Microneedling (SkinPen)

SkinPen microneedling — the only FDA-cleared microneedling device — performed at Cienega Medical to address fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, pore size, skin texture, and stretch marks. A full-face session starts at $349 including 30 minutes of topical numbing. Upgrades available with copper peptide serums, PRP (platelet-rich plasma), or exosomes for enhanced collagen induction. Minimal downtime — redness typically resolves within 24–48 hours.

Cienega Medical performs SkinPen microneedling using the SkinPen Precision System by Crown Aesthetics — the first and only FDA-cleared microneedling device in the United States, distinguishing it from the many non-cleared competitors in the market. The SkinPen consists of a sterile, single-use cartridge of 14 fine needles that oscillate vertically at a controlled depth (0.25–2.5 mm, adjustable by the clinician) and speed, creating thousands of micro-channels in the dermis per square centimetre during each session. These controlled micro-injuries trigger the skin's natural wound-healing cascade: growth factor release, fibroblast recruitment, and collagen and elastin neosynthesis over the four to six weeks following each session. The result is progressive improvement in skin texture, fine line depth, acne scar filling (particularly for rolling and boxcar subtypes), pore size reduction, and overall skin quality with a series of sessions. The standard protocol at Cienega Medical includes 30 minutes of topical numbing before the approximately 15–30 minute procedure. The base full-face session is priced at $349. An upgrade with copper peptide serums (which support collagen synthesis signalling) is available at $695–$945 depending on the area; these are infused into the micro-channels immediately post-procedure for enhanced penetration. The PRP microneedling option ($848–$948) combines the SkinPen treatment with a platelet-rich plasma fraction derived from the patient's own blood draw, which is applied topically and driven into the channels by the needles — the growth factors concentrated in the PRP fraction (PDGF, TGF-β, VEGF, EGF) are associated with an amplified collagen-induction response. Exosome microneedling (pricing on booking) uses mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes as the topical active ingredient, representing the newest regenerative approach. A series of three sessions spaced four to six weeks apart is the standard recommendation.