Dermaplaning in Fredericksburg, VA

Sometimes, you just want to get that radiant glow back to your skin. Cleansers and creams often fall short, but at the Surgical Arts of Virginia, we can provide you with top-tier dermaplaning treatment that will have your skin looking more vibrant and lively than ever before. If you live in Washington DC, Stafford, Richmond, Fredericksburg, Charlottesville or the surrounding areas of Virginia, schedule a consultation and come by to meet our staff.

What is Dermaplaning?

As we go through our lives, our skin is exposed to a plethora of contaminants. It can come from chemicals we deliberately rub onto our faces or even from walking around outside. In addition to that, our skin is constantly replenishing itself with new cells.

But that means the old cells that have taken the brunt of sunlight and chemical exposure are not right on the surface, causing our appearance to look dull and weathered. Dermaplaning is a process that was developed to combat this development.

During dermaplaning, a sharp tool is dragged along the face, scraping away dead skin and other particles that are harmful to your appearance. Once this dull layer is removed, a fresh, lively layer of skin is revealed, giving your skin a vibrant glow. This process also helps reduce the appearance of acne scarring, providing a more uniform texture and color.

Who is a Candidate for Dermaplaning?

The vast majority of people are candidates for dermaplaning, but there are some exceptions for people who have sensitive skin. If you don’t have issues shaving or shaping your eyebrows, then you probably won’t run into any issues. But if you tend to get rashes or breakouts after agitating your skin, then it may not be the best procedure for you.

Unfortunately, people with cystic acne or current breakouts should also refrain from this procedure since it could exacerbate the condition. Dermaplaning is an excellent alternative for people with darker skin tones who cannot benefit from laser or chemical treatments. It is also safe for pregnant women since no chemicals are used.

If you have acne scarring, peach fuzz and a general loss of that healthy glow your skin used to have, then you should ask Dr. Palmer or our other medical professionals about how dermaplaning can help you.

How to Dermaplane Like a Pro

If you have ever shaped your eyebrows or facial hair with an eyebrow shaper, then you have already done a mini dermaplane procedure. Unlike many other cosmetic treatments, dermaplaning can be performed to different extents: one you can do at home and another performed by professionals.

If you are looking for a deep dermaplaning experience, your best bet is to make an appointment with the Surgical Arts of Virginia. Our medical professionals are highly experienced and trained to give you the deepest and most effective dermaplaning procedure with the most optimal results, so if it is dramatic results you are looking for, we would recommend reaching out to one of our experts.

But if you want to give it a shot at home as part of a skincare routine, you absolutely can. The results may not be as impactful or extensive as having a professional job done, but it is definitely a valuable step to include in between other treatments.

If you want to give dermaplaning a shot at home, here are the steps:

Step 1: Get the Tools

We recommend a safety razor (the kind you’d use on your legs) or an eyebrow shaper. These two options are both safe and provide the level of sharpness you need to remove those problematic layers of dead skin and debris. Just make sure you are using a fresh tool — now is not the time to reuse old blades. (Also, be weary not to apply too much pressure — we only want to remove the top layer of dead skin!)

Step 2: Wash and Dry

Removing as much debris as you can before starting the dermaplaning will help you get the most out of your efforts. Do a thorough washing and make sure your face is as dry as possible. Dry skin and contaminants are much easier to remove than hydrated ones.

Step: 3: Pull the Skin and Start Scraping

This sounds a little harsh, but it is actually a fairly painless process. You want to pull your skin to get as close as you can and avoid cutting any folds. Always use downward strokes at a 45-degree angle to minimize skin irritation and work in sections to keep track of your progress.

What Kind of Recovery Does Dermaplaning Have?

Since dermaplaning is a noninvasive procedure, you do not need to worry about any downtime, whether you have it done professionally or attempt it at home. While there may be some redness or minor irritation immediately after the procedure, most patients see these side effects dissipate after 24 hours. If you have sensitive skin, it could take a few days or it to completely subside.

This extremely mild recovery time means that you can avoid taking off any time from work or other responsibilities. We advise all of our patients that they should do their best to avoid sunlight exposure as much as possible, especially right after their dermaplaning session.

The new skin cells will be most susceptible to burning and damage right after they are revealed, so make sure you are using sunscreen whenever you leave the house or will be exposed to UV light. It is extraordinarily rare, but some patients who are not usually susceptible to skin rashing develop whiteheads or other blemishing. If this unlikely condition develops, Dr. Palmer or another one of our expert medical professionals can help you to ensure the rash doesn’t leave any long-lasting scars.

What Kind of Results Should I Expect from Dermaplaning?

Dermaplaning exposes a fresh, vibrant layer of skin that is usually hiding beneath a layer of dead cells and particulates. Once those have been revealed, you can expect to have a more radiant appearance, improvements to any discoloration and a much smoother texture throughout the entire face.

Since the skin will continue to produce new cells as the new layer is battered against the elements, your skin will eventually begin to fade once again. This can happen at different rates for everyone, depending on your unique anatomy and the level of your exposure (outdoorsy people are more likely to have significant damage than someone who prefers to stay inside, for example).

Because of this, we generally recommend that patients come in every two or three weeks to maintain their results and improvements. Since it takes time for our skin to become dull, you should also generally avoid having the treatment performed any more than every other week.

How Should I Care for My Results?

Your skin is at its most vulnerable right after dermaplaning, but that also means it is most susceptible to absorbing healthy minerals and serums that will only work to bolster your appearance even further. But there are so many skin products on the market that guarantee to be the best, so how do you sort out what you should be using?

The best way is to speak with one of our medical professionals during your initial consultation to find out exactly what kind of products you should be utilizing for your skin type — it isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation, so having expert advice will go a long way for your skin health.

How Much Does Dermaplaning Cost?

Dermaplaning costs around $85 to start, making it one of the most affordable cosmetic treatments on the market. This price may shift slightly depending on your unique treatment plan and anatomy, but you will be given an exact estimate during your initial consultation.

When you consider the results that dermaplaning provides, it is hard to find any other cosmetic procedure out there that gives you the same amount of bang for your buck.

Just like all of our treatments, you can pay for dermaplaning with cash, personal check, money order, or credit card. We also offer financing options through CareCredit®, United Medical Credit and Prosper™ Healthcare Lending for qualified patients.

Get More Out of Your Treatment By Combining Procedures

If you are interested in taking a more in-depth, professional approach to improving the appearance of your skin, there are plenty of options that are just slightly more extensive than dermabrasion. Many of them use the same concepts as dermaplaning, only at a much more intense level.

Here are some procedures we highly recommend to anyone looking for a dramatic improvement to their skin:

Deep Chemical Peels — For Wrinkles and Significant Damage

Deep chemical peels are also designed to tackle the problematic layers of skin that are damaged and cause your skin to look anything less than radiant. There are also tiers to chemical peels as well — light and medium peels can provide results comparable to dermaplaning, but deep chemical peels are aimed at correcting more extensive conditions like wrinkles.

Medium and light peels can be part of a skincare routine, but only one deep chemical peel should be performed throughout your entire life because of how many layers of skin are removed. Chemical peels start at $150, but that price will increase depending on how intense a peel you have performed.

Microdermabrasion — For Deeper Skin Revealing

Microdermabrasion is exceptionally similar to dermaplaning, except for the tools that are used. While a simple razor edge is used in dermaplaning, microdermabrasion uses a medical-grade device that emits small crystals into the skin, breaking up dead cells, dirt and other impurities. It is safe for most people — even women who are pregnant — and has a recovery time that is not too far off from what you experience with dermaplaning.

You can start a microdermabrasion regimen for about $85. Payment can be made by cash, personal check, money order or credit card. Financing is available for qualified patients through CareCredit®, United Medical Credit and Prosper™ Healthcare Lending.

IPL Photofacial — For Extensive Discoloration

If you are finding that a lot of your dissatisfaction with your appearance is based on discoloration of your skin, then an IPL Photofacial is probably going to be a good procedure to perform alongside your dermaplaning regimen.

IPL stands for intense pulsed light, which is the technology used to create the kind of results that has made this treatment so popular. If you are suffering from rosacea, sun damage, brown or age spots, redness, spider veins, unwanted freckles or other blemishing, then IPL is definitely something you should be considering.

If you are playing with the idea of getting an IPL photofacial, you will be happy to hear that there is minimal pain and discomfort associated with this procedure and that the recovery time is also nearly nonexistent. A medical-grade handpiece will be moved along your skin, releasing concentrated beams of light at the problematic areas. It is so noninvasive, however, that you can immediately apply makeup right after having IPL performed.

Achieve Radiance with Dermaplaning in Washington DC

Dermaplaning is an excellent tool at your disposal if you are looking to improve the general appearance of your skin. Whether you have it done professionally by one of our medical professionals or go for the DIY version yourself at home, you can expect to see results. Don’t forget that the noninvasiveness of dermaplaning opens you up to a world of supplemental procedures as well!

If you would like to learn more about how dermaplaning can help you achieve a glowing radiance, give our office a call at (540) 361-6840 or text us at (540) 274-2232. You can also visit our contact page and fill out our online contact form. Once submitted, we are happy to reach out to you to get the process started.

We know you need a partner in this process and resource you can turn to, and we are looking forward to you entrusting us with your cosmetic goals.