Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive approach to reducing facial acne, acne scarring, and milia. By exfoliating and suctioning away dead skin cells, the treatment leaves your face feeling cleaner and looking clearer. It can be an excellent option for patients who want the aesthetic benefit without the downtime.
Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery focuses exclusively on cosmetic procedures for the face, providing patients with an array of solutions for more youthful and beautiful features. Licensed nurses perform microdermabrasion treatments following patient consultation with our practice’s board-certified doctors.
The Benefits of Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion can give you smoother, healthier-looking skin as part of a short-term care regimen. Typically, patients come to CCFPS every two weeks for acne treatment or once a month for scarring and milia. After six treatments, we can evaluate the improvement that we’ve achieved. To give you an idea of what to expect, we are usually able to reduce a condition like milia by up to 40%.
One of the biggest reasons that patients choose microdermabrasion is that they can return to their normal daily activities immediately after treatment. Other than a slightly rosy appearance, their skin will not feel tacky, they can put on makeup right away, and they shouldn’t have any residual discomfort.
At CCFPS, we provide microdermabrasion as an initial treatment option to clear away the upper layer of dead skin cells. After a few appointments, we typically guide patients to solutions that are more beneficial over long-term use. These include chemical peels, Hydrafacials®, and microneedling.
Why Patients Choose CCFPS for Care
Technology. CCFPS uses advanced treatment systems to promote patient comfort and great-looking results. With microdermabrasion, we utilize the DiamondTome® wand: a crystal-free device with diamond chips embedded in the tip. The experience is very gentle, and your nurse can customize the treatment to your skin’s needs and sensitivity. Unlike with crystal-based devices, DiamondTome shouldn’t cause noticeable inflammation or discomfort afterwards.
Expertise. Technology is important, but it’s the knowledge and skill of our staff that distinguishes patient care with our office. Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery exclusively performs procedures related to facial aesthetics, offering everything from non-invasive skincare solutions to brow lift and eyelid surgery. With over 15 years in practice, our work has benefited hundreds of men and women.
Lifestyle. CCFPS doctors tailor treatment around the needs and goals of our patients. We provide excellent care that fits into their daily lives. This includes using the latest in healing techniques, advising patients about post-treatment skincare, and recommending procedures that give the best benefits with the shortest downtime. Our practice provides discrete and effective care for those who want natural-looking and attractive improvement.
Treatment with Microdermabrasion
As part of your initial consultation, you will meet with Dr. Jennifer Porter as well as a licensed CCFPS nurse. Both doctors are board certified and have specialized training in facial anatomy and plastic surgery. You will have extensive time during your appointment to receive a comprehensive evaluation, learn about your treatment options, and get answers to any questions you may have.
One important aspect of procedures such as microdermabrasion is the effect that treatment can have on different types of skin. If you are African American, Latina, or Asian, you may have different needs than other patients. Understanding these differences allows our doctors to make appropriate recommendations about which techniques to use to improve acne, scarring, and milia.
We can often perform microdermabrasion for patients on the same day as their initial consultation. This makes it a great option if you are looking for a treatment that fits into your schedule. Here’s what you can expect during the experience:
- Your nurse will clean the skin that she will be treating. This not only prepares your face for microdermabrasion but also allows the nurse to evaluate your needs and recommend a facial care regimen that you can follow after your visit.
- The nurse will make several passes in each area of your face with the microdermabrasion device. She will tailor the treatment based on the severity of the skin condition. If you have minimal scarring or problems with acne, your treatment will be less intensive than if you have significant scarring.
- After microdermabrasion, your nurse will apply a special facial serum to boost the improvement you get from treatment. This might include an anti-aging formula, pigment control serum, or sunscreen. In some cases, our patients benefit from a combination of serums.
By the end of the appointment, you skin should have a rosy appearance but no other obvious signs of treatment. The process will have removed dead skin cells from the surface to allow the serums and home skincare products to reach the deeper layers of tissue, where they can promote clearer, healthier-looking skin.
What Patients Want to Know About Microdermabrasion
Is microdermabrasion right for every patient?
Microdermabrasion can help many patients reduce the appearance of acne, scarring, and milia. However, they should rely on the guidance of an experienced doctor before they choose to have treatment.
Our practice doesn’t recommend that patients have microdermabrasion if they have facial rosacea or broken capillaries. The treatment can actually make these conditions worse and, with ongoing microdermabrasion sessions, can cause them to develop even on clear skin.
Does getting microdermabrasion hurt?
Most of our patients find the process comfortable, and the treatment only takes about 25 to 45 minutes. Since we’re centrally located, we see a lot of patients who schedule appointments for their off-time at work and then head right back to their normal activities.
Will microdermabrasion get rid of all signs of milia?
The procedure can get rid of most signs of milia, particularly if you take proper care of your skin afterward. Our staff will recommend an ongoing regimen that encourages collagen development, clean skin, and youthful features. CCFPS provides a comprehensive line of solutions for aesthetic facial needs, which means that we can support patients at every point in the spectrum of care.
How Can Microdermabrasion Treat Acne?
Microdermabrasion is an excellent treatment for severe acne, as it helps to remove the buildup of dead skin cells, oil, and other debris that accumulate on the skin’s surface. These items can clog a person’s pores, causing the tell-tale inflammation and infection that leads to painful breakouts. By clearing away this top layer, the skin will finally have a chance to heal, eventually leading to clearer, brighter skin.
Microdermabrasion can even sometimes help with acne scars. Because the treatment stimulates the production of collagen, it can help the skin to repair places that have been damaged by acne, reducing or completely eliminating these scars.
The microdermabrasion process involves using a special wand that’s lined with diamond chips. During the procedure, Dr. Porter’s nurse, Gloria, will use this device to scrape away dead skin cells from the top layer of skin (the stratum corneum) on the patient. The device also has a vacuuming feature that immediately clears away this dead tissue. Almost immediately, the body will begin working to replace this layer of skin, sending cells called keratinocytes to repair the damage. The work of these cells is what results in the refreshed and rejuvenated appearance many patients experience.
For most patients suffering from acne, Dr. Porter recommends six microdermabrasion treatments spaced two weeks apart. This gives the skin of the face enough time to repair itself so that patients can see their final results before determining if the treatment was a success. Frequently, she combines the treatment with Aerolase Neo treatments in order to get improved results.
What Are the Advantages of Microdermabrasion vs. Other Procedures?
The main advantage of microdermabrasion is that it is quick and painless. In fact, the procedure usually only takes about 30 minutes, meaning that Washington, DC, patients can schedule it on their lunch break or on their way home from work without taking time away from their schedules. Other facial rejuvenation procedures can be much more intensive, requiring several hours for completion. Many patients report no pain during microdermabrasion, and there’s no need for a sedative or other anesthetic. Other procedures, especially those involving surgical methods, will require anesthetics so that the patient is not conscious during the treatment.
What’s more, after the procedure, there is no downtime. Patients can immediately go back to what they were doing beforehand, whereas that’s not always possible with other procedures. The only real side effect patients might experience is a pinkish tone to their skin, but this generally disappears within a few hours. Other procedures might involve swelling, pain, and other inflammation that can make it embarrassing to go out in public for a few days.
Microdermabrasion is also a gentle procedure compared to other treatments that utilize harsh acidic chemicals to peel off the top layer of skin. This makes it accessible for a wider variety of skin types and tones, some of which can’t always take advantage of the more stringent forms of treatment.
Microdermabrasion also tackles a wide variety of problems. It has been proven to help with:
- Visible scarring
- Stretch marks
- Discolored patches
- Small, dynamic wrinkles
Microdermabrasion can give you smoother, healthier-looking skin with no pain and no downtime. To schedule a consultation with CCFPS, contact us online or call our office at (301) 652-8191.
