Thinking of giving your face a youthful glow with microdermabrasion? As one of the most popular facial treatments in America, microdermabrasion has a reputation of being “the” treatment for instant skin renewal, with the total process taking only about 30 minutes! So what happens during a microdermabrasion treatment? Read on to find out.
What is microdermabrasion?
Microdermabrasion is a painless, non-invasive facial treatment that removes the uppermost layer of skin cells to reveal fresh, new, youthful-looking skin underneath. Microdermabrasion is used to address a variety of skin imperfections, including:
- Acne scars
- Wrinkles
- Fine lines
- Melasma
- Sunspots
- Age spots
- Dull complexion
- Enlarged pores
Microdermabrasion is enormously popular because it’s affordable, quick, and gorgeously effective. It can also be done in conjunction with other treatments, as post-microdermabrasion skin is better able to absorb serums and treatments because it’s free of absorption-blocking dead skin and debris.
What happens during a microdermabrasion treatment?
When you come in for a microdermabrasion treatment, you’ll first be led to one of our luxurious treatment rooms. Your aesthetician will gently cleanse your face to remove any makeup, dirt, and debris on the surface of your skin. Cleansing the skin before the treatment helps you enjoy better microdermabrasion results.
After your skin is thoroughly cleansed, your eyes will be covered with a protective eye shield, which prevents particles from the microdermabrasion process from getting into your eyes and irritating them. The eye shield also protects the delicate skin around your eye area during treatment.
Your aesthetician will then begin your microdermabrasion treatment using a handheld wand. At our office in Atlanta, we use DermaSweep MD technology for all our microdermabrasion treatments. The DermaSweep MD wand uses specially designed bristles to gently and thoroughly remove the top layer of skin cells, debris, and dirt from the surface of your face.
Your aesthetician will gently sweep the wand over the surface of your face for somewhere between 10-20 minutes. Sometimes first-time microdermabrasion patients worry that the process will be uncomfortable, but they’re pleasantly surprised to discover that it feels much like a facial, with soothing, rhythmic motions and absolutely no discomfort.
After the exfoliating step is complete, the DermaSweep MD process takes your pampering a step further. Directly after a microdermabrasion treatment, your skin is at its most open to soaking in nutrients and actives, as there is no dirt or debris to block absorption. So as the finishing step of a DermaSweep MD microdermabrasion treatment, a polishing tip is placed on the wand and a customized serum is infused into your skin. This final serum-infusion step is another thing that separates our microdermabrasion treatment from other Atlanta microdermabrasion treatments. In this final step, your skin is infused with a customized serum that can help with hyperpigmentation, brighten up a dull complexion, hydrate dry skin, or prevent acne, depending on your skin concerns.
After the serum is applied and has soaked into your skin, your aesthetician will apply additional products customized to your skincare needs to soothe and protect your skin. Sunscreen will be applied, as well, as you may be slightly more sensitive to the sun directly after treatment.
After your microdermabrasion treatment
There is zero downtime after your microdermabrasion treatment, so you can go right back to your daily activities. Your skin will be slightly more sensitive, and you may notice some redness. This is normal and typically fades in 24 hours.
For three days following treatment, we ask that patients refrain from exfoliating or using acid-based skin care products or any motorized skin-cleaning brushes. Your skin is thoroughly exfoliated after microdermabrasion, so these treatments are not necessary and may cause irritation to your skin. After three days, you can resume your normal skin care regimen.
Microdermabrasion benefits
Why schedule a microdermabrasion appointment when you can exfoliate at home? Microdermabrasion is professional-level exfoliation that leaves your skin renewed and glowing right away. There’s no downtime, and you’ll see results when you walk out of your very first treatment.
Benefits of microdermabrasion include:
- Smoother skin
- Diminished fine lines and wrinkles
- Pores are less noticeable
- Reduced appearance of age spots
- Faded scars, including acne scars
- Rejuvenated appearance
- More youthful-looking skin
How does microdermabrasion work?
Microdermabrasion is an advanced, quick-working form of exfoliation. There are many different types of microdermabrasion treatments in Atlanta, but our office exclusively uses the DermaSweep MD system because of its precision and effectiveness. The DermaSweep MD system uses specially designed bristles in addition to gentle vacuum suction to remove debris and dead skin cells from the surface of the face. It also stimulates blood flow, opening the highway of nutrients to the surface of your skin.
Preparing for your microdermabrasion appointment
It’s important to make sure your skin is in the proper condition before undergoing microdermabrasion treatment. Certain skin care treatments and topicals can increase the sensitivity of your skin, which can negatively affect your microdermabrasion results.
Before your microdermabrasion treatment:
- 6 months before – Stop taking Accutane.
- 2 weeks before – Do not wax your face or undergo a chemical peel or IPL facial.
- 5 days before – Refrain from exfoliation, acid toners and treatments, and bleaching products.
- 12 hours before – Stop using retinol and/or tretinoin.
We’re not able to do microdermabrasion treatments on skin with active cold sores, open lesions, or severe active acne. If you have a treatment scheduled and experience an outbreak, we’ll be happy to reschedule your appointment.
Does microdermabrasion hurt?
Not at all. All you’ll feel is light pressure on your skin as the DermaSweep MD bristles exfoliate your face and the vacuum suction gently removes debris while stimulating blood flow to the skin. The last step in your microdermabrasion treatment is the application of serums and topicals, which will leave your skin glowing and feeling soothed and comfortable.
How long do microdermabrasion results last?
Microdermabrasion results can last up to 12 months. To achieve this long-lasting result, several treatments may be required.