Confused as to what microdermabrasion is or does? There are so many cosmetic procedures out there to improve the appearance of aging skin that it can be confusing. The majority of these products and treatments improve the appearance of skin by encouraging the formation of healthy, undamaged skin. 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 surgical procedure that removes outermost layer of skin with a motorized rough wire brush or a burr containing abrasive particles. Due to the depth of skin removed, this procedure is conducted using local anesthesia or a numbing spray like Freon. After the procedure, the face is red and swollen.

Your surgeon will prescribe pain medications to treat the pain and discomfort that will be felt while talking and eating. Recovery time is at minimum 2 weeks. Your face will be sensitive for 4-6 weeks so avoid activity that might aggravate it. For the pinkness in your skin to fully subside, you may need to wait 3 weeks. Be cautious with your skin for the first year: avoid sun so that regular color of your skin can safely return. You cannot undergo another treatment until your skin has fully recovered, which is typically 1 year.

All microdermabrasion treatments use some sort of tool with crystals to remove 10-15 microns of skin. Because this is far less than dermabrasion, microdermabrasion results are less effective on flaws reaching deeper skin layers. Microdermabrasion for acne removal is effective for those with mild to moderate acne.

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.

Skin will be red and irritated after a treatment, however, one is able to continue life as normal leaving the surgeon's office. Several treatments are required to obtain desired results.

Considering cost of the treatment, anesthesia or freezing spray, hospital fees, etc., dermabrasion costs range from about $2000 to $4000. Microdermabrasion cost is negligible in comparison, between $70 to $250 per treatment. Another cost-savings option would be to explore microdermabrasion at home kits or microdermabrasion products.

Microdermabrasion: How it Works

The abrasive nature of microdermabrasion crystals removes dead skin. As the body responds naturally to heal and protect against irritants, this action increases normal skin cell production. Harsh exfoliation pushes the body to manufacture healthy skin cells to replace the damaged ones that have been abrades away. These new skin cells are larger, stronger and better structured.

Microdermabrasion affects most prominently the dermal layer. Fibroblasts become more numerous and in turn create more collagen fibers. Collagen is the protein that gives our skin its thickness and its 'tight' look. Elastin also increases in number and is what causes the skin to be elastic. Microdermabrasion doesn't just get rid of damaged or dead skin. It speeds up and improves the quality of the new skin that is being produced.