If you walk into any medical spa, plastic surgeons office or day spa, you will find microdermabrasion as one of the many listed services being offered. It’s a popular choice for those looking for smoother and younger skin. Within the first visit, the process can create a brighter skin tone.
Microdermabrasion is an intense, non-invasive treatment that sloughs off the outermost layer of the skin. It promotes new cells to regenerate quickly resulting in more toned and brighter skin. It does not require anesthesia and as an added bonus, it can produce some amazing results.
The process involves a special applicator that is used to gently sand the skin. There are actually two types of microdermabrasion procedures, which are crystal and diamond tip. Crystal microdermabrasion originally came from Europe and is the more popular procedure. During this process, superfine crystals are sprayed onto the skin while the same applicator vacuums up the crystals. Aluminum oxide crystals are used because they are nearly as hard as diamonds.
In the second type of procedure, there is a diamond-encrusted wand that is passed over the skin removing the top layer. The treatment works like sandpaper or sanding the skin. Both procedures have no recovery time and are painless. The results are the removal of the stratum corneum,( which is the outer layer of the skin). Dead skin cells are replaced by newer healthier skin cells and the skin is more even and brighter. Benefits include improvement in uneven skin tone, age spots or discoloration, wrinkles, dark spots, dull complexion, acne breakouts, and clogged pores.
I decided to try the procedure myself at a local medical spa near my work. I first sat down with a nurse practitioner and discussed my skin needs. She performed a skin analysis and decided that microdermabrasion will give my complexion a cleaner brighter look. I have normal to combination skin, so she asked me about my skincare routine and told me what precautions to take, what to expect and aftercare.
During my visit, I decided to go with the crystal dermabrasion method. I was lying face up on what almost looked like a massage table. My hair was wrapped around with a towel and I was ready to begin. While the nurse starting blasting my face with the crystals, it almost felt gritty. The suction procedure was painless and it took about a full hour to finish… Afterward, I drove home and my face was slightly red. I used an intense cream for a soothing effect and took a nap at my house. After I woke up, my face looked a shade brighter and my skin felt baby soft.
The redness, of course, went down and I was pleased with my visit and results. I would definitely recommend this procedure every couple of months. It is said by aestheticians and nurses not to do too much to the skin, as less is more. Just in case you want to get microdermabrasion, costs range anywhere from $75-150 per treatment. I think the investment is worth it and you will be very satisfied.