Dermaplane vs Microdermabrasion: Which One?

Dermaplaning and microdermabrasion both sit on our Advanced Facials menu, both take 30 minutes, and both are about exfoliation. That makes them easy to mix up. They go about the job in different ways, though, and knowing the difference makes picking one a lot simpler. Here's a plain comparison with our prices, plus a look at the Plus combos that add a peel.

What dermaplaning does

Dermaplane is $115 for 30 minutes. We describe it as exfoliation at its finest: it removes unwanted vellus hair and dead skin cells. Vellus hair is the fine, light fuzz many people have along the cheeks and jaw. In a dermaplane service, your esthetician draws a blade gently across the skin at an angle, lifting that fuzz and the top layer of dull cells in the same pass.

Many people like the result because skin looks smooth and bright, and because makeup and skincare can feel like they go on more evenly with no fuzz in the way. Our menu says the service will boost your facial results, so it's worth asking about when you book a facial.

What microdermabrasion does

Microdermabrasion is $105 for 30 minutes, and it's our most popular facial add-on. We use a diamond tip wand to mechanically exfoliate the uppermost layer of dead, dull skin cells. Mechanically means physically: the tip of the wand buffs the surface, instead of a blade or a peel solution doing the work.

Because it works on the surface layer, microdermabrasion makes sense when your main complaint is dullness or a rough, uneven feel. It isn't aimed at hair, so if peach fuzz is part of what you want gone, that's a point for dermaplaning.

Side by side

• Dermaplane: $115, 30 minutes. A blade removes vellus hair and dead skin cells.
• Microdermabrasion: $105, 30 minutes. A diamond tip wand mechanically exfoliates the uppermost layer of dead, dull cells.
• Both: listed under Advanced Facials, both exfoliate, and either can be combined with a peel in a Plus service.

Choosing by what bothers you

If the fuzz is what you want gone, dermaplane is the only one of the two that does that. If dullness and texture are your concern and hair isn't on your list, microdermabrasion does the job for $10 less. If you're curious about doing both in one visit, ask first, because we don't list them as a combined service.

Your skin on the day matters too. Tell your esthetician what you've been using, if anything feels irritated, and if you have an event coming up. They can steer you toward the right option, and they can tell you if it's smarter to wait. Honest answers at check-in help more than any menu description can.

It also helps to think about what you do right after. If you're heading to a dinner or a photo shoot, a service you already know your skin likes is a safer bet than something new. If you have a free weekend and no plans, that's a better time to try something for the first time.

When a Plus combo makes sense

Dermaplane Plus and Microderm Plus are 45-minute services starting at $180+. Each one combines dermaplane or microdermabrasion with one of our Level I or Level II peels. We list them as targeting acne, mild scarring, hyperpigmentation, blackheads, and sun damaged skin, with little downtime. The plus sign on the price means it starts at $180, so ask for the exact number when you book.

The idea behind the pairing is simple. A physical exfoliation clears the surface, and a peel then works on the skin in a different way. Many people find that two kinds of exfoliation in one visit feel like more of a reset than either one alone.

If you're not sure which peel level belongs in the combo, Level I is the one we describe for first-time peel clients and lighter exfoliation, at $105 on its own. Level II is the deeper option, at $165 on its own. We cover that choice in a separate article.

A simple way to decide

Three questions get most people to an answer. Do you want the fuzz gone? Choose dermaplane. Is dullness or rough texture the main thing? Choose microdermabrasion. Are you thinking about acne marks, blackheads, or sun damaged skin, and open to a peel? Ask about a Plus combo.

If you'd like data before you decide, our Observ 320 skin analysis is $105 and shows what's going on with your skin in several lighting modes. It has its own article on this blog too.

To talk it through, call (720) 269-4430 or book online. Our room is on E 6th Ave, and your esthetician can walk you through both options before anything starts.