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Pigment Clarity

The pigment that fades in winter and returns every summer. Managed, properly.

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Pigment Clarity

The pigment that fades in winter and returns every summer. Managed, properly.

The Stretch Mark & Body Scar Program

BOOK A COMPLIMENTARY SKIN DISCOVERY

Melasma needs a strategy, not a stronger attack.

A reviewed program that maps your pigment beneath the surface, delivers the active it responds to with shallow Dermapen microneedling, and protects it at home — so what we clear stays clearer.

Thirty minutes. Imaging, an honest assessment, a written plan to take home. No obligation to proceed.

Symmetrical shading across the cheeks, upper lip or forehead that darkens after sun, heat or holidays.

Foundation that looks heavy because it's working too hard.

A drawer of brightening serums that each helped a little, briefly.

A treatment somewhere that seemed to make it worse.

BOOK A COMPLIMENTARY SKIN DISCOVERY

Melasma needs a strategy, not a stronger attack.

A reviewed program that maps your pigment beneath the surface, delivers the active it responds to with shallow Dermapen microneedling, and protects it at home — so what we clear stays clearer.

Thirty minutes. Imaging, an honest assessment, a written plan to take home. No obligation to proceed.

Symmetrical shading across the cheeks, upper lip or forehead that darkens after sun, heat or holidays.

Foundation that looks heavy because it's working too hard.


A drawer of brightening serums that each helped a little, briefly.

A treatment somewhere that seemed to make it worse.

Why it keeps coming back

Melasma isn't a stain on the skin. It's pigment cells switched on — by UV, visible light, heat and hormones — that stay switched on. That's why most approaches disappoint.

Serums can't reach it

Retail brighteners sit on intact skin. The cells making the pigment are further down, and very little of the active gets there.

Heat can deepen it

IPL, strong lasers and deep peels heat the skin. In melasma-prone skin, heat is a trigger. What looked like progress can return darker.

Time sets it deeper

Doing nothing is a valid choice — melasma is harmless. But left unmanaged it rarely fades, and over years some pigment settles where topicals and needling can no longer reach.

Something we'd rather say now than after your first session

Melasma is managed, not cured. A well-run program lifts the visible pigment, quietens the cells producing it, and gives you a routine that keeps it quiet — so the summer rebound becomes a faint shadow instead of a return to the start.

Why it keeps coming back

Melasma isn't a stain on the skin. It's pigment cells switched on — by UV, visible light, heat and hormones — that stay switched on. That's why most approaches disappoint.

Serums can't reach it

Retail brighteners sit on intact skin. The cells making the pigment are further down, and very little of the active gets there.

Heat can deepen it

IPL, strong lasers and deep peels heat the skin. In melasma-prone skin, heat is a trigger. What looked like progress can return darker.

Time sets it deeper

Doing nothing is a valid choice — melasma is harmless. But left unmanaged it rarely fades, and over years some pigment settles where topicals and needling can no longer reach.

Something we'd rather say now than after your first session

Melasma is managed, not cured. A well-run program lifts the visible pigment, quietens the cells producing it, and gives you a routine that keeps it quiet — so the summer rebound becomes a faint shadow instead of a return to the start.

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The treatment

Three parts. Leave one out and the other two underperform.

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The treatment

Three parts. Leave one out and the other two underperform.

Needling on its own does very little for pigment. Its job here is delivery — with no heat.

One

Shallow, controlled Dermapen

Depth set between 0.5 and 1.0 mm, deliberately conservative. Pigment is the one concern where needling too deep or too often can darken the marks you're treating. Less, done precisely, is the protocol.

Two

The active, in the channels

A procedure-grade tranexamic acid formulation is applied while the micro-channels are open — never a retail cream. At home, tranexamic acid, cysteamine or another selected active keeps working between visits.

Three

Light protection, no exceptions

A tinted iron-oxide SPF 50+ every morning, reapplied, and a hat outdoors. Not aftercare — a third of the treatment. It decides whether results hold.

Needling on its own does very little for pigment. Its job here is delivery — with no heat.

Needling on its own does very little for pigment. Its job here is delivery — with no heat.

One

Shallow, controlled Dermapen

Depth set between 0.5 and 1.0 mm, deliberately conservative. Pigment is the one concern where needling too deep or too often can darken the marks you're treating. Less, done precisely, is the protocol.

Two

The active, in the channels

A procedure-grade tranexamic acid formulation is applied while the micro-channels are open — never a retail cream. At home, tranexamic acid, cysteamine or another selected active keeps working between visits.

Three

Light protection, no exceptions

A tinted iron-oxide SPF 50+ every morning, reapplied, and a hat outdoors. Not aftercare — a third of the treatment. It decides whether results hold.

Your appointment

From first scan to final review

Calm, measured as it goes, and mostly done at home.

Skin Discovery

Complimentary. OBSERV maps where your pigment sits and how deep, we review triggers and history, prescribe your home-care active and SPF, and set the program length. Anything that doesn't look like typical pigment is referred for medical assessment first.

2–4 weeks before

About 60 minutes. Numbing, a shallow Dermapen pass — a brisk vibration more than pain — tranexamic acid into the channels, calming mask, mineral SPF. You leave pink, as if mildly sunburnt; it settles within a day.

After session 3

Repeat OBSERV scan against baseline. Slower than expected, we adjust depth, active or interval at no cost. Not moving, we stop and credit or refund unused treatments.

Program close

Final scan, side-by-side comparison, and a maintenance plan with a re-scan before each summer.

Your appointment

From first scan to final review

Calm, measured as it goes, and mostly done at home.

Skin Discovery

Complimentary. OBSERV maps where your pigment sits and how deep, we review triggers and history, prescribe your home-care active and SPF, and set the program length. Anything that doesn't look like typical pigment is referred for medical assessment first.

After session 3

Repeat OBSERV scan against baseline. Slower than expected, we adjust depth, active or interval at no cost. Not moving, we stop and credit or refund unused treatments.

2–4 weeks before

About 60 minutes. Numbing, a shallow Dermapen pass — a brisk vibration more than pain — tranexamic acid into the channels, calming mask, mineral SPF. You leave pink, as if mildly sunburnt; it settles within a day.

Program close

Final scan, side-by-side comparison, and a maintenance plan with a re-scan before each summer.

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Results & what to expect

Measured, not described

OBSERV's UV and cross-polarised modes photograph pigment beneath the surface, in the same light and position every time. It's how we tell skin that looks brighter on a good day from skin that has actually changed.

What you'll notice

Texture and glow change first, within a fortnight. Pigment lifts more slowly, and may briefly look more noticeable before it softens — that's expected. Most clients see a visible softening by session three and clearer definition by session six.

What we stand behind

No one can guarantee what melasma will do.

We can guarantee how the program is run.

Your plan is written and agreed with you before the first session.

Progress is measured with OBSERV imaging, not guessed.

If something needs adjusting, we adjust it at no cost.

If the scans show needling won't get you there, we stop — and credit or refund unused sessions.

You are never sold a session your skin doesn't need.

Results & what to expect

Measured, not described

OBSERV's UV and cross-polarised modes photograph pigment beneath the surface, in the same light and position every time. It's how we tell skin that looks brighter on a good day from skin that has actually changed.

What you'll notice

Texture and glow change first, within a fortnight. Pigment lifts more slowly, and may briefly look more noticeable before it softens — that's expected. Most clients see a visible softening by session three and clearer definition by session six.

What we stand behind

No one can guarantee what melasma will do.

We can guarantee how the program is run.

Your plan is written and agreed with you before the first session.

Progress is measured with OBSERV imaging, not guessed.

If something needs adjusting, we adjust it at no cost.

If the scans show needling won't get you there, we stop — and credit or refund unused sessions.

You are never sold a session your skin doesn't need.

Timing

Slower than other needling, on purpose

Pigment is the one concern where more often is not better. The rhythm below is the safe one.

Before session one

Home care starts two to four weeks ahead, so the cells are already settling when the first session lands.

Between sessions

Four to six weeks, set by how your skin recovers. Foundation runs about three months; Full Clarity about six.

Time of year

Any season works if you can protect the skin every day. If a summer of unavoidable sun is ahead, we may start home care now and needling after — the active alone is still progress.

Each year

A re-scan before summer and a top-up where useful, so you stay ahead of the rebound instead of starting over.

Timing

Slower than other needling, on purpose

Pigment is the one concern where more often is not better. The rhythm below is the safe one.

Before session one

Home care starts two to four weeks ahead, so the cells are already settling when the first session lands.

Between sessions

Four to six weeks, set by how your skin recovers. Foundation runs about three months; Full Clarity about six.

Time of year

Any season works if you can protect the skin every day. If a summer of unavoidable sun is ahead, we may start home care now and needling after — the active alone is still progress.

Each year

A re-scan before summer and a top-up where useful, so you stay ahead of the rebound instead of starting over.

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parallax

Who it's for

Pigment in the surface layers, and people ready to protect it

The mapping decides, but this is a fair guide.

Before session one

Melasma across cheeks, upper lip, forehead or jaw that hasn't shifted with skincare alone

Sun pigmentation and uneven tone on the face, neck or décolletage

Post-inflammatory marks left by breakouts

Olive, medium and deeper skin tones — no heat, so assessed on the same terms

You can commit to daily SPF 50+ and a morning-and-night pigment routine

Not right now — we'll tell you honestly

Pregnant or breastfeeding — both the needling and the actives wait

Oral isotretinoin in the last six months, or a history of keloid scarring

Active cold sores, infection, eczema or open skin on the area

Pigment OBSERV shows sits deep in the dermis — needling can't reach it, and we won't pretend otherwise

Any patch that is new, changing, irregular, raised or bleeding — medical assessment first, always

Who it's for

Pigment in the surface layers, and people ready to protect it

Before session one

Melasma across cheeks, upper lip, forehead or jaw that hasn't shifted with skincare alone

Sun pigmentation and uneven tone on the face, neck or décolletage

Post-inflammatory marks left by breakouts

Olive, medium and deeper skin tones — no heat, so assessed on the same terms

You can commit to daily SPF 50+ and a morning-and-night pigment routine

Not right now — we'll tell you honestly

Pregnant or breastfeeding — both the needling and the actives wait

Oral isotretinoin in the last six months, or a history of keloid scarring

Active cold sores, infection, eczema or open skin on the area

Pigment OBSERV shows sits deep in the dermis — needling can't reach it, and we won't pretend otherwise

Any patch that is new, changing, irregular, raised or bleeding — medical assessment first, always

The mapping decides, but this is a fair guide.

Investment

Your investment

Priced as a program, because that's how pigment is managed. Every price includes the in-clinic tranexamic acid formulation, numbing, aftercare mask and mineral SPF.

Single session

Experience the treatment before committing.

$299

Face · credited to a program within 30 days

Skin Discovery imaging and consultation

One Dermapen session with in-clinic active

Written home-care plan

Clarity Foundation

Lighter sun pigment and early, patchy melasma. About three months.

$849

3 sessions · $283 a session

Skin Discovery and baseline pigment map

Three sessions, 4–6 weeks apart

Progress scan and review after session three

Plan adjusted at no cost if needed

Full Clarity

Established melasma and pigment that has returned before. About six months.

$1,599

6 sessions · $266 a session

Everything in Foundation

Six sessions — the course length most melasma needs

Two progress scans: mid-program and at close

Pre-summer maintenance re-scan included

Pigment rarely stops at the jaw. Neck +$50 a session, neck and décolletage +$100 a session, on any tier.

Home-care active and SPF are prescribed at Skin Discovery and supplied at the clinic, priced separately — you pay for what your skin needs, not a bundle.

Pay in full or in two instalments: half at your first session, half at the mid-program review. Gift cards can be applied.

Investment

Your investment

Priced as a program, because that's how pigment is managed. Every price includes the in-clinic tranexamic acid formulation, numbing, aftercare mask and mineral SPF.

Single session

Experience the treatment before committing.

$299

Face · credited to a program within 30 days

Skin Discovery imaging and consultation

One Dermapen session with in-clinic active

Written home-care plan

Clarity Foundation

Lighter sun pigment and early, patchy melasma. About three months.

$849

3 sessions · $283 a session

Skin Discovery and baseline pigment map

Three sessions, 4–6 weeks apart

Progress scan and review after session three

Plan adjusted at no cost if needed

Full Clarity

Established melasma and pigment that has returned before. About six months.

$1,599

6 sessions · $266 a session

Everything in Foundation

Six sessions — the course length most melasma needs

Two progress scans: mid-program and at close

Pre-summer maintenance re-scan included

Pigment rarely stops at the jaw. Neck +$50 a session, neck and décolletage +$100 a session, on any tier.

Home-care active and SPF are prescribed at Skin Discovery and supplied at the clinic, priced separately — you pay for what your skin needs, not a bundle.

Pay in full or in two instalments: half at your first session, half at the mid-program review. Gift cards can be applied.

Does microneedling actually work for melasma?

On its own, barely. Paired with a pigment active such as tranexamic acid, the evidence is moderate and mostly positive — trial reductions in melasma severity scores of roughly 29–50% over a course, though not every study agrees. The needling is the delivery method; the active does the work; light protection keeps it. Results vary and melasma can return, particularly after sun exposure or hormonal change.

Can needling make pigmentation worse?

It can, if done too deep, too often, or on skin that's inflamed or has had recent sun. That's why we set depth at 0.5–1.0 mm, space sessions four weeks apart, insist on two weeks of home care before the first session, and scan before every treatment. Post-inflammatory darkening is the main risk we manage.

Is it suitable for darker skin tones?

Often yes, with extra care. Deeper skin tones are more prone to post-inflammatory darkening, so we prepare the skin for longer, stay at the shallow end of the depth range and space sessions further apart. Your Fitzpatrick type is assessed at Skin Discovery and shapes the plan.

How many sessions will I need?

Most melasma needs four to six sessions, which is why Full Clarity is six. Lighter sun pigmentation may show meaningful change in three. Your OBSERV baseline gives us a better estimate than a general rule, and the mid-program review is where we confirm it.

What happens after the program ends?

Home care continues — that's what holds the result. Many clients book a single top-up session each autumn and a re-scan before summer. Melasma is a tendency rather than a one-time problem, and the maintenance is the part most clinics don't tell you about. We'd rather you know now.

Who performs the treatment?

Stellar Beauty's therapists are INSKIN-certified in Dermapen microneedling and work under the supervision of the clinic's owner, who is a pharmacist. The clinic holds skin-penetration registration with Wentworth Shire Council, and infection-control procedures are documented and audited.

Does it hurt?

Numbing cream is applied for 20–30 minutes beforehand. At the shallow depths used for pigment, most people describe a brisk vibrating sensation with some sensitivity around the upper lip and forehead.

How long is the downtime?

Pinkness for 12–24 hours, tightness for a day or two, light flaking around days three to five. Most clients book for a Friday afternoon and are back to their normal routine by Monday. No makeup for the first 24 hours; no sweating, heat or sun for 48.

Is spring or summer a bad time to start?

Not a bad time, but a demanding one — UV is the main thing that undoes pigment work. If you can commit to SPF 50+ daily, a hat, and keeping direct sun off your face for two weeks after each session, the program runs fine year-round. If a beach summer is unavoidable, we may start your home care now and schedule needling for autumn. Sun-safe clients get better results whatever the month.

What if my pigment is hormonal — the pill, pregnancy, HRT?

Melasma is often hormone-driven, and no skin treatment changes that trigger. We don't treat during pregnancy or breastfeeding. For everything else, our pharmacist will talk through what you're taking and say so if a conversation with your GP would help.

What if my pigmentation isn't melasma?

Not every brown patch is melasma, and some shouldn't be treated cosmetically at all. If a patch is new, changing, irregular, raised or bleeding, we refer you for medical assessment before any treatment. If it's sun damage or post-inflammatory marks rather than melasma, the program still applies — the plan just changes.

Copy of Copy of What if my pigment is hormonal — the pill, pregnancy, HRT?

Melasma is often hormone-driven, and no skin treatment changes that trigger. We don't treat during pregnancy or breastfeeding. For everything else, our pharmacist will talk through what you're taking and say so if a conversation with your GP would help.

Does microneedling actually work for melasma?

On its own, barely. Paired with a pigment active such as tranexamic acid, the evidence is moderate and mostly positive — trial reductions in melasma severity scores of roughly 29–50% over a course, though not every study agrees. The needling is the delivery method; the active does the work; light protection keeps it. Results vary and melasma can return, particularly after sun exposure or hormonal change.

Can needling make pigmentation worse?

It can, if done too deep, too often, or on skin that's inflamed or has had recent sun. That's why we set depth at 0.5–1.0 mm, space sessions four weeks apart, insist on two weeks of home care before the first session, and scan before every treatment. Post-inflammatory darkening is the main risk we manage.

Is it suitable for darker skin tones?

Often yes, with extra care. Deeper skin tones are more prone to post-inflammatory darkening, so we prepare the skin for longer, stay at the shallow end of the depth range and space sessions further apart. Your Fitzpatrick type is assessed at Skin Discovery and shapes the plan.

How many sessions will I need?

Most melasma needs four to six sessions, which is why Full Clarity is six. Lighter sun pigmentation may show meaningful change in three. Your OBSERV baseline gives us a better estimate than a general rule, and the mid-program review is where we confirm it.

What happens after the program ends?

Home care continues — that's what holds the result. Many clients book a single top-up session each autumn and a re-scan before summer. Melasma is a tendency rather than a one-time problem, and the maintenance is the part most clinics don't tell you about. We'd rather you know now.

Who performs the treatment?

Stellar Beauty's therapists are INSKIN-certified in Dermapen microneedling and work under the supervision of the clinic's owner, who is a pharmacist. The clinic holds skin-penetration registration with Wentworth Shire Council, and infection-control procedures are documented and audited.

Does it hurt?

Numbing cream is applied for 20–30 minutes beforehand. At the shallow depths used for pigment, most people describe a brisk vibrating sensation with some sensitivity around the upper lip and forehead.

How long is the downtime?

Pinkness for 12–24 hours, tightness for a day or two, light flaking around days three to five. Most clients book for a Friday afternoon and are back to their normal routine by Monday. No makeup for the first 24 hours; no sweating, heat or sun for 48.

Is spring or summer a bad time to start?

Not a bad time, but a demanding one — UV is the main thing that undoes pigment work. If you can commit to SPF 50+ daily, a hat, and keeping direct sun off your face for two weeks after each session, the program runs fine year-round. If a beach summer is unavoidable, we may start your home care now and schedule needling for autumn. Sun-safe clients get better results whatever the month.

What if my pigment is hormonal — the pill, pregnancy, HRT?

Melasma is often hormone-driven, and no skin treatment changes that trigger. We don't treat during pregnancy or breastfeeding. For everything else, our pharmacist will talk through what you're taking and say so if a conversation with your GP would help.

What if my pigmentation isn't melasma?

Not every brown patch is melasma, and some shouldn't be treated cosmetically at all. If a patch is new, changing, irregular, raised or bleeding, we refer you for medical assessment before any treatment. If it's sun damage or post-inflammatory marks rather than melasma, the program still applies — the plan just changes.

Copy of Copy of What if my pigment is hormonal — the pill, pregnancy, HRT?

Melasma is often hormone-driven, and no skin treatment changes that trigger. We don't treat during pregnancy or breastfeeding. For everything else, our pharmacist will talk through what you're taking and say so if a conversation with your GP would help.

Begin

Start with the consultation. Decide after.

Thirty minutes: assessment, honest expectations, baseline photographs and a clear program price. If it isn't right for your marks, we'll tell you.

Begin

Start with the consultation. Decide after.

Thirty minutes: assessment, honest expectations, baseline photographs and a clear program price. If it isn't right for your marks, we'll tell you.