What’s The Difference Between Microneedling and Microdermabrasion?

If you’re looking into professional, medical-grade skincare treatment to help glow up your complexion, you’ve likely stumbled into a sea of different terms, treatments, and techniques that can blur together and make any service sound like every other.

At Fargo Dermatology, we understand how each skincare treatment we provide achieves fine-tuned results with personalized plans based on skin type, concern, and goal. Two of our popular but sometimes misunderstood treatments are microneedling and microdermabrasion. And while they both start with “micro,” there are several differences that separate these two procedures.

What is Microneedling?

Microneedling is a versatile and effective procedure for many skin concerns, using state-of-the-art tools to help skin tighten itself over time and refresh its appearance. Microneedles create tiny channels in the skin that the body interprets as slight damage, kicking the healing process into overdrive throughout the treatment area. This response brings an increased production of collagen and elastin, helping to firm and tighten skin as well as generate new, healthy skin tissue.

These microchannels also serve as a way to greatly increase the effectiveness of potent skincare products such as serums, PRP, or other skincare products. This is because the microchannels allow these products to penetrate deeper into the skin than when applied topically.

At Fargo Center for Dermatology, we offer two types of Microneedling:

Microneedling treatments can be repeated after fully recovering several weeks after your treatment, allowing you to compound the benefits of your unique procedure.

What is Microdermabrasion?

Microdermabrasion is a totally non-invasive procedure that exfoliates skin with the help of a mildly abrasive handpiece that is also connected to a vacuum. The device physically sloughs away dead skin cells, excess oil, and the outermost layer of skin to reveal fresh, healthy, new skin underneath.

This process brightens and evens skin tone while helping pores to appear smaller and blackheads to be removed.

There is absolutely no downtime after microdermabrasion treatments, and your results last about four weeks.

Which One is Right For Me?

As you can see, these procedures are very different methods that achieve similar but distinct results. By creating microchannels and stimulating skin’s internal response, microneedling may be best for people who want:

  • More significant rejuvenation from loose skin or wrinkles
  • Healthier-looking skin in the longer term
  • Reduction in wrinkles
  • Diminishing of acne or other scars

By combining microneedling with PRP or other serums, you can add more benefits to this list, addressing additional concerns with more effectiveness.

Microdermabrasion requires no downtime, but doesn’t penetrate as deeply as microneedling. It’s better for people who want:

  • Professional exfoliation
  • Less dramatic line and wrinkle reduction
  • Smaller pores
  • More even skin tone
  • Blackhead removal

Cosmetic Dermatology in Fargo, ND

Whatever your skincare need, our medical aestheticians and Dr. Rachel Ness are here to help you get beautifully radiant skin with our professional-grade treatments. Browse our service offerings online and then contact us with what you’re interested in. During your consultation with our team, we’ll let you know what to expect from your chosen treatment and recommend a personalized plan to help you reach your skin goals. Call or contact us online today!