What are the benefits of microdermabrasion?
Microdermabrasion removes the uppermost layer of skin. This can improve the look and feel of your skin, revealing smoother, more youthful-looking skin. Microdermabrasion can make the following skin conditions less noticeable:
- Age spots.
- Enlarged pores or blackheads.
- Fine lines or wrinkles.
- Mild scars, especially those from acne.
- Skin discoloration or uneven skin tone.
- Stretch marks.
- Sun damage.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a minimally invasive procedure to remove the uppermost layer of skin from your face or body. It can help improve the appearance of your skin and minimize wrinkles, age spots or other minor cosmetic concerns.
What is microdermabrasion?
Microdermabrasion is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure for your skin. A dermatologist provider uses a special instrument to gently exfoliate (sand away) the uppermost layer of your skin. You can get microdermabrasion on your face, neck, back, hands or chest.
Microdermabrasion:
- Helps new skin cells grow.
- Reveals newer, undamaged skin.
- Thickens collagen, which is a protein that keeps your skin firm.
What happens before microdermabrasion?
Before your microdermabrasion procedure, you’ll consult with a healthcare provider. A plastic surgeon, dermatologist or cosmetologist/aesthetician can perform microdermabrasion. They’ll go over your health history and your goals for the procedure. They may also take before photos of the area of skin that will have treatment.
This is a good time to ask any questions you may have about the procedure, like:
- Are there any risks?
- How many treatments will I need?
- What kind of results can I expect?
- Will my skin be red or very sensitive after treatment?
What do microdermabrasion facials do?
You don’t need topical or local anesthetic to numb your skin before microdermabrasion. The procedure usually isn’t painful, but you might feel a scratching, stinging, sucking or vibrating sensation on your skin.
Your healthcare provider uses one of two techniques to remove dead or damaged cells in microdermabrasion:
- Crystal microdermabrasion: Using this method, your dermatologist shoots tiny crystals through a tube. The crystals loosen and knock off dead skin cells. Then, your provider vacuums up the debris (the crystals and dead skill cells) using the same tube. It’s like sandblasting only much, much gentler.
- Diamond microdermabrasion: In this method, your dermatologist uses a diamond-tipped wand to remove (and vacuum up debris from) the top layer of your skin. This works a little more like an electric sander, but it’s much, much gentler.
Treatment usually lasts about 30 to 40 minutes.