SkinPen microneedling, your skin’s own repair, awakened.
A controlled, minimally-invasive treatment that prompts your skin to rebuild collagen and elastin from within — performed in a medical setting with SkinPen, the first FDA-cleared microneedling device. Smoother texture, refined pores, softer scars. Serving Lakeway, Bee Cave, Lake Travis & greater Austin.
Repair that comes from inside the skin.
Microneedling is a controlled, minimally-invasive cosmetic treatment in which a precision device passes very fine needles through the surface of the skin to create thousands of microscopic channels. Each tiny channel is a signal — one your body reads as a cue to begin its natural repair process. The result is fresh collagen and elastin, laid down gradually in the weeks that follow, by the skin itself.
At THRIVE we perform microneedling with SkinPen, the first microneedling device to earn FDA clearance. Because the treatment works with your own biology rather than resurfacing the skin from the outside, it tends to feel like a refinement — gradual, natural-looking improvement — rather than a dramatic overhaul. That philosophy of natural results is at the heart of how we practice.
- iMinimally invasive. Fine micro-channels at a controlled depth — not a peel or a laser.
- iiCollagen-driven. It prompts your own collagen and elastin to rebuild over time.
- iiiIndividualized. Depth, areas, and series are tailored to your skin and goals.
Collagen induction therapy, explained simply.
Microneedling is often called collagen induction therapy, and the name captures exactly what it does. The micro-channels created by SkinPen are superficial and close quickly, but they trigger a cascade your body already knows by heart — the same orderly wound-healing response it uses to repair and renew tissue every day.
The micro-channel
SkinPen’s fine, sterile needles move at a precise speed and depth chosen by your provider for the area being treated. The channels they create are tiny and controlled, which is what separates a medical treatment from an at-home roller. That precision is also why it matters that microneedling is performed by a trained provider in a clinical setting rather than improvised at home.
The repair response
In response to those micro-channels, the skin releases growth factors and begins producing new collagen and elastin — the structural proteins that keep skin firm, smooth, and resilient and that naturally decline with age and sun exposure. As that fresh framework builds over the following weeks, texture softens, tone evens, and the skin looks more refreshed. It’s worth understanding the timeline here: the visible “wow” isn’t on treatment day — it arrives gradually as that new collagen organizes and matures, which is why the result tends to look like your own skin, only better, rather than something obviously “done.”
Why it can be paired with serums
The same micro-channels that signal repair can also help the skin take up well-chosen topical serums applied during or after treatment. Your provider will recommend appropriate products for your skin; not every serum is suited to freshly treated skin, which is another reason a medical setting matters.
The concerns that bring people in — and what improvement looks like.
Most people don’t arrive asking for “collagen induction.” They arrive frustrated by skin that looks rough, dull, or scarred, by pores that seem larger than they used to, or by fine lines that makeup keeps settling into. Microneedling is a versatile, whole-surface approach to many of these everyday skin concerns, and it can be used on the face as well as other areas of the body.
Common concerns microneedling can address
Microneedling is considered when the goal is to refine the skin’s surface and stimulate renewal. The concerns we hear about most often include:
- Fine lines and early signs of aging
- Uneven texture and tone that looks rough or dull
- Enlarged or visible pores
- Acne scars and other scarring, including some surgical and stretch-related scars
- Mild skin laxity and loss of firmness
- Overall radiance — that fresher, healthier-looking glow
How much improvement you’ll see depends on your skin, the concern, and the number of sessions — which is exactly what we map out together. Microneedling is a cosmetic treatment, and individual results vary; we don’t make guarantees, and we’ll set realistic expectations from the first visit.
Not all microneedling is the same.
Microneedling has become common, but the device and the setting matter enormously — both for your safety and for your results. THRIVE uses SkinPen, the first microneedling device cleared by the FDA, performed by a trained provider in a medical clinic. It’s a meaningful difference from the cosmetic pens and home rollers that flooded the market.
An FDA-cleared medical device
SkinPen’s FDA clearance reflects testing for safety and performance as a microneedling device. It uses single-use, sterile needle cartridges and a controlled mechanism designed for consistent, hygienic treatment — the kind of standards that belong in a clinical environment, not a bathroom counter.
Performed in a medical setting
In our Lakeway clinic, your treatment is performed by a trained provider who assesses your skin, sets the right depth for each area, and follows sterile protocol throughout. Depth isn’t a one-setting affair — the delicate skin around the eyes calls for a different approach than thicker, more textured areas or acne scarring, and a provider adjusts in real time. That medical oversight is what makes microneedling both effective and safe, and it’s why a true assessment always comes first.
Individualized, natural-looking results
Rather than a fixed routine, your plan — the areas treated, the depth, and how many sessions you’ll need — is built around your skin and your goals. The aim is natural refinement that looks like your skin on a very good day, consistent with THRIVE’s whole approach to aesthetic treatments.
Assessed, treated, and maintained.
A real medical process — never a treatment you start without an assessment.
Consult & Assess
A medical assessment of your skin, history, and goals to confirm microneedling is the right fit.
- Skin evaluation
- Goal & history review
- Candidacy screening
- Personalized plan
Treat (Series)
SkinPen treatment in our clinic, typically as a short series spaced weeks apart for best results.
- Numbing cream applied
- ~30–60 minute session
- Provider-set depth
- Optional serums
Reveal & Maintain
Collagen rebuilds over the following weeks; we plan maintenance to keep results going.
- Simple aftercare
- Gradual improvement
- Progress review
- Maintenance sessions
From first visit to that fresh-skin glow.
The appointment
Treatment is done right in our Lakeway clinic. After your skin is cleansed, a topical numbing cream is applied and given time to take effect, so the session is comfortable for most people. The SkinPen pass itself usually takes around thirty to sixty minutes depending on the areas treated, and you drive yourself home afterward.
The first few days
Expect your skin to look and feel like a mild-to-moderate sunburn for a day or two — some redness and warmth, occasionally light flaking as it settles. This is a normal part of the process and typically fades quickly. Aftercare is simple: gentle cleansing, the products your provider recommends, and diligent sun protection while your skin recovers. Downtime is generally minimal, though it varies from person to person.
The timeline of results
Collagen doesn’t form overnight — it rebuilds. Many people notice a fresher look within a couple of weeks, with texture, tone, and firmness continuing to improve over the following weeks as new collagen and elastin mature. Because results build with each session, microneedling is most often done as a short series spaced several weeks apart, with maintenance over time. Results vary, and your provider will give you a realistic timeline for your skin.
Where microneedling fits in your bigger picture
Skin rarely responds to one thing in isolation. Microneedling pairs naturally with red light therapy and our broader approach to skin rejuvenation, complements medical-grade facials, and sits comfortably alongside relaxers like Botox and Dysport or dermal fillers — building a complete skin plan rather than a single treatment.
Honest fit, real expectations.
Microneedling is one of several options within our aesthetic treatments, and the best choice depends on you. Some skins and concerns respond beautifully to microneedling; others do better with a different approach or a combination — and we’ll be candid about the trade-offs.
Microneedling is often a good fit for people who
- Want to improve texture, tone, pores, fine lines, or the appearance of scars.
- Prefer a minimally-invasive treatment that works with their own collagen.
- Are comfortable with a short series and gradual, natural-looking improvement.
- Value a medical setting and a treatment performed by a trained provider.
Microneedling may not be the answer when
Certain conditions mean microneedling isn’t appropriate, or calls for caution — for example active acne breakouts, active skin infections, certain skin conditions, or some medical and medication histories. That’s exactly what the consultation and skin assessment are for; if microneedling isn’t right for you, we’ll recommend what is.
The THRIVE difference
Boutique, provider-directed care from Kristine Kjolhede, FNP-C and the THRIVE team — FDA-cleared SkinPen, a medical setting, and a genuinely individualized plan, for people across Lakeway, Bee Cave, Spicewood, Westlake, Lake Travis, and greater Austin. Ongoing care is simple with our membership.
How microneedling compares to peels, lasers, and facials.
Skin rejuvenation can be approached several ways, and each has a place. The right choice is the one that fits your skin, your concern, and your life — here’s an honest comparison.
Chemical peels
Peels work from the surface, removing the outer layers to reveal fresher skin beneath. They can be excellent for tone and superficial texture, but they resurface from the outside and the downtime and suitability vary with the depth of the peel.
Laser resurfacing
Lasers use heat and light energy and can deliver powerful results, but they often involve more downtime, more cost, and more considerations around skin tone and sun exposure. They’re a different tool for different goals.
Medical-grade facials
Our medical-grade facials are wonderful for regular maintenance, hydration, and glow, and they pair beautifully with microneedling — but they don’t stimulate deep collagen rebuilding the way a microneedling series does.
SkinPen microneedling
Microneedling trades surface resurfacing for collagen induction from within — minimally invasive, generally minimal downtime, and natural-looking improvement built over a series. For people who want texture, pores, scars, and overall radiance addressed by their own skin’s repair process, it’s often the most satisfying option. We’ll walk you through all of it and recommend honestly.
Microneedling done the right way.
Microneedling is safe and effective when it’s performed with the right device, by a trained provider, on the right candidate — and that’s exactly how we practice. It is never a treatment we start without first assessing your skin.
Assessment before treatment
We start with a medical assessment of your skin, your goals, and your history before recommending anything. That step confirms you’re a good candidate, identifies anything that needs caution, and lets us plan the right depth, areas, and number of sessions for you.
A clinical, sterile setting
Treatment uses the FDA-cleared SkinPen device with single-use sterile cartridges, in a medical clinic with proper protocol throughout. The temporary redness afterward is expected and normal; serious issues are uncommon when microneedling is done correctly and aftercare is followed, and your provider reviews all of this with you.
When microneedling isn’t appropriate
Some skins and histories — including active acne or infection and certain conditions — mean microneedling isn’t the right choice, or calls for extra caution. We’ll always tell you honestly and, when relevant, coordinate with your other providers. Informed, shared decision-making is the standard, and results vary from person to person.
Microneedling, answered.
Straight answers from our provider. If your question isn’t here, we’ll cover it in a consultation.
Ask KristineSkin rejuvenation, rooted in Lakeway.
Our clinic at the edge of Lake Travis serves Bee Cave, Westlake, Spicewood, and greater Austin — private, provider-directed, and focused on natural-looking results for your skin.
“My skin looks smoother and brighter than it has in years, and it still looks like me. The team made the whole thing easy.”— THRIVE patient, Lakeway TX
Ready for skin that looks refreshed and renewed?
Start with a consultation and skin assessment. We’ll tell you honestly whether SkinPen microneedling is right for you — and build a plan around your skin, your concerns, and your goals.
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