Dermapen 4 Microneedling Penrith

What Is Dermapen 4?

Dermapen 4 is the fourth-generation microneedling device from DermapenWorld, an Australian company that released the original Dermapen in 2010. It is a handheld pen that drives a cartridge of very fine needles vertically into the skin, rather than dragging them across it the way a roller does.

The point of microneedling is controlled injury. Thousands of tiny channels prompt the skin to run its normal repair process, and that process lays down new collagen over the following weeks and months. It is not an instant treatment. What you see at three months matters more than what you see at three days.

How It Works

The cartridge holds 16 medical-grade stainless steel needles at 33 gauge, gamma sterilised and used once before being discarded. They oscillate vertically at up to 120 cycles per second, which is where the figure of roughly 1,920 channels per second comes from.

Two things about the device matter clinically rather than as marketing:

• Adjustable depth in 0.1mm steps, from 0.2mm to 3.0mm. Skin thickness varies enormously across the face. The eyelid area needs a fraction of what a cheek scar needs. Fine adjustment is the difference between treating an area properly and treating it either uselessly or too aggressively.
• A dedicated scar setting. The deeper protocol is intended for atrophic scarring, including post-acne, surgical and burn contracture scars, and stretch marks.

The cartridge also carries an anti-contamination design that stops fluid flowing back into the handpiece, and an RFID chip that lets the device confirm a genuine cartridge and calibrate to it. Both exist for infection control and consistency between treatments. Neither removes the risk of infection, which is why aftercare still matters.

The Device

The Dermapen 4 handpiece we use is supplied in Australia by Dermapenworld Pty Ltd and is entered in the ARTG (ARTG 356305). The single-use needle cartridges are entered in the ARTG (ARTG 367612).

An ARTG entry relates to the device. It says nothing about what your own skin will do, and it does not remove any of the risks set out further down this page.

What It May Help Address

• Rough or uneven skin texture
• Fine lines
• Enlarged pores
• Acne scarring, particularly rolling and boxcar scars
• Surgical scars, burn contracture scarring and stretch marks
• Pigmentation and uneven tone
• Loss of firmness

What to Expect

Your skin is cleansed and a topical anaesthetic goes on for around 20 to 30 minutes. Once it has taken effect, your clinician sets the depth for each area and works across the face in passes. Most people describe it as a vibrating scratching sensation, more noticeable over bone like the forehead and jawline. Pinpoint bleeding is normal at deeper settings and is not a sign anything has gone wrong.

Straight afterwards the skin looks flushed and feels hot and tight, similar to moderate sunburn. That settles substantially over 24 to 48 hours. Days two to five bring dryness and light flaking. Some people bruise, particularly around the eyes and on thinner skin.

Collagen change happens slowly. For texture and fine lines a course of three to six sessions spaced four to six weeks apart is typical. Scarring usually needs more, and deeper scars may never fully resolve. We would rather tell you that at consultation than after you have paid for a course.

Risks and Complications

Microneedling deliberately breaks the skin barrier, and that carries risk. Common and expected: redness, warmth, swelling, tightness, dryness and flaking, pinpoint bleeding during treatment, and bruising.

Less common: bacterial infection, cold sore reactivation if you are prone to them, prolonged redness, milia, a temporary breakout, and granuloma formation in response to product applied into open channels. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is a genuine risk in deeper skin tones and can take months to settle. Scarring is uncommon but possible, and the risk is higher if you have a keloid history, which is why we screen for it.

Read our full risks and complications page before booking. Anything on that list which applies to you should be raised at consultation.

Aftercare

• No make-up for 24 hours. The channels stay open for a while and this is the main infection risk
• Cleanse with lukewarm water and a bland cleanser, no actives
• Moisturise generously while the skin is tight and flaking
• SPF 50+ every day, and stay out of direct sun
• No heat, sweat, saunas, swimming or vigorous exercise for 48 hours
• Do not pick or exfoliate the flaking skin
• Hold off retinoids, acids and scrubs for about a week
• Call us if the skin becomes painful, swollen, weeping, unusually hot, or if you develop a fever

Full instructions are on our skin treatment aftercare page.

Before and After

The images below were supplied by DermapenWorld and were photographed at other clinics using the same device. They are not BLAAH patients. Note the treatment numbers under each: these are courses, not single sessions.

Results may vary. These photographs are unedited and show the same person before and after a course of Dermapen 4 treatments. They are supplied by the device manufacturer and are shown to illustrate the type of concern the device is used for, not to predict your own outcome.

Who Is It For?

Dermapen 4 suits people who want collagen support with a shorter recovery than a peeling treatment, and people working on scarring where adjustable depth genuinely matters. If your skin is breaking out right now, SQT bio-microneedling may be the better starting point, because a needling device generally cannot pass over active inflammatory acne. We also use a stamping technique with Préime exosome and PDRN serums as part of our dermal stamping sessions. Which of these we recommend comes out of the consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the recovery?

Redness like moderate sunburn for 24 to 48 hours, then dryness and light flaking for two to five days. Some people bruise. It is less visible than a peeling treatment but it is not invisible, so do not book it the day before an event.

Does it hurt?

Topical anaesthetic goes on for 20 to 30 minutes first, which takes most of it away. You will still feel vibration and scratching, more over bony areas. Deeper settings for scarring are more uncomfortable than a general facial pass.

How many sessions will I need?

Texture and fine lines usually need three to six sessions four to six weeks apart. Scarring generally needs more, and some deep scars improve without ever fully resolving. Your clinician will give you a realistic number after assessing your skin.

Is the needle cartridge reused?

No. A sealed sterile cartridge is opened in front of you and discarded after your treatment. The device also authenticates the cartridge before it will run.

Can it be used on the body?

Yes. The neck, décolletage, scalp, and body areas with stretch marks or scarring can all be treated. Depth is set for the area being treated.