At-Home Microneedling Vs. Professional: What You Should Know

January 29, 2026

At-Home Microneedling Vs. Professional: What You Should Know

At-home microneedling devices have recently gained popularity online and many patients wonder if they should join this trend and try doing their microneedling treatment at home without professional supervision.

If you’re thinking about getting a microneedling treatment and wondering whether to choose at-home microneedling or get your microneedling treatment in-office, you’re not alone. Both microneedling approaches are widely discussed, but they serve different skin goals and safety needs. At Aesthetica, our team prioritizes education and safety for best results. Here’s what you need to understand when choosing between at-home microneedling vs. in-office microneedling.

What Is Microneedling & How It Works

Microneedling involves creating controlled micro-injuries in the skin to trigger healing responses and encourage collagen and elastin production. It’s used to help smooth skin texture, soften acne scars, minimize the appearance of pores, and even skin tone.

But not all microneedling is equal. The depth, sterility, device quality, and application technique can make a huge difference in safety and how much improvement you see in your skin. Because microneedling requires specific technique, device quality, and sterilization, at-home microneedling can cause unwanted side effects like worsened skin conditions, scarring, pigmentation issues, texture, and even infection.

Getting a microneedling treatment from a licensed professional is always the safest way to get the results you want for your skin.

At-Home Microneedling

At-home microneedling tools, like dermarollers and handheld devices, are typically designed with shallow needles (about 0.25–0.5 mm) and are often unregulated. These devices can appear to be convenient, affordable, and appealing. However, the results are limited and there are some risks to at-home microneedling. Here are some things to keep in mind:

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Microneedling Needle Depth

At-home microneedling devices typically have a lower needle depth that doesn’t reach the deeper layers of the skin where true collagen remodeling happens. Professional, regulated devices have needles that can be customized based on the patient’s needs to reach the deeper layers of the skin. Using an at-home microneedling device with a lower needle depth won’t help you to address fine lines, wrinkles, and acne scars the same way that a regulated device used by a trained professional can.

Sterilization

Proper sterilization at home is difficult, so there is a higher risk of irritation, infection, or even scarring if the device is not cleaned correctly. In a professional setting, Master Estheticians are trained to thoroughly and safely sterilize or replace all tools used as well as the patient’s skin. Your Esthetician will ensure your skin is clean and prepared to get a microneedling treatment that will address your skin concerns without risking infection or irritation.

Training and Licensure

Without proper training and licensure, at-home microneedling can cause unwanted side effects and decrease skin health and quality. Master Estheticians at Aesthetica are highly trained and experienced to treat a wide variety of skin concerns. They can help you create a treatment plan that is highly customized to your specific skin type and skin concerns to ensure that a treatment doesn’t cause unwanted side effects or damage to your skin. In contrast, microneedling at home introduces safety risks, cannot be customized, and most users lack the training to use them effectively.

In-Office Microneedling

Professional microneedling is performed by trained, Master Estheticians using professional devices with adjustable needle depths that can penetrate more than 1 mm into the skin. This allows for personalized treatments tailored to your specific concerns whether that’s acne scars, enlarged pores, or fine lines. Because the in-office microneedling reaches deeper layers, it stimulates meaningful collagen production, leading to smoother skin texture, improved fine lines and wrinkles, firmer skin, and longer-lasting results.

In-office microneedling is also much safer. Single-use, sterile needles and professional technique reduce the risk of infection or skin damage. At Aesthetica, we also help enhance your results by pairing microneedling with professional-grade skincare products that can help accelerate healing and enhance your microneedling results.

Some skin conditions are not safe to microneedle. Master Estheticians are highly trained to treat a variety of skin conditions and they can help patients determine if microneedling is safe for their specific skin type and concerns or not. Your esthetician can help you create a treatment plan with the optimal treatments for your skin. If your skin concern is something we cannot treat, we will direct you to see a skin professional, such as a dermatologist, if need be.

Additionally, Aesthetica has direct medical oversight from board-certified plastic surgeon, our Medical Director, Dr. Kimball M. Crofts. Dr. Crofts has over 25 years of experience in plastic surgery and medical aesthetics. He is readily available to guide our providers or visit with patients in the rare case where complications are present.

Learn more about microneedling at aesthetica

At Aesthetica, we provide complimentary, private skin consultations designed around your unique concerns and goals. One of our Master Estheticians will curate a customized treatment plan and clinical-grade product recommendations to help you achieve safe, effective, and lasting results. Book your complimentary consultation with us today!