Plasma pen 'fibroblast'
Plasma arc skin tightening · 'non-surgical blepharoplasty' · beautician devices
Cheap handheld 'fibroblast' pens sold online and promoted by beauticians as a non-surgical eyelid lift have spread through TikTok and Instagram, prompting a Health Canada warning and published case reports of burns.
It is a grid of small burns sold as a lift, and on the skin tones most of Singapore has, the burns outlast the lift.
Reviewed against the Aesthetics International standard. Category: Energy devices.
Does Plasma pen 'fibroblast' work?
Caution. It is a grid of small burns sold as a lift, and on the skin tones most of Singapore has, the burns outlast the lift. Small observational studies and clinical trials, mostly from southern Europe, report improvement in mild upper-eyelid dermatochalasis after plasma exeresis with medical devices, with high satisfaction and transient crusting.
- Verdict
- Caution Evidence, regulation or risk profile does not yet support routine use.
- Evidence base
- 4 PubMed-indexed studies cited below (case series, cohort, review); no systematic review or randomised trial on the claim itself.
- Suits
- At most, mild upper-eyelid skin excess in fair skin, treated at low power by a doctor with a medical plasma device who has shown you healed results on similar skin.
- Not for
- Fitzpatrick III–VI skin, which includes most of Singapore; fat bags, brow descent or real skin excess; anyone offered it by a beautician or with a pen bought online.
- In Singapore
- Plasma pens are sold online and used in some Singapore beauty salons; creating burns in skin is a medical procedure under MOH's aesthetic practice guidelines and should not be performed by beauticians.
- Category
- Energy devices
- Reviewed
- 1 October 2026 by Aesthetics International. Revised as evidence and regulation change.
What it is
A handheld device that ionises the air between a fine tip and the skin to create a tiny plasma arc, which burns a small dot of superficial skin without touching it. Dots are placed in a grid over the upper eyelid, crow's feet or neck; as the burns heal the skin contracts slightly. The medical version, plasma exeresis with a controlled device, is a different proposition from a generic pen bought online.
How it works
Each dot is a small, full-thickness epidermal burn with a zone of heat beneath it. Done precisely at low power on fair, thin eyelid skin, the contraction can soften mild hooding. Done at higher power, too densely, or on darker skin, the same burns produce lasting hypopigmented dots, hyperpigmentation and scarring. There is no depth control beyond the operator's hand.
What the evidence says
Small observational studies and clinical trials, mostly from southern Europe, report improvement in mild upper-eyelid dermatochalasis after plasma exeresis with medical devices, with high satisfaction and transient crusting. There are no randomised comparisons with blepharoplasty or radiofrequency, no long-term follow-up and little data in darker skin. Against that sits a growing case-report literature of burns and scarring after unregulated pens used by non-medical operators, including a 2024 report of second-degree burns after attempted breast tightening promoted on social media.
What people are saying
Paraphrased from public discussion on TikTok, Instagram, Reddit and in the press. Not testimonials, and not about any one clinic. Reported in: newmarkettoday.ca, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, healthline.com.
What the studies show
- cohort
An observational study reported improvement in mild upper-eyelid skin excess and high satisfaction after plasma exeresis, with transient swelling and crusting.
Upper eyelid blepharoplasty using plasma exeresis: Evaluation of outcomes, satisfaction, and symptoms after procedure. — J Cosmet Dermatol, 2021. PMID 33252188.
- cohort
A clinical trial found measurable reduction in mild dermatochalasis after plasma exeresis, without a surgical comparison arm.
Evaluation of plasma exeresis as a new technique for non surgical treatment of dermatochalasis. — J Dermatolog Treat, 2022. PMID 32698635.
- case series
A woman sustained second-degree burns and lasting scars after a non-medical operator used a plasma pen for breast tightening promoted on social media.
The Dangers of Social Media as an Information Source: A Case Report of a Burn After Attempted Breast Tightening Using a PlasmaPen. — Cureus, 2024. PMID 39624522.
- review
The review distinguishes controlled medical plasma devices from handheld pens and describes the burn mechanism underlying both effect and complications.
Plasma Energy Skin Rejuvenation. — Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am, 2020. PMID 31779943.
Studies are selected for relevance and quality, not for agreement with the verdict; PubMed records are linked so the reader can check them.
Who it suits
Suits
At most, mild upper-eyelid skin excess in fair skin, treated at low power by a doctor with a medical plasma device who has shown you healed results on similar skin.
Not for
Fitzpatrick III–VI skin, which includes most of Singapore; fat bags, brow descent or real skin excess; anyone offered it by a beautician or with a pen bought online.
Alternatives
The two reviewed treatments most often weighed against Plasma pen 'fibroblast', on the same standard.
| Plasma pen 'fibroblast' | HIFU | RF microneedling | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Caution | Vetted | Vetted |
| What it is | A handheld device that ionises the air between a fine tip and the skin to create a tiny plasma arc, which burns a small dot of superficial skin without touching it. | High-intensity focused ultrasound delivers heat to precise points at set depths — commonly 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 mm — creating coagulation points in the dermis and the SMAS layer that contract and stimulate collagen over months. | Insulated or non-insulated microneedles deliver radiofrequency energy at a chosen depth below the surface. |
| Evidence base | 4 PubMed-indexed studies cited below (case series, cohort, review); no systematic review or randomised trial on the claim itself. | 3 PubMed-indexed studies cited below, including systematic reviews. | 3 PubMed-indexed studies cited below, including systematic reviews. |
| Suits | At most, mild upper-eyelid skin excess in fair skin, treated at low power by a doctor with a medical plasma device who has shown you healed results on similar skin. | Mild to moderate laxity with reasonable skin thickness, people who want a structural effect without injectables. | Acne scars, enlarged pores, early laxity, melasma-prone skin that cannot take ablative lasers, and selected body contouring when the plane is mapped first. |
| In one line | It is a grid of small burns sold as a lift, and on the skin tones most of Singapore has, the burns outlast the lift. | HIFU or radiofrequency is the wrong question — they do not do the same job, which is why 3D Facial Reconstruction uses both. | The tissue plane, not the device, decides whether you tighten skin or remodel fat. The brand war is a distraction from that. |
Risks
Burns, lasting hypopigmented or hyperpigmented grid marks, hypertrophic scarring, infection and prolonged swelling; Health Canada has warned that these pens have not been evaluated for safety or effectiveness, and published case reports describe second-degree burns from non-medical use.
In Singapore
Plasma pens are sold online and used in some Singapore beauty salons; creating burns in skin is a medical procedure under MOH's aesthetic practice guidelines and should not be performed by beauticians. Confirm the device's HSA registration with any provider. Aesthetics International does not use plasma pens; eyelid laxity is assessed for radiofrequency, fractional CO₂ or referral for surgery.
“It is a grid of small burns sold as a lift, and on the skin tones most of Singapore has, the burns outlast the lift.”
Vetted protocols on the same problem
Questions
Does the plasma pen work for hooded eyes?
Is it safe for Asian skin?
Why is a beautician offering it?
Cite this review
Aesthetics International (2026). Plasma pen 'fibroblast': does it work? Evidence, risks and verdict. https://aesthetics-international.org/treatments/plasma-pen-fibroblast/ (reviewed 1 October 2026).
Editorial, unpaid and independent of any manufacturer. Verdict: Caution. See what works and what doesn't across all 153 reviews. Spotted an error or a newer study? Suggest a correction — changes are logged on the corrections page. Terms are defined in the glossary.
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