Microneedling in Fargo, ND: Collagen-Stimulating Treatment for Smoother, Firmer Skin
Dr. Kristine Martens, DO is a Board-Certified Family Medicine physician who has practiced in Fargo since 2013. Her approach to aesthetics is the same as her primary care: honest expectations, no upsells, and follow-through.
Table of Contents
When Skin Needs More Than a Serum: Where Microneedling Fits
The gap between skincare and lasers
You have been consistent. Retinol at night, sunscreen every morning, a good vitamin C. And still the acne scars from your late twenties are visible in overhead light. The lines around your eyes are deeper than they were two winters ago. Your pores on the cheeks and nose look larger no matter what serum you use. Topicals can only do so much once collagen and elastin in the deeper skin layers have already changed. Many patients tell us they have been quietly avoiding photos, or spending on products that never quite deliver.
Microneedling at Resurgent Health works at the level topicals cannot reach. Fine sterile needles create thousands of controlled micro-channels in the upper dermis, signaling your body to lay down fresh collagen and elastin in the weeks that follow. Over a series of three to six sessions, most patients see softer texture, less visible acne scarring, refined pores, and a smoother overall look. Our clinical team walks you through what is realistic for your skin, in plain language, before you book a series.
What Is Microneedling And How It Works
Microneedling, also called percutaneous collagen induction therapy, is a minimally invasive treatment that uses an automated device with sterile single-use cartridges to create thousands of controlled micro-channels in the skin. As the American Academy of Dermatology explains, these tiny micro-injuries trigger the body's natural wound-healing cascade and prompt new collagen and elastin.
The device passes at a controlled depth, typically 0.5 to 2.5 mm, which is what separates in-clinic microneedling from at-home rollers that never reach the dermis where structural collagen lives. It treats acne scars, fine lines, uneven texture, enlarged-looking pores, mild pigmentation, and firmness, and is safe for most skin tones. The channels close within hours while collagen remodeling continues over four to six weeks, so most patients benefit from a series of three to six sessions.
Treatment Timeline:
First Signs:
1 - 2 weeks (smoother, more even texture)
Full Effect:
3 - 6 sessions (collagen builds over the series)
Treatment Time:
45 - 60 minutes (including numbing)
Recovery:
24 - 48 hours (mild redness, no other downtime)
Skin Concerns Microneedling Addresses
Benefits of Microneedling
Stimulates your skin's natural collagen production to improve texture, reduce the appearance of fine lines and scars, and reveal a smoother, healthier complexion
Downtime
Redness for 24-48 hours, then routine resume
Skin Tones
Lower pigmentation risk than other options
Concerns
Targets scars, lines, pores, texture
Collagen
Results come from your body's remodeling
Skincare
Amplifies the benefit of medical-grade skincare
Microneedling vs. Alternatives
Compare Your Options
| Treatment | Mechanism | Downtime | Sessions | Best For | Skin Tone Safety | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microneedling at Resurgent Health | Fine needles create micro-channels that trigger collagen and elastin remodeling | 24-48 hours redness | 3-6 sessions, 4-6 weeks apart | Acne scars, fine lines, texture, pores | Safe for most skin tones | Moderate, per session |
| Chemical Peel | Acid solution exfoliates outer skin layers | Peeling for 3-7 days | Series of 3-6 | Pigmentation, dullness, mild texture | Lower strengths safer on darker tones | Low to moderate |
| Fractional Laser Resurfacing | Laser energy creates thermal micro-columns in skin | 3-10 days depending on depth | 1-3 sessions | Deeper wrinkles, sun damage, scars | Higher pigmentation risk on darker tones | High |
| Radiofrequency (RF) Microneedling | Needles plus radiofrequency energy heat the dermis | 2-5 days redness and swelling | 1-3 sessions | Deeper acne scars, laxity, jawline | Generally safe across tones | High |
| Topical Retinoids | Vitamin A derivative speeds cell turnover | Dryness, purging for weeks | Daily, ongoing | Fine lines, mild texture, acne prevention | Safe across tones with care | Low, ongoing |
Who Is a Good Candidate for Microneedling?
Microneedling is a strong option for adults who want meaningful skin improvement without the downtime or pigmentation risk of ablative laser resurfacing. Our clinical team screens every candidate before starting a series. If microneedling is not the right fit for your skin today, we will say so and, when appropriate, walk you through dermaplaning or medical-grade skincare as alternatives. According to the National Library of Medicine (NIH), microneedling has an established safety profile across a range of Fitzpatrick skin types when performed with sterile technique.
Ideal Candidates for Microneedling
- Adults with atrophic acne scars they want to soften
- Patients bothered by fine lines, texture, or enlarged pores
- Skin with mild to moderate sun damage or dullness
Who Should Wait or Avoid Microneedling
- Active acne, skin infection, cold sore, or open wound at the site
- Personal history of keloid or hypertrophic scarring
- Isotretinoin within six months, or pregnancy and breastfeeding
Honest Expectations About Results
- Stimulates your own collagen, so results build gradually over weeks
- Most need three to six sessions spaced several weeks apart
- Results last longer with medical-grade skincare and daily SPF
Certain medical conditions and medications also require a pause. Dr. Martens will review your history before the first session and confirm you are cleared to proceed.
What Happens During a Microneedling Visit
Step-by-Step Process
Consult and Skin Evaluation
Topical Numbing
Microneedling Pass
Post-Treatment Serum and SPF
4-6 Week Interval
Risks and Side Effects
What to Know
Common Side Effects
Expected effects after a microneedling session include redness resembling a mild sunburn, warmth, mild swelling, and slight sensitivity. These typically resolve within 24 to 48 hours. Some patients notice light flaking or dry texture for a few days as the skin renews itself. Makeup can usually be resumed the following day, and normal activity, including exercise, resumes at 24 hours.
Less Common Effects
Less commonly, patients may see small pinpoint bruising, brief tenderness, or a transient breakout in the treatment area. These generally settle within a week and do not affect the final result. Post-treatment hyperpigmentation is uncommon but can occur, especially in patients with recent sun exposure. Diligent SPF use before and after each session reduces this risk.
Rare Complications
Uncommon complications include local skin infection, delayed healing, cold sore reactivation in patients with a history of oral herpes, and, very rarely, prolonged pigment changes or scarring. Using sterile single-use cartridges, proper skin prep, and honest screening for contraindications keeps rare events rare.
Safety and Regulatory Oversight
Automated microneedling devices used in medical settings are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as Class II medical devices. Dr. Martens ensures the clinical team follows written infection-control and informed-consent protocols for every session.
Microneedling Cost in Fargo, ND
Pricing and Payment Options
Microneedling at Resurgent Health is offered as a single session or as a discounted series of 3 to 6. Because most patients see the best results with a full series, we structure pricing to make the series the sensible choice for the concern you want to address.
Pricing Structure
Single-session pricing typically ranges between the low three-digit and mid three-digit dollar amount, depending on the treatment area (face only, face and neck, or face, neck, and dcolletage). Series pricing is discounted per session compared to booking individually.
What Is Included
Every session includes a skin review with our clinical team, topical numbing, the microneedling treatment itself, sterile single-use cartridges, and a post-treatment serum and SPF application before you leave. There is no separate consultation fee for existing aesthetics patients.
Payment and Membership Notes
Aesthetic services at Resurgent Health are self-pay and are separate from Direct Primary Care membership. You do not need to be a DPC member to book microneedling. Current pricing is shared during your consultation, and any medical-grade skincare you take home is billed separately at transparent pricing.
Why Choose Resurgent Health for Microneedling in Fargo
Dr. Kristine Martens, DO oversees the aesthetics program at Resurgent Health with the same standard she brings to Family Medicine: informed consent, realistic expectations, and continuity of care. Treatments are delivered by our trained clinical team, and the plan is set with your primary care provider in the loop.
Physician Oversight
Dr. Martens, DO reviews candidacy and oversees the aesthetic program.
Honest Expectations
Straight answers on what a series can, and cannot, do for your skin.
No Upsell Culture
No monthly quotas or add-on pressure at any visit.
SkinBetter Home Care
Medical-grade home routines paired with in-clinic treatments.
Single-Use Technology
A fresh cartridge for every patient, every session, no exceptions
Full Series
Sessions are spaced to match your skin's natural collagen-remodeling cycle,
Related Services in Fargo, ND
Other aesthetic services that pair well with microneedling.
Dermaplaning
A physician-led facial treatment that removes dead skin and peach fuzz in about 30 minutes, with zero downtime.
- Adults wanting smoother, brighter skin with no downtime
- Patients prepping for a wedding, photoshoot, or special event
- Anyone bothered by facial peach fuzz that traps makeup or oil
Medical-Grade Skincare
Higher actives, physician-selected
- Adults ready to commit to a daily routine for at least 12 weeks
- Patients who feel their drugstore products have plateaued
- Anyone pairing home care with microneedling or dermaplaning
Emsculpt Neo Body Contouring
Non-invasive BTL Emsculpt Neo combining HIFEM muscle contractions with radiofrequency fat reduction.
- Adults with a BMI under 30 who are close to their goal weight
- Those wanting muscle definition or fat reduction beyond training alone
- Post-partum patients (3+ months, OB-cleared) or plateaued athletes
Frequently Asked Questions About Microneedling
How many sessions do I actually need?
Most concerns respond best to a series of 3 to 6 sessions spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. Deeper acne scarring often needs the full 6. Our clinical team will give you an honest estimate at your consult, not a script.
Does microneedling hurt?
A topical numbing cream is applied for 20 to 30 minutes before treatment. Most patients describe the sensation afterward as mild vibration or scratching, not sharp pain. The face is usually the most comfortable area.
Is there real downtime?
Expect pink, warm skin for 24 to 48 hours, similar to a mild sunburn. Most patients return to work the next day and wear regular makeup by day two. Skip exercise, saunas, and hot showers for the first 24 hours.
Is microneedling safe for darker skin tones?
Yes. Compared to ablative lasers, microneedling has a lower risk of post-treatment hyperpigmentation across a range of skin tones. Our clinical team still tailors depth and interval to your specific skin.
How is this different from a dermaroller I can buy online?
At-home rollers stay at a very shallow depth and do not reliably reach the dermis where structural collagen is made. In-clinic devices use automated speed and sterile single-use cartridges to reach controlled therapeutic depths safely.
Can I combine microneedling with other treatments?
Yes. Many patients pair microneedling with medical-grade skincare and, in the off week, with dermaplaning. Retinoids and active acids are paused just around each session.
Do I need to stop retinol before my appointment?
Yes. Pause retinoids and other active exfoliants such as glycolic or salicylic acid for 3 to 5 days before your session, and resume them once your skin feels calm again, usually about 3 days after.
Contact Us Today
Send us a message for more information - DPC membership, a discovery call, or any other service you'd like to ask about.
References
- PubMed (PMID: 23216209) - Fabbrocini et al. show percutaneous collagen induction is an effective and safe treatment for post-acne scarring across skin phototypes.
- PubMed (PMID: 28848356) - Iriarte et al. clinical review outlines microneedling indications, safety, and outcomes across dermatologic applications.
- PubMed (PMID: 28690124) - Ramaut et al. (J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg, 2018) systematic review, Microneedling: Where do we stand now, confirms measurable improvements in scars and skin remodeling.
- PubMed (PMID: 32598509) - Villani et al. (J Cosmet Dermatol, 2020) comprehensive review, Skin needling for the treatment of acne scarring, supports it as a first-line option for atrophic acne scars.
- American Academy of Dermatology - Patient education on microneedling, indications, safety, and expectations.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Regulatory oversight of automated microneedling devices as Class II medical devices.