Is Microdermabrasion the Same as Dermabrasion?
No. Microdermabrasion is not the same as dermabrasion. Dermabrasion is an exfoliation treatment that uses a rotating brush at high speed to brush away dead and damaged skin cells from the upper layers of the skin. Dermabrasion can also give the skin a smoother surface and improve the appearance of skin that has been damaged by acne, accidents or even surgery. Some dermabrasion treatments can be used to remove pre-cancerous growths on the skin.
Microdermabrasion treatments are different in that they use a minimally abrasive instrument to gently sand away the outermost layer of your skin, removing uneven, damaged or dead skin that is dulling your appearance.
Microdermabrasion can also help treat light acne scars, discoloration, sun damage and mild to moderate stretch marks.
What Can Microdermabrasion Treat?
Microdermabrasion is excellent for treating the following skin conditions:
- Age spots
- Blackheads
- Hyperpigmentation (patches of darkened skin)
- Dull skin
- Stretch marks
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Large pores
- Acne scares
Another benefit of microdermabrasion is that it helps to facilitate your body’s collagen production, which allows you to look younger and also helps prevent future signs of aging from settling in. Collagen is a protein critical for the health and structure of your skin. Collagen is abundant in our skin when we’re younger, but declines as we age, resulting in looser, uneven and sagging skin.
How Does Microdermabrasion Work?
As we mentioned, microdermabrasion is a non-surgical skin-rejuvenation treatment designed to gently remove the outer layers of the skin and dead skin cells using a diamond-tipped tool. As these cells are removed, they are gently vacuumed away.
How Long Does Microdermabrasion Treatment Last? Does it Hurt?
Microdermabrasion treatment for the entire face takes only about 30 minutes.
The treatment is not painful, and there is no “down time” following your procedure. This makes it an ideal cosmetic procedure to get during your lunch break – no one will even know that you’re working to improve your appearance!
Results of microdermabrasion are visible immediately, but in order to keep looking your best, maintenance treatments are required to remove that outer layer of skin that can become damaged and dull.
What Should I Expect After Microdermabrasion?
After your microdermabrasion procedure, you should expect smooth, soft skin and a bright and healthy appearance. Some individuals experience redness at first, but it usually subsides within hours. Some patients have a very slight redness around their eyes after treatment.
We recommend that after microdermabrasion or any other skin-rejuvenation treatment, including laser skin resurfacing and chemical peels, you wear sunscreen and avoid prolonged sun exposure.
We recommend that you also avoid makeup to prevent complications or issues with your results.
As we mentioned, there is no downtime after your procedure.
How Often Can I Undergo Microdermabrasion?
You can have microdermabrasion treatment every two to four weeks. Dr. Peterson will talk to you about your ideal skin-rejuvenation plan and inform you about any other services that you can combine with your procedure to achieve your skin goals, correct uneven skin tone, and lighten brown spots, acne scars and other skin conditions.
If you have any questions regarding our microdermabrasion, skin-rejuvenating services and other skin concerns, please contact us today. We would love to hear from you!
