Which Microneedling Pen Should I Buy?

This is probably one of the questions I get asked most by practitioners:

“Which microneedling pen should I buy?”

The answer isn’t necessarily the most expensive one.

There are microneedling devices available for under £100, professional systems costing considerably more, and then radiofrequency microneedling machines costing thousands. They may all involve needles entering the skin, but they are not all the same thing.

So, before spending your money, it’s worth understanding what you’re actually buying.

Dr Pen – affordable and does the job

Dr Pen is probably one of the most recognisable affordable microneedling brands, and there are lots of different models available.

Personally, I think Dr Pen devices can be a perfectly good option, particularly for somebody starting out. You can potentially get yourself set up for under £100, and they can perform standard microneedling effectively when used correctly by an appropriately trained practitioner.

There are numerous models, and I don’t think there’s necessarily one Dr Pen that everybody needs to buy. A lot of it comes down to personal preference.

Different models offer different speeds, needle configurations and features. More importantly, different pens use different cartridges, so don’t just look at the price of the pen.

Before buying one, check how readily available the cartridges are, how much they cost and whether you can reliably source genuine, sterile, single-use cartridges.

But is Dr Pen FDA approved?

This is where we need to be careful with terminology.

The FDA generally refers to microneedling devices as being authorised or cleared, rather than simply “FDA approved”.

The FDA maintains information on legally marketed microneedling devices and specifically warns that microneedling products are available whose safety and effectiveness it has not reviewed.

 

 

I could not verify Dr Pen as an FDA-authorised powered microneedling device in the same way that SkinPen Precision can be verified.

That doesn’t automatically mean a Dr Pen is ineffective or unsafe. It does mean practitioners shouldn’t describe a device as FDA-cleared unless the exact device and model can actually be verified.

FDA – Microneedling Devices⁠

What about SkinPen?

This is where the comparison becomes interesting.

SkinPen Precision has FDA authorisation/clearance as a Class II powered microneedling device. Its original FDA De Novo authorisation was granted in 2018, with subsequent clearances.

But SkinPen isn’t simply another pen that anybody can buy through its official UK professional route.

Do you have to train with SkinPen to buy one?

SkinPen UK’s professional system has qualification requirements.

Their current information states that practitioners need to meet a minimum professional qualification requirement — including Level 3 Electrical Beauty Therapy/NVQ or equivalent, or an appropriate medical professional qualification — and evidence of qualifications is required.

Interestingly, you don’t appear to need to have completed SkinPen-specific training before purchasing the system.

 

 

Instead, once you purchase and become a SkinPen provider, SkinPen provides its own education programme. This includes CPD-accredited training and ongoing professional support.

So you’re not simply paying for a more expensive pen.

You’re buying into a professional system that includes the device, education, manufacturer protocols and support.

That may be very attractive to some practitioners and clinics, while somebody else may decide that level of investment isn’t necessary for their particular business.

Does a more expensive pen give better results?

Not automatically.

A £100 device in the hands of a knowledgeable, appropriately trained practitioner doesn’t suddenly become ineffective because another clinic has purchased a considerably more expensive system.

Likewise, buying an expensive machine doesn’t compensate for poor technique.

 

Successful microneedling depends on much more than the logo on the pen.

Client selection, contraindications, skin preparation, needle depth, technique, treatment endpoint, infection prevention, treatment intervals and aftercare can all influence the safety and outcome of a treatment.

The practitioner matters just as much as the equipment.

And then there’s RF microneedling

This needs separating from standard microneedling because it isn’t simply a more expensive microneedling pen.

Radiofrequency microneedling combines needles with RF energy.

The needles enter the tissue while radiofrequency energy produces controlled thermal effects at specific depths.

Morpheus8 is probably one of the best-known names in this category. Morpheus8 is an InMode-branded system, rather than a generic name for RF microneedling. FDA records include clearances for InMode systems incorporating Morpheus8 applicators.

But if you’re considering spending thousands on RF microneedling, don’t make the decision simply because you think:

“I’ll be able to charge more per treatment.”

There is much more to consider.

RF microneedling brings additional training, equipment, maintenance, insurance and safety considerations.

Importantly, in October 2025 the FDA issued a safety communication following reports of serious complications associated with certain uses of RF microneedling devices. Reported complications included burns, scarring, fat loss, disfigurement and nerve damage.

That doesn’t mean RF microneedling is inherently unsafe or shouldn’t be offered. It does demonstrate why RF microneedling shouldn’t be treated as simply “normal microneedling but stronger”.

FDA – RF Microneedling Safety Communication⁠

Don’t forget the consumables

This is something people often overlook when comparing devices.

Don’t just compare the purchase price of the pen.

If you’re performing hundreds of treatments, the price difference between cartridges soon adds up.

Before choosing a device, look at the price and availability of compatible cartridges, whether they are sterile and single-use, the manufacturer’s recommended suppliers, warranty and servicing arrangements.

A cheap pen with expensive or difficult-to-source cartridges might not ultimately be the cheapest option.

What are you actually putting on the skin?

This deserves mentioning because the question “Which serum should I microneedle?” usually follows the question about which pen to buy.

You’ll see all sorts of products advertised online as:

Salmon DNA.

PN.

PDRN.

Exosomes.

Growth factors.

Microneedling serum.

Don’t assume that because something is called a serum or is advertised alongside a microneedling pen that it’s appropriate to introduce into compromised skin.

The FDA specifically states that it has not cleared microneedling devices for delivering cosmetics, topical medications, vitamins, drugs or blood products such as PRP into the skin, and says that the risks associated with combining microneedling devices with other products have not been evaluated.

That’s an important distinction.

The product you glide over intact skin and the product you potentially expose to thousands of microchannels are not automatically interchangeable.

So which microneedling pen would I buy?

There’s no universal answer.

If you’re newly trained and want to introduce traditional microneedling without a huge financial commitment, a Dr Pen can be an affordable and practical starting point.

If you want a professional system with verified FDA regulatory status, manufacturer education and ongoing support — and you’re prepared to invest considerably more — SkinPen may appeal to you.

If you’re considering RF microneedling, treat that as a separate treatment modality and business investment altogether. Research the individual machine, regulatory status, training, insurance, servicing, consumables and potential risks before committing.

Before buying any microneedling device, I would consider:

• What does the machine actually cost?
• What do the cartridges cost?
• Can I reliably source genuine sterile cartridges?
• What training do I need?
• Will my insurer cover this exact device/treatment?
• What regulatory status does the exact model have?
• What warranty and manufacturer support will I receive?
• How much will servicing cost?
• How many treatments am I realistically going to perform?
• How long will it take me to recover my investment?

A £5,000 machine sitting unused in a cupboard isn’t a better business investment than a £100 machine being used appropriately several times every week.

Equally, there may come a point where investing in a professional system makes complete sense for your clinic.

The bottom line

Don’t buy a microneedling pen because everybody else has one. And don’t assume that the most expensive machine is automatically the best machine.

Buy the equipment that’s appropriate for your qualifications, your competence, your insurance, your clients and your business.

Good equipment matters.

But good training, good technique and good clinical judgement matter even more.OK I’m