The neck often shows change before the face does: horizontal lines, a crepey texture, and a tone that no longer quite matches the face. Microneedling is one of the few treatments that can be used on the face and neck in the same visit, and there is now trial evidence for the neck specifically.
Why the neck shows change early.
Neck skin is thinner than facial skin and tends to show dryness and fine creasing early. Horizontal neck lines are partly structural, from the way the skin folds every time you look down, which is why some people notice them in their twenties. Crepey texture is mostly about skin quality: thinner, drier skin that springs back less.
What microneedling does on the neck.
Microneedling uses a pen of fine needles to make thousands of tiny, controlled channels in the skin. The skin's repair response to those channels lays down new collagen over the following weeks, which is why change builds over a course rather than after one visit (Ramaut et al., 2018). A serum chosen for your skin is pressed in through the channels while they are open.
What the evidence shows.
- A trial on the neck. In a 2022 study, 35 adults had four monthly microneedling sessions, and 32 completed it. At 90 days, blinded raters comparing before and after photos found a significant improvement in neck wrinkles, and 68.8 percent of participants reported some improvement in their appearance (Alqam et al., 2022).
- Who paid for it. That study was sponsored by the maker of the pen it used, and it had no untreated comparison group. It is encouraging, not definitive.
- The wider picture. A systematic review found microneedling effective for scars and wrinkles, with minimal side effects and short downtime, while noting weaknesses in how many of the studies were run (Ramaut et al., 2018).
- Face and neck reviews. A 2024 review of collagen induction for the face and neck reached a similar view: promising, with larger, better powered trials still needed (Carver, Rashid and Shuker, 2024).
How we treat the neck at Melatone.
- Gentler on the neck. Neck skin is thinner, so we use a shallower depth and fewer passes than on the face.
- The session. A consultation with Arman Zaki, GMC-registered Physician Associate, numbing cream, microneedling with the Dr Pen M8s professional pen, a serum chosen for your skin (hyaluronic acid, or LUMI-MESO Bright for dark marks), a red LED light finish and progress photos. About 75 minutes for face and neck.
- The course. Three sessions about four weeks apart, with your next visit booked before you leave and a free follow-up skin check four weeks after the third.
Darker skin tones: what changes.
Microneedling does not use heat and does not target pigment, which is why it carries a lower risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation than lasers and deep peels in skin of colour (Cohen and Elbuluk, 2016). Lower risk is not no risk. In Fitzpatrick IV to VI skin we go shallower, may patch test first, and ask for strict SPF 50 for seven days, including on the neck, which is easy to forget.
What it will not do.
Microneedling does not tighten loose, hanging skin, remove fat under the chin, or soften the vertical bands of the neck muscle. If one of those is your main concern, we will say so at your consultation and talk through what can help.
Prices.
- Face and neck microneedling: £250 a session (about 75 minutes).
- Course of three: £665, which is £85 less than three single sessions.
- Not sure yet: a £30 consultation, deducted from your first treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Does microneedling work on neck lines?
It may improve the appearance of neck lines and crepey skin over a course. In a 2022 trial of four monthly sessions on the neck, blinded raters found a significant improvement in neck wrinkles at 90 days. The study was sponsored by the device maker and had no untreated group, and individual results vary.
How many microneedling sessions does the neck need?
Most people choose a course of three sessions about four weeks apart, with results building over the following months. The 2022 neck trial used four monthly sessions.
Does microneedling on the neck hurt?
Numbing cream goes on first, so most people feel a vibrating, scratchy sensation rather than pain. The neck is usually pink for a day or two afterwards.
Is neck microneedling suitable for darker skin?
Yes. Microneedling is suitable for all skin types, including Fitzpatrick V and VI. On deeper skin we use a gentler depth and fewer passes, may patch test first, and ask for strict SPF 50 for seven days to lower the risk of dark marks.
How much is face and neck microneedling in London?
At Melatone in Battersea, face and neck microneedling is £250 a session, or £665 for a course of three, which is £85 less than three single sessions. A £30 consultation is deducted from your first treatment.
References (Harvard)
- Alqam, M. et al. (2022) 'Efficacy and tolerability of a microneedling device for treating wrinkles on the neck', Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 42(10), pp. 1154 to 1160. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjac085. PubMed: 35397167.
- Ramaut, L. et al. (2018) 'Microneedling: where do we stand now? A systematic review of the literature', Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, 71(1), pp. 1 to 14. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2017.06.006. PubMed: 28690124.
- Carver, C., Rashid, Z. and Shuker, S. (2024) 'Microneedling versus microcoring: a review of percutaneous collagen induction for the face and neck', Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 23(5), pp. 1541 to 1550. doi: 10.1111/jocd.16175. PubMed: 38196306.
- Cohen, B.E. and Elbuluk, N. (2016) 'Microneedling in skin of color: a review of uses and efficacy', Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 74(2), pp. 348 to 355. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.09.024. PubMed: 26549251.