In a world full of Beverly Hills housewives and Kim Kardashians getting a cosmetic procedure has become as normal as going to the local coffee shop for your latte. People are opting to get a facelift, nose job and liposuction. But not all cosmetic procedures require surgery. If you want to look younger you can try one of two forms of exfoliation.
Exfoliation is a process that removes dead skin cells from a person’s skin. Exfoliation has been around for centuries used by Egyptians and Asians. There are two popular types of exfoliation, microdermabrasion and chemical peels.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is the less expensive and invasive choice out of the two. It can either be done by a skin care professional or in your own home. It is simple, easy, and painless and removes the outermost layer of dead skin cells. It is safe and effective for most skin types and tones. This process will leave your skin looking younger after just one treatment. However, since you are just removing that outermost layer you will need to maintain a series of treatments to continue benefiting from the process.
Microdermabrasion treats light scarring, sun damage, and lessens the appearance of stretch marks. The average cost of it is $150 and can be done to the face, chest, neck, arms or hands. The process usually takes no more than an hour and doesn’t require any down time for the recipient. It’s done with a wand that emits crystals onto the skin that works as an abrasive that polishes the skin. The possible side effects are minimal. There may be some photosensitivity, skin tightness, bruising or redness.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels use a chemical solution to remove dead skin cells from the epidermis. The chemical solution causes the skin to slough off and then peel off. You can get a light chemical peel that can last months or even years or a deep chemical peel that can have lasting effects up to 20 years. The cost of a chemical peel is between $750-$850 but the effects last a long time. Chemical peels treat sun exposure, acne, wrinkles, freckles, irregular pigmentation and scarring.
As with microdermabrasion there are possible side effects. The deeper the chemical penetrates better results but also more risk, increased pain and longer healing time. Before you get a chemical peel you will consult your doctor and decide the depth of the peel that will get the best results. He may even take a “test spot” to get a better idea, this is done usually for people that have darker skin. After your visit you will start to get your skin ready. This usually takes 2 to 3 weeks and requires you to adhere to a strict moisturizing regimen.
Both forms of exfoliation are different in technical but both have the same end result. You just have to decide which one will work best for you. If you are just looking to erase a few years then microdermabrasion is probably the best bet. But if you have scarring or need major help then you might want to go the route of the chemical peel.