Who Needs A Power Peel?
Feb 14 '01
The Bottom Line 35 and Under: Skip it unless your skin is in a funk and you have somewhere to be.
36 and Above: Tightening/smoothing effects will be more beneficial. Something to consider.
What Made YOU Decide to Get a Peel?
Thanks to a gift certificate I won about a year ago, I recently got a Power Peel, also known as a micro-Dermabrasion treatment. I never would have bought this for my twenty four year old self, but I wasn't going to let an expensive certificate go to waste (nor the opportunity to tell you fine people about my experience). I waited until now because as we speak, it is one month before my wedding. I figured it would be great for my skin, but give it time to recover in case the treatment made my skin freak out.
What's Micro-Dermabrasion Do?
Micro-Dermabrasion is meant to improve wrinkles, age spots, sun damage, scars, and stretch marks. Little crystals (read: sand) are vacuumed through a tool and your face is quite literally polished. The top layers of dead skin are lifted, leaving only glowing new skin behind.
How Much Does it Cost?
The sessions at this particular place cost between $80.00 and $125.00 a session depending on whether or not they are having a sale. They recommend you have anywhere between two and twelve sessions. I had only one, which I think is just fine for an occasion-based touch up.
Is It Relaxing, Like A Facial?
Although I realized that this would be akin to a harsh exfoliant, I still had hopes that it might be a relaxing experience. I wouldn't say that it was nerve wracking, but it certainly does not qualify as calming encounter. The tool that they use is attached to a loud pump (to create the vacuum) that creates a noise similar to what you would find on the last row of a DC-10. And the procedure itself is a little uncomfortable. While I was trying to picture myself on a quiet beach, I felt like some kid was throwing sand at my face.
How Do They Perform the Procedure?
That aside, the technician first removes your makeup, applies a moisturizer, and then wipes that off. She used a pretty rough cloth, and just as I was thinking that I had had all the exfoliation I needed for the day, she began the micro-Dermabrasion on my forehead. The technician rubbed the odd vacuum tool over my face in a pattern. It feels like someone is using a spin sander on your face, and I felt like I was going to sneeze. She spent a lot of time near my temples and in other areas prone to fine lines and wrinkles.
How Long Did It Take?
This procedure takes about twenty minutes, (I got it done on my lunch) so they make about three to four passes over the entire face...they don't miss a thing. At the very end she even made a light pass directly under the eyes and on the eyelids.
What Were the Immediate Results?
After the procedure was finished I was told not to wear makeup for about four hours. My skin was quite pink, slightly aggravated, but definitely refreshed. I couldn't tell if it alleviated fine lines right away because the only immediate result was the redness of my skin (and the crystals that I kept shaking out of my hair). After the four hour period my skin was still quite pink. In fact, I looked and felt exactly like I had a mild sunburn.
What Were the Longer Term Results?
The next day, my skin was quite smooth and still a little pink. Fine lines (which I do have) did not seem to be any better. In fact, moisturizer (see: Elizabeth Arden Skin Illuminating Complex, aka "Heaven in a Bottle") helped more than micro-Dermabrasion. I don't have any major wrinkles, and I have yet to figure out how it would work on those if I did.
What If You Have Sensitive Skin?
Before you get the procedure done, you fill out a form to tell you technician all about your skin, and you can discuss your options with them. Although I believe the process can be performed on those with sensitive skin, I would be weary, as it is quite abrasive. As for allergic skin, I can't imagine what kind of reaction the crystals might cause, so again...discuss with your tech.
Would You Do It Again?
Would I pay to have this procedure done? No. Not unless my skin was in seriously bad shape (rough and blotchy) and I had some incredibly important event to attend. Although the after effects are nice, they are not worth it to a twenty four year old. A forty two year old? It's a toss up. Still, next time I think my skin could use a little polishing, I run a hot bath, turn on some mood music, grab my trusty apricot scrub and rub vigorously.
A side note: It should be known that I got this procedure done at a place called that offers not only micro-Dermabrasion, but also Supra (green tea) Peels, Glycolic Acid Facials, Oxygenating Facials and Pumpkin Peels. It is also tied to a cosmetic surgery center which performs everything from breast enhancement to Botox injections. Although I certainly didn't want any other treatments, I felt better knowing that the office was run by a well known cosmetic surgeon. If you do decide to try it, make sure you are going to a nice well known place. I would imagine that any of these procedures, done by the wrong person, could have very negative results.
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Epinions.com ID:
bittermiss
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Location: MI
Reviews written: 66
Trusted by: 34 members
About Me:
I have been lax lately. There are several reasons.
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