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Does Microdermabrasion Hurt?

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Published on May 8, 2019 By: WIFH Staff

How Does it Feel to Get Microdermabrasion?

Are you one of the many people who have thought about getting a microdermabrasion to treat your skin? Microdermabrasion is a popular way to rejuvenate the skin and treat skin woes like sun damage, fine lines and wrinkles, dullness, acne, hyperpigmentation, and melasma, patients often have questions about what to expect from their microdermabrasion treatment.

One such question is: Does microdermabrasion hurt?

The short answer is no.

Microdermabrasion does not hurt. The sensation you feel might depend on the kind of microdermabrasion you get (traditional crystal, diamond tip, or DermaSweep-bristle technology), but none of these methods should be painful or even uncomfortable. Read on to learn more about what to expect from a microdermabrasion treatment.

Different Types of Microdermabrasion
Comparing the Different Types of Microdermabrasion
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The Sensation Can Depend on the Type of Microdermabrasion Method

Though microdermabrasion in any form exfoliates and rejuvenates the skin by removing the outer layer of dead skin cells, there are different types of microdermabrasion methods available.

Crystal Microdermabrasion Method

The Crystal Microdermabrasion method blasts very fine crystals onto the skin while simultaneously removing the crystals and dead skin with suction. With this method, patients can experience a mild tingly feeling as the crystals pass over the skin. This kind of microdermabrasion can be a bit messy, though: although suction is meant to remove the crystals, it is impossible to remove them all, sometimes leaving you with very fine particles in your hair and ears following treatment.

Diamond Tip Microdermabrasion

The Diamond Tip Microdermabrasion method uses a tip that has diamond fragments embedded in it. The process utilizes a diamond tipped wand that is used to abrade the surface of the skin. The diamond tip is usually easier to control and can treat areas around the eyes and mouth more precisely. There are also no particles with this method. During the diamond tip microderm, you might feel slight tugging of the skin in the treated area, but it does not hurt.

DermaSweep Microdermabrasion

The microdermabrasion option we offer at WIFH is DermaSweep, which uses bristles to exfoliate the skin with applied suction. The treatment is basically a light sanding of the skin. With DermaSweep, there are different bristles that can be used depending on your skin health, varying from a softer bristle to a very stiff bristle. Suction is also applied which helps to increase bloodflow and collagen production.

After the skin is exfoliated with the bristles, a polishing tip is used to infuse serums back into the skin. The serums used are selected based on your specific skin goals. The combination of the microdermabrasion and the serum treatment allows the skin to better absorb the serum and its benefits, because the skin is fresh and open after the microderm.

Like other types of microdermabrasion, DermaSweep does not hurt. The sensation you can expect to experience with DermaSweep is similar to Diamond Tip Microdermabrasion with an added layer of effectiveness from the infusion step.

Final Thoughts on What Microdermabrasion Feels Like

All in all you will feel mild abrasion during microdermabrasion, which should feel like very light sand paper coupled with suction. This procedure should not be painful or uncomfortable, so if you experience any discomfort during treatment you should let your skin care professional performing the procedure know as you soon as you feel it.

Your skin care professional can always adjust suction and other aspects of your treatment to eliminate discomfort. You should anticipate having some mild redness of the skin following your microdermabrasion treatment, but this is very temporary, even in the case of the most sensitive skin types.

As always, call or visit WIFH for a consultation, and find out how your skin can benefit from microdermabrasion!

Sarah Richardson, LME

Sarah Richardson is WIFH’s Lead Medical Aesthetician and manages the skincare side of our practice. She is also an Assistant Cosmetic Laser Practitioner licensed by the Georgia Medical Composite Board. With over 16 years of skin care experience, Sarah specializes in creating customized treatment plans to address our patients’ individualized needs. Through a combination of clinical facials and aesthetic procedures, as well as scientifically effective skin care products, Sarah helps patients achieve a healthy, radiant, and glowing complexion. She is truly passionate about what she does and loves to educate others who are looking to improve their skin’s health.