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What Does Microdermabrasion Feel Like?

Skinworks Dermatology Blog What Does Microdermabrasion Feel Like?

If you’re looking to reduce fine lines, crow’s feet, age spots, and acne scars, microdermabrasion might be the treatment for you. But if you’re not familiar with microdermabrasion, you might be asking yourself, “Does it hurt?”

At Skinworks Dermatology, with three New York City locations, dermatologist Javier Zelaya, MD, and our team are proud to offer microdermabrasion to comfortably restore the healthy glow to our patients’ skin. Read on to learn more about microdermabrasion.

What is microdermabrasion?

When it comes to microdermabrasion, you have two options: a crystal version or a crystal-free version. With the crystal version, we shoot fine micro-crystals from a small tube onto your skin and then vacuum them up. The procedure works much like a high-powered scrub. 

With the crystal-free version, we instead use a diamond-tipped wand to exfoliate your skin. In addition to clearing imperfections on your face, microdermabrasion can also improve your skin’s texture and tone, reduce fine wrinkles, tackle sun damage and enlarged pores, and even treat stretch marks.

With microdermabrasion treatment at Skinworks Dermatology, you can also enjoy overall smoother skin, a more consistent pigmentation, a reduction in congested skin, and stimulation of collagen production. 

Microdermabrasion, however, may not be for you if you have certain skin conditions, including:

Dr. Zelaya can help determine whether you’re a good candidate for microdermabrasion. For our patients with sensitive skin, microdermabrasion might be a good alternative to a chemical peel.

How does the procedure feel?

So, to answer the question we started with: Microdermabrasion doesn’t hurt. You may feel a mild discomfort at most. The procedure has been compared to the rough lick of a cat’s tongue. 

Some say it feels like a gritty facial massage, and others say they feel a minor tugging on the skin.

Your comfort is paramount, so let us know how you’re feeling during the procedure. We can adjust the intensity and slow down. Your microdermabrasion treatment should never be painful. 

How many treatments do I need?

The procedure is fairly quick and takes roughly 30 minutes to an hour to perform. For best results, you should have 5-12 treatments, spaced 2-3 weeks apart. You may want to have periodic maintenance treatments to continue combating the signs of aging and to keep your skin looking polished and smooth. 

To learn if microdermabrasion is right for you, call the office nearest you or request an appointment online.

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