7 Healthcast: Medical needling the new anti-aging procedure

UNDATED (WHDH) -- Doctors have a new weapon against aging that some are using without surgery or lasers.

"I pay money to have my face look good, but now my hands are giving me away," said Karen Beneson, patient.

At 52, Karen Beneson is no stranger to cosmetic procedures on her face, but now she's ready to rejuvenate her hands.

"I just think they look old. They look kind of creepy, so I’m hoping that that is not there anymore," Beneson said.

Many people have age spots and thin skin that can add years.

"The hands is one of the give-aways that is tough to treat," Dr. Brian Dorner, cosmetic surgeon.

But now Karen is seeing plastic surgeon Dr. Brian Dorner for a new procedure.

"We'll put like three or four thousand little pin pricks in the hand," Dr. Dorner said.

It’s called medical needling, or collagen induction therapy. And it all comes down to a small roller about two inches wide filled with hundreds of tiny needles.

It’s done under local anesthesia. Dr. Dorner says the tiny wounds boost collagen growth.

"And by just making a bunch of little, tiny injuries to the skin, you get release of growth factors and then the skin actually starts to look younger," Dr. Dorner said.

Dr. Dorner rolls the device over the skin, back and forth. The skin gets red and bleeding slightly. He does her entire hand, knuckles and all.

Dr. Dorner says it can be used to treat aging skin, stretch marks, even acne scars -- wherever you want to smooth collagen.

"And for really difficult problems like acne scarring, just sort of thin, creepy looking skin. Had a patient recently did her whole body," Dr. Dorner said.

Karen gets her hands bandaged up and should expect a few days of bruising, and over the next few months her hands should plump up with new collagen.

The cost of the procedure depends on the area of treatment and the number of sessions you need.