You want refreshed, youthful looking skin. But, you don’t want to undergo laser skin resurfacing or microdermabrasion, due to cost, commitment or recovery time. Whether your skin concerns include acne scars, wrinkles or hyperpigmentation, dermaplaning can be the solution for you. The procedure is quick and relatively painless. It can also be performed on people who aren’t candidates for more invasive procedures.

Exfoliation

Dermaplaning helps improve the look of your skin by exfoliating the top layer. Exfoliation helps encourage cell turnover, removing dead and dull skin cells from the surface. If left alone, those dead cells make your skin look less bright and can lead to issues such as scaliness and blemishes.

What Happens During Dermaplaning

One the surface, dermaplaning looks a bit like shaving. The doctor or other trained professional uses a surgical blade to remove the skin cells and fine hairs from the surface. He holds the blade at a 45-degree angle and gently pulls it across the skin, which is held taut.

While the treatment is typically safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women, it’s not appropriate for all skin types. For example, if you are currently breaking out, it’s better to postpone dermaplaning until your skin has cleared. Dermaplaning is suitable for the forehead and cheeks, but not for the nose or eye area, as the skin in those areas is more delicate.

Benefits of Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning offers a great many benefits. Since the treatment removes the fine hair, or peach fuzz, from the skin, people often note that their skin feels a lot softer and smoother. The removal of hair also helps makeup rest better on the skin.

Exfoliating the top layer of skin helps improve its texture. It removes areas of roughness or scaliness, for example. Dermaplaning also reduces the appearances of wrinkles and scars on the skin. The treatment can also help skincare products work more effectively, as they are better able to sink into the skin and do their job.

Compared to other minimally invasive procedures, the side effects from dermaplaning are few and uncommon. You won’t leave the doctor’s office with a red face, for example, There is the risk of the blade slipping during treatment, causing a cut and bleeding. But, in the hands of an experienced practitioner, that is a rare occurrence.

Myths About Dermaplaning

Some people worry that dermaplaning will make the hair on their face grow back thicker or more noticeable. That misconception stems from the myth that shaving increases hair growth. Fortunately, that’s not true. Peach fuzz is created by vellus hairs, which are short and fine and will remain short and fine. If the treatment does remove thicker hair, such as beard hair or eyebrow hair, that hair will grow back just as thick as it was before.

Can You DIY?

Since dermaplaning is similar to shaving, you  might be wondering if you can do it yourself at home. Taking matters into your own hands can be very dangerous. The type of blade used by the doctor, a No. 10 scalpel, is very sharp. It should only be handled by people with extensive training and experience using it. If your hand slips during a DIY dermaplaning session, there’s a risk for extensive bleeding as well as for a scar in the cut area.

You can try to shave your face using a safety razor, but the results won’t be quite the same as the results you would get from professional dermaplaning.

Combining Treatments

Although dermaplaning is effective on its own, the procedure can be combined with other treatments for even better results. For example, it’s possible to have a light or superficial chemical peel performed after the treatment. While combining treatments can make skin even more refreshed and vibrant looking, it also increases the risk of side effects. The most common side effect of having dermaplaning and a peel performed together is skin-peeling a few days after the treatments.

If you want smoother skin and fewer hairs on your face, derma planing might be the ideal treatment for you. Learn more about the treatment and comparable options by contacting Dr. Kyle Choe at The Choe Center in Virginia Beach today. Call 757.389.5850 for a consultation today.