If you’re unsatisfied with the appearance of your skin, you aren’t alone. Dull or uneven skin tone, persistent acne, signs of aging, sun damage, and many more issues can affect your self-esteem. Dermaplaning is a skin resurfacing treatment taking the industry by storm thanks to its non-invasive, zero downtime nature and skin-brightening results. It’s proudly offered by SliMedica in San Antonio, TX.

What Is Dermaplaning?

Dermaplaning is a treatment designed to resurface the outermost layer of your skin by removing dead skin cells and vellus hairs, which are commonly referred to as peach fuzz.

During treatment, a sharp, straight-edged scalpel is used to gently scrape the surface of your skin, dislodging skin cells and cutting hair as close to the skin as possible. Once treatment is complete, the skin will have a noticeably smoother texture and typically appears brighter and healthier.

Benefits

This treatment rejuvenates your skin by painlessly scraping away skin cell and hair debris which can dull your complexion, clog your pores, and inhibit the effective, smooth application of skincare products and makeup.

Over time, it can help address issues like acne, dark spots, uneven skin tone and texture, and more. Best of all, it helps you feel more comfortable in your own skin as you grow to love your new complexion and feel more confident in every situation.

What Should I Know Before I Go?

Before you schedule your first appointment, there are a few things you should know about this treatment. If you have any doubts, your doctor can help you determine whether this treatment is right for you.

It’s Not Shaving

Most people think of shaving when they hear hair removal–after all, isn’t removing hair with a scalpel the same as shaving it with a razor? The answer is no. While both treatments do remove your hair, dermaplaning is specifically designed to cut away hair and scrape off dead skin cells, which shaving can’t offer.

Beyond this, the scalpel used by a professional during an appointment is far superior to a razor or even an at-home kit you could buy at the store. These professional-grade razors are usually cut and sharpened by lasers instead of machines, giving them incredibly sharp edges ideal for removing hair without tugging at or irritating the hair follicles.

Using a duller blade could result in an increased risk of cuts, a patchier hair removal job, and red, raw skin from repeatedly scraping the same area to remove all hair and dead skin cells. Suffice it to say, this treatment is best left to the experts and their professional-grade blades.

It Can Help Your Skin Absorb Products

You may be surprised to learn that when you try a new product that just doesn’t work, many times it’s not the product that’s at fault–it’s your skin’s natural layer of dead skin cells. These cells can sit on the outermost layer of your skin and impede the product from fully penetrating the pores to deliver its skin-nourishing ingredients.

Even your most expensive products can be thwarted by these skin cells, losing you money in the process as you apply a product that isn’t able to fully impact your skin as intended.

This treatment is able to help fix this problem by removing the layer of dead skin cells, opening your pores to absorb the products you use to take care of your skin. Many patients combine this treatment with facials, which have an even better effect when the pores are cleared of debris.

It Can Help Clear Acne

For those who struggle with acne and regular breakouts, clear skin can seem like an impossible goal. However, this treatment can help you achieve that goal by clearing away the dead skin and bacteria which are so often to blame for acne flare-ups.

Once your skin has been treated, the acne-combating products you use will be even more potent and can be fully absorbed by your pores. This results in healthier, clearer skin, typically in just a few months of regular treatment for most patients.

It Can Mattify Your Makeup

Have you ever applied your foundation and noticed that it looked blotchy or uneven? Many times, the fine peach fuzz on your face can be to blame. These hairs cling to makeup particles and give your skin an undesirable textured appearance, even with careful makeup application and the use of expensive primers.

This treatment can help you achieve an airbrushed look by clearing away that unwanted facial hair and smoothing your skin to allow makeup to apply evenly and sit on your skin more naturally. You won’t believe the difference until you see it for yourself!

It Won’t Make Your Facial Hair Grow Back Thicker or Darker

Contrary to popular opinion, removing hair from your face and upper lip won’t cause it to grow back thicker or darker. This is due to the difference in the hair types found on your body.

Terminal hair, which has its root deeper in the dermis, is found on most parts of your body, while vellus hair, which has a shallower root, is usually found on the face. This means that vellus hair grows back exactly the same when removed and can be safely cut away time after time without causing any change in hair color or thickness.

It Can Leave Your Skin Smoother and Brighter

The best benefit of this popular treatment is the way it leaves your skin glowing and soft. You’ll notice a difference right after treatment, and the results will last between 3-4 weeks. You’ll love the way your skin looks as it is able to absorb all of the products you use and is refreshed on the inside and the outside.

How Does It Work?

This treatment is safe and effective for most skin types and conditions, but it’s always recommended to seek advice and treatment from a trained professional. It’s important that you follow your doctor’s instructions carefully to ensure best results.

Consultation

The first step in the journey to brighter skin is an initial consultation with your doctor. This appointment allows you to sit down and discuss your ideal results, as well as ask any questions you may have about the treatment or recovery.

It also allows your doctor the chance to examine your skin and evaluate your candidacy for treatment. You should be prepared to disclose your normal skincare products and routine as well as any recent skin resurfacing treatments you may have had.

Your doctor will likely mention a recurring personalized treatment plan to fit your needs. Since your skin cells and hair grow over a period of about 3 weeks, this treatment isn’t permanent, so most patients return once every month to maintain their ideal results.

Once your doctor has decided that you’d benefit from this treatment, they’ll explain how you can prepare for your first appointment.

Preparation

This treatment requires minimal preparation, which is another reason for its popularity. Your doctor will likely ask you to stop using products with retinols about 10 days before your appointment. You should also stop using harsh exfoliants about 4-5 days before treatment to avoid irritating your skin. This includes any chemical resurfacing treatments.

You may want to keep your skin calm by avoiding any new products or treatments for about 2 weeks before and after treatment. It’s important to drink plenty of water and moisturize your skin to keep it hydrated.

Finally, you should avoid sun exposure, sunburn, and tanning before this treatment. Sun exposure in the form of sunburn and tanning can lead to increased irritation during treatment, and self-tanners and tanning sprays can be scraped away, leaving blotchy coverage on your face.

Beyond this, it’s estimated that sun exposure is responsible for over 90% of common skin concerns such as wrinkles, dark spots, and skin cancer. It’s important to protect your skin by wearing sunscreen every day and reapplying every 4 hours when you spend time outdoors.

Treatment

On the day of your appointment, wash your face thoroughly with a gentle cleanser and avoid putting on any skincare products or makeup. Your doctor will examine your skin to ensure that there are no open cuts or wounds which could be aggravated by the treatment.

Next, they’ll use a sterile, professional-grade scalpel to gently scrape your skin, removing dead skin cells and hair in the process. You won’t feel any pain. Most patients describe the sensation as a light scratching, almost like a cat’s tongue. Once your doctor has finished, they may apply a rejuvenating facial treatment, depending on your specifications.

A typical appointment takes about 15 minutes but can take longer if you choose to combine it with another facial. Your doctor will give you instructions to follow during the recovery phase. Once your appointment is finished, you’ll be able to return to your normal daily routine with zero downtime.

Recovery

Over the first 24-48 hours, your skin may experience mild tenderness and redness. This is a normal part of the recovery process and typically fades within the first day. You should avoid wearing makeup for the rest of the day after your appointment, if possible, and keep your skin hydrated by applying moisturizer often or treating your skin to a mask with hyaluronic acid, which can provide deep hydration to the pores.

Plan to avoid any irritating treatments or exfoliants for about 1 week after treatment. And while they dull your complexion and clog your pores, the dead skin cells on the outer layer of your skin do have one positive side effect: they help block harmful UV rays and form a natural barrier to protect your skin from the sun.

Since this treatment removes that barrier, you should take extra care to apply sunscreen and avoid unnecessary sun exposure for 2 weeks after treatment. Most dermatologists recommend that you select a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or above to effectively protect your skin.

Results

Your initial results will be visible right after treatment. You should notice that your skin appears slightly brighter and more vibrant. However, it will most likely also be red and slightly irritated from the scalpel, so you won’t see your final results until your skin has healed 2-3 days after treatment.

At this time, you should notice the enhanced effects of your skincare routine and any special treatments you applied. Your skin should be smooth and soft to the touch. It should look luminous and healthy. You may even notice that some of your concerns, such as acne or dark spots, are improved in appearance.

Thanks to your skin’s new texture, your makeup application should work like a dream and give you a natural, mattified finish. Your results will typically last between 3-4 weeks, at which point your natural skin cell renewal and hair growth cycle will be complete.

At this point, most patients decide to follow the personalized treatment plan their doctor recommended to maintain their results.

Maintenance

For most patients, a once-monthly treatment is all they need to keep their skin looking its best. However, some patients may be eligible for more frequent visits–once every 2 weeks–during the first part of their treatment plan, especially when the goal is clearing acne.

Your doctor can help you determine a treatment plan that’s right for you. With regular maintenance appointments, your skin will remain glowing and smooth, leaving you to stop worrying about your skincare and start enjoying the more important things in life.

Am I an Ideal Candidate?

This treatment is perfect for almost anyone seeking clearer, brighter skin. It can address issues for almost every skin type and condition, making it an excellent choice for those who want a quick, non-invasive treatment option to address a variety of skin concerns.

It’s especially popular for those who want to prepare for an important event, as a dermaplaning appointment scheduled 1-3 days before your event can help your skin appear flawless under makeup by removing dead skin cells and hair which create a dull, uneven skin texture.

Due to the irritation created by the scraping of the scalpel against the skin, this treatment may not be ideal for those with hyper-sensitive skin or those who are prone to cold sores. In addition, those with current inflamed or cystic acne breakouts may not be ideal candidates.

When used on the skin, the scalpel can nick pimples, exacerbating breakouts instead of rejuvenating the skin. Your doctor may recommend that you wait until your current breakout has healed before pursuing this treatment. You can talk to your doctor if you have any questions about whether this treatment is right for you.

Conclusion

Common skin concerns can lead to many insecurities for young and mature adults. As we age, the issues we see in our skin become more noticeable, which affects our confidence and causes us to become dissatisfied with our appearance.

Dermaplaning can help minimize areas of concern by removing dead skin cells and unwanted hair to help your skin absorb products more efficiently and keep it looking fresh and healthy with or without makeup. This can boost your confidence as you see your skin transformed.

Don’t let dull skin, an uneven complexion, or peach fuzz affect your day-to-day life and beauty routines any longer. Reach out to the professionals at SliMedica in San Antonio, TX to schedule an initial consultation today! We can’t wait to share more about how dermaplaning could change the way you feel about your skin in just a few appointments, and we look forward to serving you!

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