microneedling on its own or with PRP (platelet rich plasma) made from your own blood.
Microneedling sits within the regenerative side of our practice, alongside PRF, EZ Gel, and The PRF Facial, all of which ask your own skin to rebuild. Pricing starts at $400 for a SkinPen session and is listed in full further down this page.
Who Microneedling Is For
Microneedling is usually the right treatment for someone coming out of a Houston summer with rougher texture, more visible pores, and sun damage that a good skincare routine has stopped improving. It suits the person who cares more about skin quality than about volume and wants to understand the difference between SkinPen on its own and microneedling with PRP before she books.
We screen before every treatment. Microneedling may not be appropriate if you have an active infection or breakouts in the treatment area, a history of keloids or abnormal scarring, or are pregnant or breastfeeding. For microneedling with PRP, we also screen for bleeding disorders and for medications that may increase bleeding risk. This is not a complete list, and your assessment confirms candidacy first.
How Microneedling Works
Microneedling works by creating controlled microchannels in the skin, which your body reads as a signal to repair. That repair response produces new collagen (the protein that gives skin its structure) and elastin (the protein that lets skin stretch and recover). Over the following weeks, the surface tends to look smoother and more even.
We use the SkinPen Precision device, which the FDA cleared in 2018. The needle cartridge is single use. A 2018 review in Dermatologic Surgery by Alster and Graham describes the mechanism plainly: controlled dermal wounding stimulates the wound healing cascade, which enhances collagen production and is likely responsible for the clinical results.
SkinPen microneedling on its own is often the starting point for surface texture, pores, fine lines, and early sun damage. The change builds over a series rather than after one session, and results vary between individuals.
Microneedling With PRP
Microneedling with PRP pairs SkinPen microneedling with platelet rich plasma (PRP) made from a small sample of your own blood. We draw the blood and spin it in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets and growth factors, then apply the PRP to the skin during and after microneedling, while the microchannels are open, to support the repair response the needling has started. The PRP is applied to the skin, not injected.
Microneedling with PRP is $550 for a single session, $150 more than SkinPen alone, or $1,400 for a series of three. If you want platelets injected across the whole face and under the eyes instead, that is The PRF Facial, a separate treatment.
SkinPen and Microneedling With PRP Compared
The two options differ in what is added to the needling, which decides the concern each one suits.
| SkinPen microneedling | Microneedling with PRP | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Controlled microchannels prompt new collagen and elastin | The same microchannels, with your own platelet rich plasma applied to the skin during and after |
| Suited to | Surface texture, pores, fine lines, early sun damage, acne scarring | Overall skin quality, tone, and radiance, alongside everything SkinPen addresses |
| Sessions commonly recommended | Three, about four weeks apart | Three, about four weeks apart |
| Downtime | Redness and mild swelling, 24 to 48 hours | Redness and mild swelling, 24 to 48 hours |
| Price at Derma Theory | $400, additional area $150 | $550 single, $1,400 for three |
Which Microneedling Is Right for Me?
The right option depends on the concern you notice most, and your assessment is where we confirm it.
Surface texture and pores. SkinPen on its own is usually the place to start, because it works at the surface layer where texture and pores live.
Acne scars. Microneedling can soften the appearance of acne scarring over a series. Deeper, pitted scars often need more sessions, and we tell you at your assessment what a series can realistically change.
Dullness and overall skin quality. Microneedling with PRP suits this well, and for some patients The PRF Facial fits better. It places platelet rich fibrin by injection across the whole face including the under eye area, and it is the stronger choice when tired under eyes are part of the concern. Read more on our PRF Facial in Houston page.
When to Book a Microneedling Series in Houston
Fall and winter are good seasons to start a microneedling series in Houston, because peak sun is behind you. Freshly needled skin is more sensitive to sun, so a series started after summer is easier to protect.
We recommend three sessions about four weeks apart for both SkinPen and microneedling with PRP, so a full series takes about eight weeks. Wear sun protection every day after each session, and plan your final session at least two weeks before any event so redness has settled.
Also on the Menu: AquaGold
AquaGold is a microinfusion treatment, $500 for a single session, that delivers a customized blend just beneath the surface of the skin through a stamp of very fine needles. The blend includes vitamin C, glutathione, vitamin B12, SKINVIVE for hydration, and a neuromodulator, delivered superficially with the AquaGold device. It works more shallowly than SkinPen microneedling, with little to no downtime, and is chosen for hydration and radiance rather than scarring. Results vary between individuals.
What to Expect at Your Appointment
A microneedling appointment at our Houston clinic takes about 60 minutes, including numbing. We apply a topical numbing cream first, included at no additional charge, and most patients describe the sensation as pressure with some warmth. For microneedling with PRP, the appointment starts with a small blood draw.
Afterward, expect redness and mild swelling for 24 to 48 hours. There is nothing to see the same day. New collagen forms over the weeks that follow, so the change arrives gradually, and results vary between individuals.
Why Derma Theory
Microneedling at Derma Theory is performed by a licensed member of our clinical team, in a practice founded and led by Victoria Derdari, APRN, FNP-C, an advanced practice registered nurse and board certified family nurse practitioner who also trains injectors through Derma Theory Aesthetics Academy. You can verify her license directly with the Texas Board of Nursing. Derma Theory has more than 250 five star reviews on Google.
The practice is built around facial balancing, so our approach starts with your whole face, not with a device. Many patients leave a consultation with a different plan than the one they came in asking for, and that is the point.
Microneedling Pricing in Houston
- SkinPen microneedling: $400
- Additional area (face, neck, or chest): $150
- Microneedling with PRP, single session: $550
- Microneedling with PRP, series of three: $1,400
- AquaGold Facial: $500
Financing is available through Cherry, PatientFi, and Affirm.
Microneedling Frequently Asked Questions
How much does microneedling cost in Houston?
Microneedling at Derma Theory in Houston is $400 for a SkinPen session, with an additional area for $150. Microneedling with PRP is $550 for a single session or $1,400 for a series of three.
How many microneedling sessions do I need?
Most patients start with a series of three sessions about four weeks apart, because each session builds on the last. We confirm the right number for your skin at your assessment.
Is there downtime after microneedling?
Microneedling has no to minimal downtime. Expect redness and mild swelling for 24 to 48 hours. Most patients return to normal activity the next day with sun protection.
Does microneedling hurt?
Most patients tolerate microneedling well. We apply a topical numbing cream first, included in the price, and the sensation is usually described as pressure with some warmth.
Is microneedling safe for darker skin tones?
Microneedling may be an option for deeper skin tones, and we decide it at your assessment rather than in advance. Skin that tans easily or has a history of dark marks after breakouts carries a higher chance of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (darkening after the skin is irritated), so depth and skin preparation are chosen with that in mind. Microneedling is not right for every skin.
Is the PRP injected in microneedling with PRP?
No. In microneedling with PRP, the platelet rich plasma is applied to the skin during and after microneedling. Injected platelet treatments, such as PRF under the eyes and The PRF Facial, are separate treatments.
What is the difference between microneedling with PRP and The PRF Facial?
Microneedling with PRP applies platelet rich plasma to the skin during and after needling. The PRF Facial injects platelet rich fibrin across the whole face including the under eye area, with no needling. Both use your own blood. The PRF Facial is $1,000 per session, and microneedling with PRP is $550.
How soon before an event should I book microneedling?
Book your final session at least two weeks before the event. For a full series of three, start about ten weeks ahead so the last session lands two weeks out and the redness has settled.
Book Microneedling in Houston
If you are considering microneedling in Houston, the next step is to book, so we can look at your skin and confirm which option fits.
Derma Theory is at 3033 Chimney Rock Rd, Suite 105, Houston, TX 77056, in the Galleria area. Spanish translation assistance is available for consultations.
Sources
- Alster TS, Graham PM. “Microneedling: A Review and Practical Guide.” Dermatologic Surgery, 2018;44(3):397 to 404. PMID 28796657. PubMed
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. De Novo classification DEN160029, SkinPen Precision System, Bellus Medical, granted March 1, 2018.
