Services
Microneedling
We use controlled micro-injuries to spark your skin's own collagen, smoothing texture and tone over time.
Why choose us
Benefits of Microneedling
Smoother Skin Texture
Microneedling encourages your skin's natural renewal to soften rough texture and refine its overall look.
Softer Scars And Lines
We use controlled micro-channels to help improve the appearance of acne scarring and fine lines over time.
Planned With Your Face
We look at your whole face, so your skin treatments and your smile work together rather than separately.
Minimal Downtime Treatment
Most of our patients return to their routine soon after, with some temporary redness.
Flexible Payment Options
We're a fee-for-service studio that welcomes self-pay patients and offers financing through Cherry.
Fine lines around the eyes, the shallow scarring left behind from teenage acne, enlarged pores across the cheeks and nose, uneven texture that makeup settles into by midday — these are the concerns that bring most people to ask us about microneedling. The treatment works by creating controlled micro-channels in the skin with very fine needles, prompting your body's own repair response to build fresh collagen and elastin. Nothing is added or filled; instead, the skin is encouraged to remodel itself from within over the weeks that follow.
Microneedling is one of the most versatile treatments we offer because it addresses the quality and texture of skin rather than a single line or volume loss. That makes it a natural fit for patients who feel their skin looks tired, rough, or uneven, but who aren't looking for a dramatic change. It pairs well with the other work we do — someone planning porcelain veneers or a smile makeover often finds that improving skin texture around the mouth and midface completes the picture in a way that dentistry alone cannot.
We see a wide range of situations. Patients in their late twenties and thirties often come in for early textural concerns and pore size. Patients in their forties, fifties, and beyond are frequently more focused on crepiness, fine lines, and general firmness. Others are working on acne scarring that has lingered for years. Because microneedling is a collagen-stimulating treatment rather than a resurfacing peel, it can be a comfortable entry point for people who have never had an aesthetic procedure before and want something conservative and measured.
Good candidacy starts with an honest conversation about your skin, your history, and what you actually want to change. During your complimentary consultation, Sarah Garces, NP-C, our Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner and Facial Balancing Specialist, will look at your whole face rather than one isolated area — the same philosophy that shaped this practice from the beginning. If microneedling isn't the right tool for your concern, we will say so and talk through what might serve you better.
A few things are worth knowing before you commit. Microneedling is a progressive treatment: results build gradually as new collagen forms, so it rewards patience and, for many concerns, a series of sessions spaced out over time rather than a single visit. Your skin's condition on the day of treatment matters as well — active breakouts, irritation, or recent sun exposure in the treatment area may mean we reschedule to keep things safe and comfortable. We would rather delay a session than treat skin that isn't ready.
- Uneven skin texture and roughness
- The appearance of enlarged pores
- Fine lines, particularly around the eyes and mouth
- Acne scarring and other textural irregularities
- Overall skin firmness and tone
Aftercare and How Results Develop
The first day or two after microneedling, most people notice redness and a warm, tight feeling similar to a mild sunburn. This is expected — it's the visible sign of the repair process beginning. During this window we ask you to keep the skin clean, keep products simple, and be diligent about sun protection. Active ingredients like retinoids and exfoliating acids are typically paused until your skin has settled, and we'll give you specific timing based on how your skin responds.
Results follow the biology rather than the calendar. Surface smoothness often improves within the first week or two as the initial healing resolves, while the collagen-driven changes in firmness and texture continue developing over the following weeks and months. Because of this, we prefer to evaluate your results across a series rather than judge a single session. Maintenance sessions help preserve what you've built, and we'll map out a realistic schedule together rather than pushing you toward more treatment than you need.
Payment, Financing, and Getting Started
We are an out-of-network, fee-for-service studio and do not bill insurance, which is standard for aesthetic treatments like microneedling. We welcome self-pay and cash patients, and we're straightforward about costs before anything is scheduled — you'll know what your plan involves before you decide. For patients who prefer to spread payments out, we offer financing through Cherry.
Our studio serves patients from Del Mar, Encinitas, La Jolla, Solana Beach, and throughout San Diego. What makes our approach different is that cosmetic dentistry and medical aesthetics live under one roof here, with Darian Anderson, DDS, and Sarah Garces, NP-C, working from a shared plan under the guidance of our Medical Director, Monica Kieu, D.O., FACS. Your consultation is complimentary, and there is no obligation attached to it. We'd love to meet you, look at your skin together, and help you decide whether microneedling belongs in your plan.
The process
What to expect
- 1
Complimentary Consultation
We start with a free consultation to discuss your skin goals and build a plan that fits your face.
- 2
Your Microneedling Session
Sarah performs your treatment in our studio, working carefully across the areas we mapped out together.
- 3
Aftercare And Follow-Up
We send you home with clear aftercare guidance and check in on your progress as your skin responds.