Quick answer: To choose a microneedling provider in the Denver metro, look at who performs the treatment and their training, the device (and whether it is FDA-authorized), whether a new needle cartridge is used every time, what a session includes, and the full price. At Key Element Acupuncture in Westminster, near Arvada, every session is performed by a licensed acupuncturist with the AcuMicro Pen Plus, includes light therapy, and costs $300, or $750 for three.
Why the provider matters
Microneedling uses ultra-fine needles to create thousands of microscopic channels in the skin, which prompts your body to make new collagen. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates microneedling devices as medical devices, lists redness, bruising and bleeding as common side effects and infection and pigment changes as less common ones, and states that re-using a needle cartridge is unsafe. In other words, the same treatment can be very different depending on who does it and how.
Five things to compare between providers
| What to check | Why it matters | At Key Element |
|---|---|---|
| Who performs it | Microneedling is needle work; training and technique affect comfort and safety | Autumn Jensen, L.Ac., a licensed acupuncturist trained in clean needle technique |
| The device | The FDA authorizes specific devices; faster pens are generally more comfortable | AcuMicro Pen Plus, 18,000 rpm |
| Cartridges | The FDA says re-using a needle cartridge is unsafe | Ask at your visit, as you should anywhere |
| What is included | Some prices cover the needling only | A 45 to 50 minute session with light therapy and serum |
| Price | Compare the full cost of a course, not one session | $300, 3 for $750, or 6 for $1,350 |
Questions to ask before you book
- Who will perform my treatment, and what is their training?
- Which device do you use, and is it FDA-authorized for what I want treated?
- Do you open a new needle cartridge for every patient and every session?
- What is included in the price: serums, numbing, light therapy?
- How many sessions do you recommend for my skin, and what does the course cost?
- What should I avoid before and after?
What a session at Key Element includes
Plan for 45 to 50 minutes. The microneedling itself takes about 20 minutes; the rest is light therapy and time on the table. There is little discomfort, and a light numbing cream can be used if you would like one. Before your appointment, avoid fillers or Botox for one month, stop retinol two days before, and arrive with a clean face. Afterward you may be red for 8 to 12 hours, and the full effect shows up three to six weeks later.
Because Autumn is a licensed acupuncturist, she can also combine microneedling with acupuncture in the same visit, which a med spa cannot offer. If you are deciding between treatments, read facial acupuncture vs. microneedling, and see the full microneedling page.
Who you will be treated by
Every treatment is given by Autumn Jensen, L.Ac., MSOM: a licensed acupuncturist in Colorado, a Diplomate of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (NCCAOM), and a Nationally Certified Chinese Herbalist, with a Masters of Oriental Medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College, more than 3,000 hours of education, and over 1,000 hours of clinical practice.
Where is Key Element Acupuncture?
Key Element Acupuncture is at 9035 Wadsworth Pkwy, Suite 3450, Westminster, CO 80021, inside the Silo Office Building at 90th and Wadsworth, less than half a mile north of the Arvada city line. Without traffic it is about 5 minutes from the Arvada Center, 8 minutes from Olde Town Arvada and 11 to 14 minutes from Ralston Valley, Candelas and Leyden Rock (drive times from Arvada). Hours are Monday 11:00am to 5:00pm, Tuesday 9:00am to 1:00pm, Wednesday 1:00pm to 6:00pm, and Thursday 11:00am to 4:00pm. Call (720) 443-2248 if you cannot find a time online.
Frequently asked questions
What should I ask a microneedling provider?
Ask who performs the treatment and what training they have, which device they use and whether it is FDA-authorized, whether a new needle cartridge is used for every patient and every session, what the session includes, and what aftercare to expect. The FDA lists these same questions in its consumer guidance.
How much is microneedling near Arvada?
At Key Element Acupuncture in Westminster, near Arvada, microneedling is $300 a session, $750 for three, or $1,350 for six. Each 45 to 50 minute session includes light therapy.
Is microneedling painful?
There is little discomfort, and a light numbing cream can be used if you would like one. The faster the pen oscillates, the more comfortable the treatment tends to be; Key Element uses the AcuMicro Pen Plus at 18,000 rpm.
How long is the redness after microneedling?
You may be red for 8 to 12 hours. The full effect of a session shows up three to six weeks later, as the skin rebuilds collagen.
Why have microneedling done by an acupuncturist?
Microneedling is a needle technique, and a licensed acupuncturist trains for years in needle work, including clean needle technique. An acupuncturist can also combine microneedling with acupuncture in the same visit.
This article is general educational information, not medical advice. It does not replace an evaluation by your own health care provider. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.