Microneedling vs Laser for Large Pores — Which Treatment Actually Shrinks Pores?

Medically reviewed by Dr. Dan Xu, M.D., CCFP — CPSO Licensed Physician and Founder & Medical Director of ID Cosmetic Clinic, Markham. Last updated June 2026.

“What actually shrinks large pores?” is one of the most common questions we hear in our Markham clinic — usually after someone has tried every pore-minimizing toner, clay mask and “pore vacuum” on the market with no lasting change. The honest reason cleansers do not work is simple: pore size is set by your oil production, the collagen scaffold under the skin, sun damage and genetics — not by how clean your skin is. Two medical treatments genuinely change pore structure: RF microneedling and laser resurfacing. This guide explains exactly how each one works, which pore type it suits, what it feels like, how long results last, and what it costs in Toronto — so you walk into a consultation already knowing the right questions to ask.

First, why are your pores enlarged?

Choosing between microneedling and laser is impossible until you know why your pores look large. From a medical standpoint there are four common drivers, and they often overlap:

• Excess oil (sebum) — “oily-type” pores: when oil glands are overactive, the constant flow physically stretches the pore opening wide. These pores tend to be round, concentrated in the T-zone, and prone to blackheads.
• Collagen loss — “lax-type” pores: as the dermis loses collagen with age and sun exposure, the firm scaffold that holds each pore tight begins to slacken, so the opening sags and widens — often into an oval or tear-drop shape on the cheeks. This is the most overlooked cause.
• Acne scarring: repeated breakouts damage the structure around the follicle, leaving permanently dilated pores and pitted (ice-pick or boxcar) scars that skincare cannot reach.
• Sun damage and thickened skin: chronic UV exposure speeds up surface cell build-up around the pore rim, making pores look rougher and larger even when oil is controlled.

Understanding your dominant cause matters, because the best treatment for an oily pore is not the best treatment for a saggy one. This is general information, not medical advice — a physician should confirm your pore type in person.

Microneedling vs laser for large pores — at a glance

Prices vary by treatment area and the number of sessions in your plan — book a consultation for an exact quote. (Cost figures to be confirmed by the clinic before publishing.)

Which one is right for you?

• Choose RF microneedling if your pores are oval or tear-drop shaped, sit mostly on the cheeks, have appeared or worsened with age, or come alongside acne scars — these are lax-type pores that need the collagen scaffold rebuilt from the deep dermis.
• Choose laser (Fotona) if your skin is visibly oily, your pores are round and concentrated in the T-zone, you are prone to blackheads, and oil control plus a brighter, smoother surface is your priority — the 1064 nm wavelength directly targets oil glands.
• Choose a combined plan if you have both oily and lax pores (very common in oily skin over 25), or pores plus acne scarring — the two treatments work on different layers and complement each other (see below).
• Either is suitable for richly-pigmented and Asian skin when delivered correctly. RF microneedling bypasses the surface pigment layer with heat, and the 1064 nm laser has low melanin selectivity — both keep the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) lower than aggressive ablative lasers.

RF microneedling: tightening pores from the dermis

Radiofrequency (RF) microneedling is one of the most targeted treatments available for lax-type (“sagging”) pores. At ID Cosmetic Clinic we use platforms such as Lutronic Genius and Sylfirm X — comparable, physician-grade RF microneedling technology in the same category as widely marketed devices like Morpheus8.

How it works

An array of fine, insulated needles passes through the surface and releases RF heat directly into the dermis around each pore. Because the energy is delivered below the pigment-rich surface layer, it is friendly to deeper skin tones — the PIH risk is meaningfully lower than with traditional lasers. In the dermis the heat does three things:

• Immediate collagen contraction: heat shrinks existing collagen fibres, so the tissue around the pore tightens straight away.
• New collagen synthesis: the controlled micro-injury switches on fibroblasts, which lay down fresh collagen over the following weeks to months, steadily rebuilding the support structure that holds each pore tight.
• Mild oil-gland shrinkage: the dermal heat also has a modest effect on oil glands, so there is some bonus oil control even though that is not its primary design.

Genius adds a useful refinement: real-time impedance feedback. Before each RF pulse the device reads the tissue at the needle tip and adjusts the energy, so heat lands precisely at the target depth instead of being wasted in the surface — which makes the result more consistent and predictable.

What it feels like & downtime

After topical numbing, most people describe a warm pressure with occasional sharper points (comfort roughly 4–6 out of 10). Expect 1–3 days of redness, a faint grid pattern and mild swelling; makeup can usually go on after about 24 hours. Results are gradual: visible improvement starts around 4–8 weeks after each session, and most people need 3–5 sessions spaced 4–6 weeks apart, with mild-to-moderate cases often improving by session three. For pores driven mainly by collagen laxity — or pores left behind by acne scarring — RF microneedling has the most direct mechanism and the strongest evidence base.

Laser (Fotona 1064 nm): oil control plus collagen

The laser approach we use for pores is built on the Fotona Nd:YAG 1064 nm platform (the gentle, glow-focused “ClearGlow”-style mode designed with Asian skin in mind). The 1064 nm wavelength has low selectivity for melanin, which makes it one of the safer laser choices for pigmented skin.

How it works

The 1064 nm beam penetrates to the dermis, where its energy is absorbed by water, blood vessels and oil glands. That produces several effects:

• Dermal heating & collagen: the photothermal energy stimulates new collagen — similar in spirit to RF microneedling, but with a different energy distribution.
• Direct oil-gland suppression: this is the laser’s stand-out advantage. The 1064 nm energy targets the oil glands directly, reducing sebum output. For oily, round, T-zone pores, this targeted oil control is more direct than RF microneedling, where oil reduction is only an incidental effect.
• Smoother surface: gentle stimulation of the surface speeds cell turnover, softening the rough, thickened pore rim caused by sun damage so edges look finer.
• Brighter, more even tone: the wavelength also calms tiny vessels and reduces blotchy pigment, giving the overall “glow” the treatment is known for.

What it feels like & downtime

Most people find Fotona very tolerable — a warm sensation with brief rubber-band-like snaps (comfort roughly 3–4 out of 10), usually with no topical numbing required. Downtime is minimal: mild flushing for a few hours up to a day, then back to normal. The glow is often visible within days, while the collagen and oil-control benefits build over the following weeks. Like RF microneedling, it works best as a course of 3–5 sessions, here spaced 2–4 weeks apart.

Can you combine them?

Yes — and for pores with more than one cause, a combination often beats either treatment alone. The two work on different problems: laser leads on oil control and surface smoothing, while RF microneedling leads on deep collagen rebuilding. A typical strategy for someone with oily and lax pores (or pores plus acne scars) is to alternate or sequence the two so the skin is treated from different angles at once. Because they are complementary rather than redundant, a well-designed combined plan can address oil, scaffold and texture together. The exact protocol — which device, what order, how many sessions — depends on your skin and is decided at an in-person assessment.

Matching pore type to treatment

Identifying your dominant pore type is the first step. Use this as a starting point only — your final plan should be individualized by a physician:

For reference only — actual treatment must be tailored by a physician to your skin condition, history and goals.

Who is not a good candidate?

RF microneedling and laser are safe, well-studied treatments, but they are not for everyone. You may need to wait or choose a different approach if you:

• are pregnant or breastfeeding;
• have an active skin infection, cold sore, open wound, or an active acne flare in the treatment area;
• have a recent tan or sunburn (laser in particular is best delayed until skin returns to baseline);
• are taking isotretinoin (Accutane) or have stopped it recently — your physician will advise on timing;
• have an implanted electronic device such as a pacemaker or defibrillator (especially relevant for RF energy);
• have a history of keloid or hypertrophic scarring, or a connective-tissue or wound-healing disorder;
• have a photosensitizing condition or are on photosensitizing medication (relevant for laser).

This is general information, not medical advice — a qualified physician should confirm your suitability in person and screen for risks specific to your skin and history.

What results should you realistically expect?

Neither treatment “erases” pores, and neither works overnight. Pore size is partly genetic, so the realistic goal is a visibly tighter, smoother, more refined appearance — not pores that vanish. Improvement is gradual and cumulative: a course of sessions outperforms any single visit, and the meaningful change is best judged about three months after your final session, ideally with before-and-after photos Patients with mild-to-moderate enlargement see the most rewarding change; very deep scarring or heavily lax skin may need more sessions or a combined plan. Honest expectations are the biggest predictor of satisfaction — which is why we would rather under-promise than oversell a single miracle session.

How much does it cost in Toronto?

Cost depends on the device, the area treated, and how many sessions your plan needs. As a general guide:

(Exact ID Cosmetic Clinic pricing to be inserted before publishing.) Be cautious of quotes well below market — for energy devices, an unusually low price often means fewer needles, lower energy or fewer passes, which means a weaker result.

Why choose ID Cosmetic Clinic for large pores?

Energy and laser devices are only as good as the physician choosing and tuning them. At ID Cosmetic Clinic in Markham, every pore-treatment plan is led by Dr. Dan Xu, M.D., CCFP — a CPSO Licensed Physician, official Allergan/Juvéderm trainer in North America, Clinical Preceptor at McMaster University’s Medical Program, and Founder & Medical Director of the clinic since 2017, with 8+ years and 5,000 clients · 80,000 treatment areas of experience. Our practice primarily serves Asian faces, so we select settings and wavelengths — including RF microneedling and the 1064 nm laser — specifically to keep pigmentation risk low while still delivering real, measurable pore improvement.

Related at ID Cosmetic Clinic

• Treatment: RF Microneedling (Genius / Sylfirm X) · Fotona Laser
• Concern: Large & enlarged pores · Acne scars
• Compare: RF Microneedling vs Fractional Laser for Acne Scars · How to shrink large pores: what really works