What exactly is microdermabrasion? There are so many cosmetic procedures out there to improve the appearance of aging skin that it can be confusing. The aim of most of these products and treatments is to improve your skin by stimulating healthy skin cell regeneration. By removing a layer of skin, the body's regenerative cycle is stimulated, eliminating or softening the harshness of flaws in the skin and replacing them with a healthy layer.

Dermabrasion vs. Microdermabrasion

Dermabrasion is a skin resurfacing procedure that roughly abrades away the outermost layer of skin with a motorized tool. This procedure is often conducted under local anesthesia or with a numbing spray, such as Freon. As a result, the skin will be red, puffy, and sensitive to touch.

For this pain, especially while talking and eating, you will most likely be prescribed medications. Staying home from work is recommended for 2 weeks. Any activity where you might bump your face should be avoided for 4-6 weeks. It may take 3 weeks for the redness to face. Sun should be avoided for 6-12 months until normal pigmentation has returned to your skin. You cannot undergo another treatment until your skin has fully recovered, which is typically 1 year.

In micordermabrasion treatments, a sandblasting like tool with crystals is used to abrade away the outer layer of skin, about 10-15 microns in depth, and suck up the resulting dead skin. For those skin problems deeper than 10-15 microns, microdermabrasion results are less effective. If you suffer from acne lesions, microdermabrasion for acne is effective but should only be used on those with mild cases.

Microdermabrasion is not an invasive procedure and is conducted without use of anesthesia. It can also be used on the neck, a very delicate part of the body.

Although some skin irritation and pinkness will result from treatments, you do not need to stop everything like you would with dermabrasion. A series of treatments is required in order to achieve full results.

Dermabrasion in the end can cost between $2000 to $4000 figuring the cost of the treatment, anesthesia, hospital stay, etc. Microdermabrasion cost is less and spread out over the course of the treatments, typically between $70 and $250 per treatment. You can also save by purchasing a microdermabrasion at home kit and doing it yourself.

Microdermabrasion: How it Works

The abrasive nature of microdermabrasion crystals removes dead skin. This action also stimulates the body's regenerative cycle. Microdermabrasion activates the production of skin cells to replace those lost. Skin matrix is better organized with larger and healthier skin cells.

The dermal layer of the skin is most affected when microdermabrasion is undergone. Fibroblasts also become more plentiful and produce more collagen. Collagen fibers are what give our skin its thickness and stretch the skin. Elastin fibers are related to skin elasticity and multiply in response to exfoliation. Microdermabrasion doesn't just get rid of damaged or dead skin. It replaces it with fresh new skin.