Microneedling is a minimally invasive treatment in which a dermatologist or aesthetician creates tiny punctures in the skin using micro-fine needles (from 0.5 to 2 millimeters in diameter). This triggers the body’s wound healing process, stimulating collagen and elastin production. Additionally, once punctures are made, products applied topically (such as hyaluronic acid and vitamin C) are able to penetrate deeper into the skin in order to work more effectively.

But like any treatment, there are a few factors to consider before deciding whether microneedling is the best choice for you. Here, medical aesthetician and intuitive energy worker Mashell Tabe, who lists Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Watts as clients, tells you eight things to know before trying it.