Microdermabrasion Vs Dermabrasion
I’ve only had dermabrasion once about 4 years on an ugly scar I had on my face and let me tell you, dermabrasion and microdermabrasion may sound alike but they are as different as apples and oranges. The main difference between derma abrasion and microdermabrasion is that microderma peels off only the top 10-15 microns (which is a very fine layer) whereas dermabrasion exfoliates much deeper. This makes it more effective but also more invasive (and less attractive as a result).
What Do Micro Abrasion and Dermabrasion Do?
Many of you will be concerned above all, with cost, but cost is irrelevant if the procedure doesn’t do what you need it to do. Dermabrasion dramatically improves the appearance of the skin. It can treat deep wrinkles, scars, different skin lesions and hyperpigmentation. Despite long recovery times and relatively high cost, it’s a great way to resurface the skin and get rid of more severe imperfections.
Microabrasion, on the other hand, is not as effective on deep wrinkles and scars, because it only removes a very fine layer skin. But the gentle peeling can help remove fine lines, superficial scars, stretch marks, age and sunspots and it can also help with acne. Basically, microderm abrasion improves the overall complexion but also removes some mild imperfections.
A big pro of microdermabrasion is that, unlike dermabrasion and other procedures (laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels, etc), it can be used on the neck. The skin on the neck area is very sensitive and has an increased risk of scarring which is why it needs a gentle procedure (and microderma fits the bill).
With derma abrasion, each new treatment helps improve the appearance of your skin by 20-50%, depending on condition, doctor experience, the machine used during treatment, skin type and lifestyle. The results are permanent (in cosmetic surgery that means 12 months or more), making it an effective solution for acne scar removal, skin growth and tattoo removal.
Dermabrasion, however, cannot prevent the appearance of new wrinkles (that would make it nothing short of miraculous). If you want to repeat the treatment you must wait until your skin recovers completely from previous dermabrasions (which can take up to 12 months).
I used derma abrasion for a very specific purpose: a deep scar on my face. Once recovered, I had three full microdermbrasion treatments for skin rejuvenation. I would not use dermbrasion to achieve general improvement because it’s too invasive but I would not hesitate having it for a specific problem.
Microderm and Dermabrasion Cost Difference
When I first had dermabrasion, microderm was a virtually unknown procedure. For the deep scar I had, though, micodermabrasion couldn’t have helped me anyway and derma abrasion was the procedure I settled for in the end. However, dermabrasion is more expensive compared to microdermabrasion. It can cost between $1,500 and $4,000, depending on the size and depth of peeling. For example, you can expect to pay around $3,000 to get rid of the acne scars on your cheeks, while a lip treatment costs around $1,500.
This cost does not include the price of anesthesia, operating room facility, hospital stay and any other expenses which can add up to another $2,000-$4,000. Sometimes medical insurance covers the cost of dermabrasion if its main purpose is scar removal or reducing cancerous skin growth, burns or other severe injuries.
Microdermabrasion is much more affordable and accessible which is why I’ve been having it for the last 3 years. The cost of microdermabrasion treatment in spas, beauty centers and doctor offices is around $70-$250 per abrasion but you’ll need 10 sessions on average to achieve notable results.
Differences Between Microbrasion And Dermabrasion Procedures
We can talk about cost all day but unless you understand what happens to your skin during both procedures, you won’t be able to decide for (or against) one or both of them.
How Does Dermabrasion Work?
Derma abrasion uses a power-driven, hand-held device with a rotating metal wheel, diamond fraise or wire brush to peel off the skin. It needs general or local anesthetic (depending on the area being treated). The doctor usually cleanses the skin with antiseptic gel beforehand, to prevent infection. Dermabrasion can last anywhere between a few minutes to two hours (depending on the size and depth of the resurfacing).
My skin felt sore, red and swollen immediately after treatment and was extremely sensitive for about 10 days afterwards. The first few days after treatment are, without a doubt, the worst part. I had to take antibiotics to prevent infection, painkillers and my skin showed scabbing and uneven pigmentation (but these reactions were to be expected).
Derma abrasion is a complicated skin resurfacing treatment with a difficult recovery. My doctor told me not to smoke or drink alcohol for 72 hours after treatment or use any make-up during the first 3 days. Other post-treatment don’ts include: no Retin-A for a month, no products that contain aspirin or ibuprofen for at least 7 days, no active sports for 6 to 8 weeks, no sun exposure for 3 months and no shaving or waxing for at least 2 weeks after the procedure.
Several days after the procedure, the swelling, redness and pain began to subside and the outer-most skin layer simply fell off, leaving my skin looking better (but a little pinkish). It was only 2-3 months later that my skin finally began to regain normal color and I could see my first real dermabrasion results.
My surgeon monitored the healing process during the first three months to make sure no complications occurred and I made sure to avoid sun exposure as told (I had the procedure in October because I didn’t want to sacrifice a whole summer of going to the beach).
Derma abrasion is a one-session treatment which needs a yearly maintenance session. A full microderm abrasion treatment, on the other hand, has 6 to 12 sessions, scheduled 2 weeks apart (but it also needs a maintenance session every 2-3 months).
Eight weeks downtime for dermabrasion is a lot. Microdermabarasion, on the other hand, is a ‘lunchtime peel’, because it has virtually no downtime. Some minor redness aside, you can go back to work on the same day.
How Does Microabrasion Work?
Microderm abrasion involves the use of similar tool to that used in dermabration but it is not as aggressive on the skin. The doctor uses a hand-held, sandblaster-like device to spray and circulate high pressure flow of aluminum oxide crystals onto the skin. The crystals gently exfoliate the outermost layer of the skin.
Unlike dermabrasion, you can have microderm in a spa or beauty center or even at home (using a personal microdermabrasion system). A typical microdermbrasion treatment performed at a clinic takes between 30 and 60 minutes. It’s important to understand that with dermabrasion, the results are dramatic whereas with microdermabrasion, the results come in small steps (I noticed some results after 6 abrasions but the full effect became visible after 12 micro abrasions).
The micro dermabration itself didn’t hurt but my skin looked slightly red immediately after treatment (the redness faded after a few hours). I had no other adverse reactions but swelling and scabbing are possible (in which case you should see your doctor). The recovery is much easier and quicker with microderm than with dermabrasion but there is the trade-off in effectiveness.
source: skinabrasion.net