Microneedling · Battersea SW11
Microneedling in Battersea. Your own collagen, brought up to the surface.
Lower pigment risk than laser, by design. Microneedling works with your skin's own repair, not against your melanin, so it is one of the safer ways to treat acne scars and texture in Fitzpatrick IV to VI. We use the Dr Pen M8s and the medical-grade Dermapen 4, paired with hyaluronic acid, polynucleotides or PRP. Delivered by our founder Arman Zaki, GMC-registered Physician Associate, and Vicki, Aesthetic Practitioner.
Collagen induction for acne scars, texture, pores, fine lines and a glass-skin glow. Results build over a course, and in darker skin we go shallower, with fewer passes and careful aftercare. Our Battersea studio sits in the Wandsworth borough of South West London, 10 to 14 minutes' walk from Clapham Junction.
Microneedling at a glance
What it is
Microneedling, or collagen induction therapy, uses fine needles to make controlled micro-channels, prompting your skin to lay down new collagen. It may improve acne scars, texture, pores, fine lines and tone over a course. A non-prescription cosmetic treatment.
The serums we pair
Through the micro-channels we pair a barrier-safe serum: usually hyaluronic acid for a glass-skin finish, or polynucleotides or your own PRP where indicated. We do not apply vitamin C or acids to freshly needled skin.
Who delivers it
Arman Zaki, GMC-registered Physician Associate (Ref A8131967), and Vicki Lefeuve, Aesthetic Practitioner. Every plan is led by Arman at consultation.
Skin of Colour
Fitzpatrick I to VI. Because microneedling spares the surface and does not target melanin, it carries a lower risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation than laser or deep peels. We still go shallower and gentler in deeper tones.
Price
From £99.99. Hydration Boost £99.99, Korean Glass Skin Protocol £150 (£399 for a course of three), Dermapen 4 Advanced £190 (£540 for three). On Treatwell. Prices verified 16 June 2026.
Where
Melatone Skin Clinic, Unit 13A, Battersea Business Centre, 99-109 Lavender Hill, London SW11 5QL. 10 to 14 minutes' walk from Clapham Junction station.
Outcomes may vary by skin type and individual factors. Aesthetic results are not guaranteed. Treatments delivered in line with MHRA guidance for non-surgical cosmetic procedures and the ASA / CAP Code Section 12 requirements for medical aesthetic advertising. 18 and over only.
How we use microneedling
A course, not a one-off. Collagen takes its time.
Why a course
New collagen builds over months.
A single session plumps and hydrates, but the real change in scars and texture comes from new collagen, which your skin lays down and remodels over one to six months. So scar and texture work is built on a course of three to six sessions about four weeks apart, with maintenance after. A single session is always available. Individual results vary.
Skin of Colour, done properly
Lower pigment risk, not no risk.
Microneedling is one of the safer resurfacing options for Fitzpatrick IV to VI because it spares most of the surface and does not target melanin, unlike laser or deep peels. But deeper skin can still react, so we go shallower, use fewer passes, spread the work across more sessions, and insist on strict broad spectrum SPF 50 for seven days. Honest care beats an aggressive setting.
Fun fact
Microneedling doesn't add collagen.
It talks your skin into making its own.
Those tiny needle channels flip your skin into repair mode, so it grows fresh collagen all on its own, the scaffolding that keeps skin firm and smooth. The clever part: it rebuilds deep down while the surface stays intact. In the original study, skin was about 40% thicker a year on, and people rated themselves 60 to 80% better. Your skin does the building. We just set the conditions.
Evidence via PubMed. El-Domyati et al., Int J Dermatol 2015, doi:10.1111/ijd.12761; Aust et al., Plast Reconstr Surg 2008, doi:10.1097/01.prs.0000304612.72899.02. Findings come from studies on aging and photoaged skin; individual results vary.
The pens and the serums
Two professional pens. Serums chosen for safety, not hype.
Dr Pen M8s
The precise professional pen
- · Adjustable depth 0.25 to 2.5 mm, six speed settings
- · Fine needle and nano cartridge options, for needling or gentle nano-infusion
- · Cordless and rechargeable, with a single-use, back-flow-protected cartridge each time
Our workhorse for hydration, glass-skin and general texture work.
Dermapen 4 · Medical-grade
The medical device, for advanced work
- · FDA 510(k)-cleared and CE marked Class II medical device
- · AOVN vertical needling, up to 1,920 micro-channels a second, depth to 3.0 mm
- · RFID-coded single-use cartridges with an anti-contamination system
Reserved for more advanced acne scarring and texture, paired with polynucleotides or PRP.
What we pair through the channels
Barrier-safe by design.
Hyaluronic acid is our default: the body's own humectant, barrier-safe, and the source of the hydrated, glass-skin finish. Polynucleotides (a fibroblast scaffold) or your own PRP are paired where indicated, absorbed through the fresh micro-channels. More on polynucleotides.
What we do not put on freshly needled skin
No vitamin C, no acids.
A freshly micro-channelled barrier is open and reactive. We deliberately avoid vitamin C, retinoids, acids and fragranced or oil-based serums during treatment, because on compromised skin these can irritate and, rarely, cause granulomas. Microneedling devices are cleared for the skin itself, not as a way to drive cosmeceuticals into it, so safety leads our choice every time.
Who delivers your microneedling
A GMC-registered Physician Associate, and a skin specialist alongside.
Microneedling is delivered by Arman Zaki, our founder and GMC-registered Physician Associate, and by Vicki Lefeuve, Aesthetic Practitioner. Every patient's plan is led by Arman at consultation, with aseptic technique and a written aftercare plan, every time.
Founder · GMC-registered Physician Associate
Arman Zaki
Founder of Melatone Skin Clinic and GMC-registered Physician Associate (Ref A8131967). BSc Biomedical Science and PgDip Physician Associate Studies, with years of NHS general practice experience and a declared special interest in regenerative skin and pigmentation in Fitzpatrick IV to VI skin. Leads every patient's consultation and plan.
Read Arman's full profile →Aesthetic Practitioner
Vicki Lefeuve
Aesthetic Practitioner and skin specialist at Melatone. Delivers microneedling alongside Arman, as well as skin boosters, chemical peels and skin quality treatments, under the clinic's clinical governance with Arman as supervising clinician. A careful, unhurried approach to the skin.
Read Vicki's full profile →"Microneedling rewards restraint. The right depth, the right serum, and a barrier you respect. In darker skin, that judgement is the whole treatment."
Arman Zaki, Founder and GMC-registered Physician Associate
The evidence, honestly stated
The evidence, and the honest limits.
Microneedling has good evidence for atrophic acne scars and a notably favourable safety profile in darker skin. According to research indexed on PubMed, a systematic review of randomised trials found microneedling effective for atrophic acne scars with no serious adverse effects, and a dedicated review concluded it is favourable in skin of colour with minimal adverse events. For melasma, the evidence supports microneedling only as an adjunct to topical care, not a standalone fix, and pigment can still react, so we treat melasma conservatively. We are equally honest that exosomes, while promising, are still early-stage and not an approved topical.
Citations (PubMed)
Cohen BE, Elbuluk N. (2016). Microneedling in skin of color: a review of uses and efficacy. J Am Acad Dermatol. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.09.024.
Sitohang IBS, et al. (2021). Microneedling in the treatment of atrophic scars: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Int Wound J. doi:10.1111/iwj.13559.
Bailey AJM, et al. (2022). Microneedling as an adjuvant to topical therapies for melasma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2021.03.116.
Handal M, et al. (2023). Sarcoidal granulomatous reaction to microneedling with vitamin C serum. JAAD Case Rep. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2023.04.015.
Source: peer-reviewed literature indexed on PubMed. Microneedling may improve the appearance of scars, texture and tone; results build over a course and individual results vary. Outcomes are not guaranteed. See also our Skin of Colour clinic and polynucleotides.
Finding us in Battersea
Unit 13A, Battersea Business Centre, SW11 5QL.
South side of Lavender Hill at the junction with Latchmere Road. 10 to 14 minutes' walk from Clapham Junction, or a short bus from Battersea Park station. Bus routes that stop on Lavender Hill: 77, 87, 156, 345 (night services N77 and N345).
In the London Borough of Wandsworth, central to South West London and within easy reach of Clapham, Battersea, Chelsea, Wandsworth, Brixton, Vauxhall, Pimlico, Putney and Stockwell.
FAQs from Battersea patients
Common questions.
Is microneedling safe for darker skin tones and Skin of Colour?
Yes, and it is one of the safer resurfacing options for deeper skin. Because microneedling spares most of the epidermis and does not target melanin the way laser or deep peels do, it carries a lower risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation in Fitzpatrick IV to VI. According to research on PubMed, a 2016 review in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found microneedling favourable in skin of colour with minimal adverse events (Cohen and Elbuluk, doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.09.024). Lower risk is not no risk, so we use shallower depth, fewer passes, and careful aftercare.
What does microneedling treat?
Microneedling may improve the appearance of acne scars, skin texture, enlarged pores, fine lines and uneven tone, and is used as an adjunct for melasma. It works by prompting your own collagen, so change is progressive and builds over a course rather than from a single session. Individual results vary.
Which device do you use, Dr Pen M8s or Dermapen 4?
Both. The Dr Pen M8s is a precise professional pen with adjustable depth (0.25 to 2.5 mm), multiple speeds and nano cartridge options. The Dermapen 4 is a medical-grade device, FDA 510(k)-cleared and CE marked, with vertical AOVN needling and single-use anti-contamination cartridges. We choose the device and depth for your skin and concern.
What serums do you use with microneedling?
Most often hyaluronic acid, which is barrier-safe and supports a hydrated, glass-skin finish. Where indicated we pair polynucleotides or your own PRP, absorbed through the micro-channels. We deliberately do not apply vitamin C or other actives to freshly needled skin, because on a compromised barrier they can irritate and, rarely, cause granulomas. Microneedling devices are cleared for the skin itself, not as a way to drive in cosmeceuticals, so what we apply is chosen for safety first.
How many sessions do I need?
Collagen builds cumulatively, so a course of three to six sessions about four weeks apart is typical, with results developing over one to six months. A single session gives a glow and hydration; the course is what builds a more visible change in scars and texture. Individual results vary.
Who delivers microneedling at Melatone?
Microneedling is delivered by Arman Zaki, our founder and GMC-registered Physician Associate (Ref A8131967), and by Vicki Lefeuve, Aesthetic Practitioner. Every patient's plan is led by Arman at consultation.
Does it hurt, and how much does it cost in Battersea?
A numbing cream is used for comfort; afterwards the skin is usually pink for a day or two, and strict SPF 50 is essential for seven days. Pricing is from £99.99: Hydration Boost £99.99, Korean Glass Skin Protocol £150 (or £399 for a course of three), and the Dermapen 4 Advanced Protocol £190 (or £540 for three). Bookable on Treatwell. Prices verified 16 June 2026.
Editor's choice reading
Before you book a course.
Skin of Colour pillar
Why microneedling is one of the safer choices for Fitzpatrick IV to VI.
Our clinic for darker skin tones, where lower pigment risk is the whole point.
Journal
The at-home routine for pigmentation in skin of colour.
How to protect the result between sessions, with SPF 50 and barrier-safe care.
Journal
Polynucleotides, and when each regenerative option makes sense.
The fibroblast scaffold we pair through the channels on the Dermapen 4 protocol.
Microneedling · From £99.99 · Dr Pen & Dermapen 4