Microneedling depth — the chair-side guide

Microneedling depth is the single variable that decides whether a session is delivery-only or a full structural treatment. Too shallow and the active never reaches its target tissue. Too deep and you turn an aesthetic session into a wound-healing one, with a downtime your patient didn't sign up for.

MitoPen E30-Ultima locks depth via a dial ring on the handle — clockwise shortens, counter-clockwise lengthens. The locked depth is the contract you make with the patient at the start of the session.

Depth by zone (face)

• Forehead, temples — 0.25–0.5 mm. Thin skin, dense vasculature, low tolerance.
• Cheeks — 0.5–1.0 mm for V-Tech serum delivery; up to 1.5 mm for textural / scar work.
• Jawline — 1.0–1.5 mm for structural sessions.
• Nasolabial — 0.5–1.0 mm; reduce on the upper lip border.

Speed by indication

Five speeds. Slower on bony or thin areas (temples, forehead, upper lip). Faster on dense zones and on textural/scar protocols where coverage matters more than dwell time. Step up from the lowest speed at the start of the session so the patient acclimatises.

Scalp protocols

For Exosignal Hair sessions, the depth on the scalp is typically 0.5–0.8 mm — enough to open channels for the exosome serum, shallow enough to avoid follicle disturbance. Open the consultation with Mitoscan for baseline imaging; the same imaging at week 6 and week 12 turns subjective "feels denser" into a real chart entry.

Safety rituals

• Always open a fresh sterile cartridge per patient.
• Hold the handle upright so fluids don't flow back into the body of the device.
• Disinfect the handle between patients per the brand SOP.
• Refuse the session on fevers above 38 °C, active infection in zone, recent isotretinoin or relevant allergies.

Depth is a contract. The dial ring is where you sign it.

— MitoPen operator training