What Should You Expect From Your First Dermaplaning Treatment?
Dermaplaning treatment, which is also sometimes referred to as a scalpel facial because of the tool involved, is a safe, effective, and pain-free approach to skin rejuvenation. We’ll begin your treatment by cleansing your face and patting it dry. Holding your skin taut as we work, we’ll then make quick strokes across the surface of your skin while holding the scalpel at a 45-degree angle. We typically treat one side of the face first, starting either at the forehead or jaw, and then the other. We’ll then complete your treatment by applying a serum or moisturizer and sunscreen.
What Will It Feel Like?
You’ll feel the sensation of the blade crossing your skin, which is similar to the way shaving with a razor feels. You may also hear a whispering sound as the scalpel blade crosses the top layer of your skin. But you won’t feel any discomfort, and your skin will never be pierced. During your appointment, you’ll be reclined comfortably. Many patients find this to be a deeply relaxing and pampering experience, and some even nap during their treatments.
How Long Will My Appointment Take?
This treatment takes no more than an hour, and you’ll be able to get right back to your regular schedule afterward. Some patients even schedule this treatment for their lunch hour. Your skin may appear slightly pink immediately after your appointment, but that will quickly subside. Wearing sunscreen and avoiding excessive sun exposure will be especially important for the day or so after your treatment, when your skin may be more sensitive.
How Should I Prepare for This Treatment?
Schedule a Consultation
The first step is to schedule an initial consultation at our practice, where we’ll evaluate your skin, talk with you about your cosmetic concerns, and determine if this is the best treatment for you. After evaluating your skin, we’ll also be able to give you a recommendation about how regularly to schedule treatments.
Some patients view a scalpel facial as an every-one-in-a-while treatment before a big event. Others schedule fairly regular appointments as part of a long-term anti-aging plan. It’s easy to fall in love this treatment, but for most patients, waiting 4 to 6 weeks between appointments is recommended.
Discontinue Other Aggressive Skin Treatments
Because a scalpel facial gently scrapes away the upper layers of skin, removing dead skin cells and fine facial hairs, we recommend discontinuing any aggressive at-home treatments about 3 days before your appointment to avoid over-exfoliation. Skincare serums that involve retinoids, micro-beads, or alpha hydroxy acid exfoliants should all be halted.
Avoid Sun Exposure
Excessive sun exposure can also leave your skin sensitive, so staying out of the sun for several days before treatment is also a good idea.
Carefully Schedule Any Other Cosmetic Services
If you’re interested in scheduling more than one cosmetic service, it makes sense to schedule them back-to-back to save time. But remember that after a Botox injection, patients are asked to wait 4 hours before lying down. And after a dermal filler, patients should wait at least 3 days before undergoing any treatments that apply pressure to the skin.
We can advise you on the best sequence of treatments, but for many patients, it is ideal to either schedule various treatments on different days or to be sure to schedule the scalpel facial first if you are booking multiple treatments for the same day.
Schedule Facial Waxing at Least a Week Prior
Once they start scheduling scalpel facials, which remove peach fuzz while also revitalizing the look of the skin, some patients find that they no longer need to rely on waxing as a hair removal method. But if you do continue with waxing, be sure to schedule those appointments at least a week or two before your dermaplaning sessions to avoid over-exfoliating and irritating the skin.
Reschedule if Your Skin Becomes Irritated
If your skin is irritated on the day of your appointment, either because of sunburn, an active acne breakout, or another type of irritation, it’s best to reschedule. Your treatment will be the most effective if your skin is healthy and calm.
Wait if You’ve Recently Taken Accutane
If you use Accutane, a powerful acne treatment that increases skin sensitivity, we’ll ask you to wait at least 6 months after your last dose before undergoing a scalpel facial.
Consider Scheduling a Chemical Peel Afterward
Chemical peels are an ideal treatment to follow a dermaplaning session with. A chemical peel involves the application of an acidic solution to the face. This often causes the patient’s skin to flake for several days, revealing healthy new skin cells that are just below the surface.
Chemical peels penetrate deeply and are particularly effective when they immediately follow a scalpel facial, which opens up the skin by removing peach fuzz and sloughing away dead cells.
What Are the Benefits of This Treatment?
Rejuvenated Skin
This treatment is best known for its ability to broadly rejuvenate the skin and give patients a radiant glow. Scraping away the dead cells on the surface of the skin and allowing fresh, plump, healthy ones to rise to the surface can improve the tone of the skin, ease the appearance of hyperpigmentation, and brighten the patient’s overall complexion. After this treatment, your skin will appear renewed and refreshed, and your pores will appear smaller.
Fewer Fine Lines
The plump new cells that rise to the skin’s surface as a result of this treatment will also help fill in fine lines and wrinkles, giving you a younger appearance.
It Temporarily Gets Rid of Peach Fuzz
In addition to scraping away dead and dull skin cells, this treatment also removes peach fuzz and other fine facial hairs. These are the hairs that seem invisible, but have a big impact on the appearance of the skin. Your face will practically glow once all those little hairs have been removed, and your cosmetics will go on more smoothly as well.
Scars Become Less Noticeable
Because this treatment scrapes away the older cells sitting on the surface of the skin, it can also minimize the appearance of scars.
Fewer Breakouts
By scraping away old cells and other debris from the skin’s surface, and removing the fine hairs that trap oils and hold them close to the skin, a scalpel facial can also minimize acne outbreaks. And if you’re using certain topical acne medications, this treatment will open up the skin in a way that allows those medications to penetrate more deeply.
Your Moisturizers Will Be More Effective
The moisturizers and serums you use at home will also get a boost in efficacy as a result of this treatment. The first few days after your treatment will be a great time to use your highest-quality products.
Easy, Convenient Appointments
It’s hard to overstate how convenient this treatment is, especially when compared to more invasive options like plastic surgery. Each appointment takes less than an hour and requires no recovery time. A scalpel facial is a perfect solution for patients who are time-pressed and uninterested in surgery, but who want to take steps to improve the overall look and health of their skin.
Answering Your Dermaplaning Questions
How Does This Treatment Differ From Shaving?
The primary difference between the two is that a scalpel facial more aggressively removes the upper layer of dead skin cells: a process that allows fresh new cells to surface. As a result, a scalpel facial refreshes and revitalizes the overall look of the skin in addition to removing fine facial hairs. Shaving, on the other hand, is primarily a hair removal technique and simply doesn’t have much of an effect on the skin cells.
How Does It Compare to Waxing?
Waxing, like shaving, is primarily used to get rid of unwanted hair. Usually performed in a spa setting, soft, warm wax is spread on the face, allowed to firm up, and then lifted off, removing unwanted hair with it. Although an effective hair removal treatment, waxing doesn’t aggressively exfoliate the skin, stimulate the development of new skin cells, or rejuvenate the skin.
Can I Perform this Treatment on Myself at Home?
The safety and success of a scalpel facial rely on both the skill of the practitioner and the sharpness of the tool used. Most patients don’t have access to the training or the tools needed to pull this treatment off at home. If you attempt a scalpel facial on your own, you run the risk of side effects like ingrown hairs and accidental skin punctures.
Won’t This Cause My Hair to Grow Back Heavier?
No. This treatment won’t cause your hair to grow back thicker or darker. A commonly cited myth suggests that shaving, which is basically what a scalpel facial is, results in hair growing back more heavily, but there is no truth to that myth. Genetics play a larger role in determining how your hair regrows than shaving and scalpel facials do.
Is This Treatment Safe?
Yes. This treatment has been approved by the FDA and can be safely and effectively used on all skin tones and types.
Can I Have Dermaplaning Performed on Other Parts of the Body?
This treatment is generally intended for the face because it’s not as efficient at covering larger areas of the body. But if you’re interested in renewing the skin in other parts of your body, we can talk with you about other services we offer that could help.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
The best patients for this treatment are in good general health and have skin that is free of irritation and in good shape. This treatment is also a nice option for patients who are in search of a treatment that is gentle and free of harsh chemicals, including individuals who are pregnant or who have sensitive skin.
The best patients understand this treatment and have realistic expectations about the outcome. The results will be less drastic than what can be achieved with a more invasive approach, but most patients love the outcomes associated with this convenient treatment.
Are You Ready to Schedule Your First Treatment?
Dermaplaning sessions are a convenient, easy, and comfortable way of rejuvenating your skin and putting your best face forward. Whether you’re interested in a single treatment or want to schedule regular sessions as part of your anti-aging regimen, we can help you achieve vibrant, healthy skin. Call Advanced Dermatology Center in Wolcott, CT, and schedule a dermaplaning consultation today!
