Medical Micro-Dermabrasion

Medical micro-dermabrasion is based on the very same technique as micro-dermabrasion - but using a much higher power machine. Medical micro-dermabrasion machines are only allowed in clinics with medical supervision because of this extra power.

The principle is the same – the crystals are once again blown through a hand piece, bombarding the skin, but at a much higher velocity than the usual micro-dermabrasion (see What is micro dermabrasion?).

Therefore, they can cause more abrasion and more damage – but because of this can also be more effective. Depending on the setting used, the whole of the dead layer of the skin can be removed and, if required, the whole of the surface epithelium can be removed causing a true graze-like wound. This is rarely used but can be used under the supervision of expert doctors if a very deep dermabrasion is required. At this level, medical-microdermabrasion becomes virtually the same as dermabrasion.

As with microdermabrasion, the used crystals and skin cells are vacuumed back up the hand piece.
As medical micro-dermabrasion can penetrate much deeper, it can cause quite a considerable inflammatory reaction just under the skin surface, causing much more tightening and peeling. If during the treatment the skin is breeched, although the results can be better in the long term, there can be a time when the dermabrasion area is raw and either needs dressing or being hid away until fully healed. Therefore, if the dermabrasion is deep, there may well be some “down-time” but this has to be traded against the better result that might be achieved.

Therefore, medical micro-dermabrasion is a very flexible treatment, as it can go right from an effective micro-dermabrasion all the way through to a true dermabrasion. The choice of what setting is used is decided between the doctor, nurse or therapist using this under medical supervision and also the wishes of the patient.