A little clarity before you decide
Skin improvement is a process, not an overnight transformation
If your skin feels uneven or old acne marks keep drawing your attention, microneedling may be worth discussing. A medical microneedling device creates controlled, tiny punctures in the skin. That injury starts a healing response that can support remodeling over time. The aim is improvement in the appearance of a concern, not removal of every pore, scar, or line.
At AB House of Aesthetics, Amardeep Kaur, nurse practitioner and founder, starts with your skin history and what you hope to change. Our Sacramento office serves people from Elk Grove and nearby communities. Your consultation helps separate issues that may respond to microneedling from concerns that need acne care, pigment management, another treatment, or a medical evaluation first.
What microneedling can reasonably address
Certain microneedling devices have FDA clearance for specific uses, including the appearance of facial acne scars and wrinkles. Clearance is device-specific. It does not mean every device, body area, or advertised benefit has been evaluated. The actual device, proposed treatment area, and your age and skin condition all matter when considering a plan.
Texture and shallow depressed acne scars may be part of the conversation. Deeper or tethered scars can need a different approach, and raised scars are not the same problem. Microneedling does not prevent all future aging, erase stretch marks, or guarantee tighter skin. Active acne and inflamed skin need assessment before any decision to needle the area.
For medical background, read FDA: Microneedling devices, uses and combination limitations. Your consultation applies this information to your own health and goals.
What PRP adds to the discussion
Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is prepared from a sample of your own blood. Processing separates a portion containing concentrated platelets. Platelets carry signaling proteins involved in healing. This explains the interest in PRP for skin treatments, but a plausible biological mechanism is not proof that every person will heal faster or achieve a better cosmetic result.
Our existing treatment information describes PRP being applied with microneedling. The FDA has not authorized microneedling devices to deliver blood products such as PRP into the skin, and it has not reviewed the safety or effectiveness of that combination. Adding PRP is not an FDA-approved skin rejuvenation treatment. Evidence and preparation methods vary, so the possible added value, uncertainties, and extra risks deserve their own consent discussion.
Choosing whether treatment fits your skin
A skin assessment considers your tendency to form dark marks, previous scarring, current irritation, and how your skin healed after past procedures. Darker skin tones are not automatically excluded, but inflammation can still trigger pigment changes. A gentler plan or a different option may be more sensible than pursuing the strongest possible treatment.
Tell us about cold sores, skin infections, eczema or psoriasis flares, keloids, diabetes, immune conditions, bleeding disorders, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and all medications or supplements. Recent isotretinoin or other acne therapy also belongs in this conversation. PRP requires a blood draw, so conditions affecting blood or platelets may change whether it is appropriate. A treatment can be delayed while a concern is evaluated.
Preparing for your appointment
Bring your current skincare products or a clear list, including retinoids, acids, acne products, and home exfoliants. Avoid arriving with sunburned, recently tanned, broken, or actively irritated skin. The practice will give you a preparation plan suited to your skin rather than a universal stop-everything schedule. Do not stop prescribed medication without advice from the prescribing clinician.
Discuss upcoming travel, outdoor activities, and important events before setting the date. Your skin will need protection while it heals, and redness may be more visible than you expect. Ask what to do if you develop a cold sore, rash, or breakout before the appointment. A change in skin condition can be a reason to reschedule rather than proceed.
During microneedling, with or without PRP
The skin is cleansed and comfort measures, such as topical numbing, may be used when appropriate. The device passes over the selected area at settings chosen for that plan. You may feel vibration, pressure, warmth, or scratching, and pinpoint bleeding can occur. Treatment depth and appointment length are not fixed promises because different concerns and skin responses require different decisions.
If PRP is included, blood is drawn and processed for your own treatment. Sterile handling and appropriate single-use supplies matter throughout the appointment. Ask how the material will be used and whether any other substance is proposed. This page describes conventional microneedling, not radiofrequency microneedling. A heat-based RF procedure has a different risk profile and should not be assumed to be part of your appointment.
Recovery, skincare, and when to call
Redness, sensitivity, mild swelling, tightness, dryness, and flaking can follow treatment. These often ease over several days, but recovery varies with depth and individual response. A blood draw can cause bruising or lightheadedness. Plan for visible downtime rather than assuming your skin will look ready for makeup or an event immediately afterward.
Follow your written aftercare instructions. Use only the cleanser, moisturizer, and other products approved for your recovery stage. Do not apply acids, retinoids, scrubs, or unapproved serums to freshly treated skin. Ask when makeup, exercise, swimming, and heat exposure are appropriate. Protect healing skin from sun exposure, and use the advised sunscreen when instructed. Do not pick at flaking skin.
Infection, cold sore reactivation, lasting redness, pigment changes, scarring, and reactions to products or anesthetics are possible. Using your own blood does not remove contamination or infection risk. Contact the practice promptly for worsening pain, spreading redness, significant swelling, blisters, drainage, or fever. Severe illness or rapidly progressing symptoms require urgent medical care, not a wait for a routine follow-up.
Results and deciding whether to continue
Early plumpness or redness is not the final result. Remodeling takes time, and meaningful changes may develop gradually over weeks to months. Some concerns need a series, but the number and spacing should follow a response-based plan. PRP does not guarantee fewer sessions or superior results. Before continuing, compare your progress with the goals you agreed on.
Book a Free Consultation at our Sacramento office to discuss your skin and whether microneedling alone or a PRP-based plan makes sense. Ask about alternatives, recovery, and the confirmed cost before deciding. You do not need to choose an add-on to have a useful conversation about your skin.
Your questions, welcomed
Microneedling & PRP FAQs
Does microneedling remove acne scars completely?
No. Some scar types may become less noticeable, but complete removal is not a realistic promise. Scars differ in depth and shape, and active acne should be addressed. Your assessment may identify another treatment or a combination approach as more appropriate.
Is PRP necessary?
No. It is a separate decision, not an automatic requirement for microneedling. Ask what additional benefit is expected in your situation, what evidence supports it, and what the added cost and risks would be. It is reasonable to choose treatment without PRP or not proceed.
Is the microneedling and PRP combination FDA-approved?
No. Certain devices are cleared for specific microneedling uses, but that does not approve combining them with PRP. The FDA has not authorized microneedling devices for delivery of PRP into skin. Those distinctions should be explained before consent.
Can I use my usual skincare immediately?
Not necessarily. Products you tolerate on intact skin can sting or irritate freshly treated skin. Follow the recovery plan and check before restarting active ingredients. At-home needling or extra exfoliation during healing can add injury rather than improve your result.
Will my skin look better by the next day?
It may still look red or swollen. Collagen-related changes are gradual, so next-day appearance should not be used to judge success. Allow recovery time and review progress at the interval recommended for your individual plan.
Is a standard aesthetic consultation free?
Yes. All standard aesthetic consultations are completely free ($0), with no reservation deposit, consultation fee, credit card requirement or obligation to purchase treatment. Treatment costs are separate and will be discussed before any treatment is performed.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule my consultation?
We kindly request at least 24 hours’ notice as a courtesy. Free consultations have no cancellation or no-show fees. Clients arriving more than 10 minutes late may need to reschedule. Repeated no-shows may result in restricted online scheduling, with future appointments arranged directly through our office. Contact the practice at 916-910-0018 to change your appointment.
Explore related options
Different concerns can need different approaches. These pages explain related choices to discuss, not treatments you automatically need.
Prepare for your first visit or meet nurse practitioner and founder Amardeep Kaur.
Visit our Sacramento practice
Find AB House of Aesthetics at 7501 Hospital Drive, Suite 205, Sacramento, CA 95823. This is our only office. We welcome patients from Elk Grove and nearby communities at this Sacramento location.
Bring your questions, your relevant medical history, and the changes you hope to see. We will discuss suitability, alternatives, risks, recovery, and the cost of your individual plan before treatment. You can take time to decide.
Contact the practice or call 916-910-0018. For severe or rapidly worsening symptoms after treatment, seek urgent medical assessment rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
Book a Free Consultation