What is Nanopore (microneedling)?
The Nanopore is a microneedling treatment: a head of fine, sterile needles creates thousands of controlled micro-channels in the skin to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. It removes no skin and applies no heat; it triggers a natural repair that progressively improves texture, pores and firmness.
The technique is known as collagen induction. Each micro-puncture is a minimal, orderly injury that the body closes by building new tissue. That is why the result does not appear the same day, but over the following weeks, as that collagen matures and remodels the dermis from within.
It is a useful treatment for uneven texture, enlarged pores, depressed acne scars, stretch marks, fine lines and dull skin. The micro-channels also let certain actives applied at the same time penetrate better than they would on intact skin, reinforcing the effect of the session.
It is worth being honest about its limits: Nanopore works on the quality of the surface, not on sagging. It does not replace surgery when the problem is marked laxity, nor does it erase deep wrinkles in one go. Its strength is improving the skin gradually, over a series of sessions and with very little downtime.
Techniques used by Dr. Arístides Arellano
Not every skin, nor every problem, is treated at the same depth. The Nanopore protocol is defined at the consultation according to the goal, the area and the phototype:
- Facial Nanopore (collagen induction): the base protocol for texture, enlarged pores, fine lines and radiance, with needles at a superficial depth and one to two days of recovery.
- Nanopore for acne scars: worked at a greater depth over depressed scars to break the tethering of the tissue and stimulate its progressive filling, usually across several sessions.
- Nanopore with actives (superficial mesotherapy): uses the micro-channels to introduce ingredients such as hyaluronic acid or vitamins at the time of the session, improving their absorption.
- Nanopore with platelet-rich plasma (PRP): combines the microneedling with growth factors obtained from your own blood to reinforce the skin`s reparative stimulus.
- Body Nanopore: applied to stretch marks and certain body scars, where the aim is to improve texture and colour gradually.
How is it performed?
Nanopore is performed in the office, on an outpatient basis and under topical anaesthesia (a cream left to work for 20 to 40 minutes). The session lasts 30 to 60 minutes depending on the area, and needs no hospital stay or bed rest.
Once the skin is numb, the microneedling head is passed over the area, adjusting the depth to the goal. It is normal to feel warmth, vibration and mild discomfort, and for the skin to end up red, as after sun exposure. If the plan includes actives or PRP, they are applied at that moment so they penetrate through the micro-channels.
At the end a soothing product and sun protection are applied. Most patients resume their routine in one or two days, once the redness settles; a fine flaking may appear over the following days. Nanopore is almost always planned as a series of spaced sessions, not a one-off, because collagen is built by accumulation.
When the real problem is sagging rather than texture, microneedling is not the answer: in those cases a facelift or other options are assessed. What suits your case —and what does not— is defined honestly at the consultation, before any plan begins.
Every medical treatment —topicals, peels and energy-based devices included— carries risk and requires a prior assessment. In darker skin (Fitzpatrick IV–VI, the most common phototypes in Mexico) a poorly indicated procedure can darken the patch instead of lightening it. Results may vary according to each patient, their phototype and their individual triggers.
Who is a good candidate?
A good candidate wants to improve the quality of their skin, has realistic expectations and understands that the result is progressive and needs a series of sessions. The consultation confirms the skin is healthy and rules out contraindications:
- Uneven texture, enlarged pores or dull skin that does not improve with topical cosmetics.
- Depressed acne scars, mild to moderate, as part of a plan that sometimes combines other techniques.
- Stretch marks or scars to be improved in texture and colour gradually.
- Fine lines and early signs of ageing in someone who prefers a gradual approach with little downtime.
- It is not the best option with active acne, infections or lesions in the area, a tendency to keloid scars, or during pregnancy; nor does it correct marked laxity. These points are reviewed at the consultation.
Recommended post-treatment care
After each session the skin needs hydration and protection: Dr. Arístides may recommend soothing masks, hyaluronic acid and, non-negotiably, strict sun protection while the skin recovers and forms collagen. See the full guide: Post-surgical recovery and care.
Before and after
Most patients want to see before-and-after photographs before deciding. Out of respect for each person’s privacy, Dr. Arístides Arellano shows real cases —always with documented consent— during your in-person consultation, where you can review results from patients with a starting point similar to yours. Results may vary from patient to patient.
Approximate price
Reference prices: sesión from $3,000 MXN and con PRP from $5,000 MXN, approximate, depending on the protocol indicated for your skin and the number of sessions. Approximate price — the definitive cost is set at your private consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano.
About Dr. Arístides Arellano
Dr. Arístides Arellano is a plastic surgeon holding a specialty licence: he practises under a Mexican medical licence (D.G.P. 1125959) and a specialty licence in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (0002008), both issued by the Directorate General of Professions (DGP), which reissued his certificate of professional standing in 2025. His career began before Mexico’s present-day specialty-board system existed: he belongs to the founding generation of plastic surgery in Puebla, the second generation of a surgical tradition started in 1971 by Dr. Francisco Arellano Ocampo. Trust is verified, not promised: both licences are public and anyone can look them up in the DGP’s National Registry of Professionals.
Related patient guide
Before choosing where and with whom to be treated, it is worth getting informed: How to choose a plastic surgeon in Puebla — part of the series of informational guides reviewed by Dr. Arístides Arellano.
Trust is verified, not promised. All 210 scanned documents —degree, licences, diplomas, publications and certificates, from 1977 to 2025— are open in Dr. Arístides Arellano’s credential archive, alongside an explanation of the difference between a specialty licence and a board certification.
Recovery · step by step
- Day 0Red skin with a warm sensation, as after sun. A soothing product and sunscreen are applied.
- Days 1–2The redness subsides. Most people resume their routine; a fine flaking may begin.
- Days 3–7Skin back to normal. Make-up can be worn again. Strict photoprotection is mandatory.
- Weeks 3–4Next session in the series. Improved texture and radiance start to show.
- Months 2–3The collagen matures. The result becomes more visible and keeps improving with the full series.
Frequently asked questions
Does Nanopore hurt?
The discomfort is mild and manageable. A numbing cream is applied and left to work for 20 to 40 minutes before the session, so most patients only feel warmth, vibration and a slight scratching sensation. The area is left red at the end, as after sun exposure.
How many Nanopore sessions do I need?
It depends on the goal, but it is rarely just one. Texture and radiance are usually planned as a series of three to six sessions spaced every three to four weeks, and acne scars may need more. The exact number is defined at the consultation, not over the phone, because collagen is built by accumulation.
Does Nanopore help acne scars?
Yes, for mild to moderate depressed scars. The microneedles break the tethering of the scar tissue and stimulate its progressive filling over several sessions. Deeper or tethered scars sometimes require combining other techniques; what suits your case is defined at the consultation.
Is it safe on darker skin?
Microneedling is one of the more reasonable techniques for higher phototypes because it is mechanical, not thermal, and does not rely on melanin absorbing light. Even so, there is a risk of hyperpigmentation if it is done too aggressively or without later sun protection, so on darker skin a prudent depth and strict photoprotection are preferred.
How much recovery does it need?
Very little. The skin is red on the day of treatment and most people return to their routine in one or two days, once the redness settles. A fine flaking may follow. It is a treatment with minimal downtime, unlike ablative procedures.
How is Nanopore different from laser?
Nanopore acts mechanically, creating micro-channels with needles, while laser works with energy and heat. On darker skin microneedling is often more predictable, and its downtime is lower. They do not compete: they are tools for different questions, and the consultation decides which suits your skin and goal. Results may vary.
Every case is different. Discuss yours in a personal consultation.
Book a consultation on WhatsAppEvery figure published on this site is approximate and is not a quote. Any procedure or treatment first requires a private assessment consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano —$800 MXN, charged separately— and it is at that consultation that the definitive cost of your case is determined.
Educational content; it does not replace a medical consultation. Results may vary from person to person.