Microdermabrasion in Allentown, PA

Why does a baby’s skin feel so smooth? Because unlike an adult, it hasn’t been through years of sun exposure, environmental damage, dirt, oil, scarring, and more. With microdermabrasion, patients can remove the dead, damaged layers of their skin and reveal newer, baby-soft layers. At Dr. Edward Guarino’s plastic surgery practice in Allentown, PA, patients can have safe, effective microdermabrasion treatments by a trained and licensed aesthetician in the office’s skin care treatment room. Microdermabrasion gently resurfaces the skin to stimulate collagen growth, as well as reduce fine lines, scars, and other damage. Patients will have smooth, healthy skin that glows after their microdermabrasion treatment.

Before the procedure, the aesthetician will ask about any skin conditions the patient may have (such as eczema and rosacea) or any medications that may make the patient’s skin sensitive (such as Retin-A). The aesthetician will also ensure that the patient has no opens wounds of sores that could be irritated or infected by the microdermabrasion. Once the patient’s face has been cleansed and prepared, the microdermabrasion treatment can take from 30 – 60 minutes to complete. The aesthetician will carefully use the microdermabrasion equipment to polish the skin while suctioning away the dead skin cells.

Patients are able to leave after their microdermabrasion treatment once the aesthetician has applied moisturizers and SPF to protect the new skin surface. Patients should expect to have mild pain and swelling for the first 1- 2 days after the procedure, but this can be easily covered with make up. Results from a microdermabrasion treatment can last 6 – 12 months, depending on the patient’s age, skin condition, and their post-treatment skin care regimen.

The cost of microdermabrasion will vary based on the size of the area being treated, but most patients spend $100 to $200 per session. Patients are encouraged to schedule follow up treatments every 6 – 12 months to ensure their skin remains fresh and radiant.

Dermabrasion is a more aggressive form of microdermabrasion that injures the skin to force collagen to increase and the body has to create a new layer of skin. Most patients need to spend 7 – 10 days in recovery, but the skin remains pink for up to 1 month and patients may need to limit activities during recovery period. Dermabrasion is best for treating concerns in the deeper skin layers. Patients begin to see results about 6 weeks after their treatment and results can last for up to 1 year.

Chemical peels vary in strength from light peels, which have results similar to microdermabrasion to deep peels for more intense results. Recovery usually takes 7 – 8 days for a deep peel. During the recovery the patient will need to apply ointment and the aesthetician may bandage the face after the treatment. Chemical peels can last from a few months for a light peel to years for a deep peel.

While early versions of microdermabrasion were essentially like running a sandblaster over the face, leaving particles behind, modern microdermabrasion uses tools that give the technician more control. Current microdermabrasion treatments gently loosen and remove dead skin cells, which are then vacuumed away for smooth, polished skin.

Patients should be vigilant about using sun protection, especially for the first week after their microdermabrasion procedure. Patients should speak to the aesthetician after their treatment about the best skin care products to maintain their results. Once the dead skin cells are removed, products are better able to penetrate and treat the skin. Patients should drink plenty of water before and after the procedure to keep the skin well hydrated.