Microdermabrasion

In Denver, Colorado
The Art of Compassion    The Science of Beauty

If you’d like to improve the appearance of your facial skin, there are several alternatives, which work at different depths:

  • Chemical peels – which use a caustic solution to remove surface roughness and irregularities like fine lines
  • Dermabrasion – which uses a surgical instrument to remove deeper imperfections like acne scars
  • Laser skin resurfacing – which uses a laser to remove surface irregularities like some scars and fine lines

Microdermabrasion, as the name suggests, is related to dermabrasion, but it works only at a more shallow level (only on what’s called the stratum corneum, the topmost level of your skin, about 10 microns deep and consisting of dead cells).

What does microdermabrasion do?

  • “Micro” means small, as in microscope, micro-organism
  • “Abrasion” means scraping, as when a child falls over and scrapes his knees
  • “Derm” refers to the skin, as in dermatology

So microdermabrasion is a method of scraping a very thin layer of tissue from the surface of the skin to remove minor imperfections such as:

  • Age spots
  • Crows’ feet
  • Fine lines
  • Some scars
  • Blackheads and whiteheads

How does microdermabrasion work?

An esthetician will use a hand-held instrument which projects tiny crystals onto your skin, and the crystals gently scrape the skin surface, polishing it smooth.

  • Each treatment takes a half-hour to an hour
  • How many treatments you need will be decided between you and our trained paramedical staff
  • The treatments should be spaced apart about 3 weeks

When the microdermabrasion is completed, some maintenance will be needed to keep your new smooth look
There are virtually no side effects

  • It works well on all skin types
  • No anesthetic is needed
  • You can immediately return to your normal activities
  • It’s a good alternative for people whose skin might be sensitive to chemical peels

Limitations of microdermabrasion

Apart from accidents, there are two major causes of skin damage:

  • Aging -- When our skin sags due to aging (loss of elasticity and the long-term effects of the force of gravity), and our facial contours change because of jowls and sagging cheeks, this is usually best remedied with a facelift or other type of surgical intervention.
  • Unprotected sun exposure -- When our skin becomes wrinkled and roughened from years of sun exposure, it can be smoothed and rejuvenated by non-surgical treatments like microdermabrasion.

It might be that you’d be best treated by a combination of surgical and non-surgical treatments. Dr. Fante and his staff will discuss all your options with you and together you can arrive at the best strategy.

Microdermabrasion Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re interested in learning more about eyelid surgery, cosmetic surgery, eyelid lift, facelift, eyelid tuck, necklift, puffy eyelid, brow lift, plastic surgery, blepharoplasty, or any other cosmetic surgery, in Denver or Boulder, Colorado, contact Dr. Fante for an initial consultation.