Wouldn't it be great if all those little signs of aging were hidden so only you could see them? Unfortunately, one of the most obvious places they show up are right on your face for everyone to see. Wrinkles, age spots, acne scars, discolorations and fine lines are all a part of this process. As if the number of candles on the cake weren't enough! Fortunately, you have the opportunity to reduce these signs of aging.

Dermabrasion and microdermabrasion are procedures that target these problems and eliminate or at least reduce their appearance. But how do you know which procedure is right for you? A consultation with a plastic surgeon or dermatologist can evaluate your skin and help you choose the most effective treatment.

Who needs treatment?

If you have mild to moderate wrinkles, fine lines and superficial acne scars, microdermabrasion should be all you need to achieve a smoother look. It is also helpful to eliminate discolorations such as age spots. However, if your problems run deeper (literally), you may need a more aggressive procedure such as dermabrasion. It can not completely remove deep set lines, wrinkles and severe scarring, but it can reduce their visibility.

How does it work?

Microdermabrasion is a completely non-surgical procedure that gently exfoliates the skin using diamond or crystal particles that are sprayed onto the skin. These tiny particles remove the top layer of dead skin to reveal the brighter healthy skin underneath. Because it is done so gently, this treatment is best for superficial skin problems. It typically takes several treatments to get the results you want.

Dermabrasion is not as simple as you may feel. It is a surgical procedure that involves a local anesthetic. Depending on the extent of the treatment, a general anesthetic may be used. After the skin is numbed, your doctor uses a scraping device to remove one layer of the skin at a time. He will scrape as much as he can to be safe and still achieve results. This treatment is best for severe scarring, wrinkles and other skin conditions that are embedded into the skin. Because of the severity and the need to be safe, it can not eliminate the appearance but can only reduce it. One procedure should be enough to address your problem.

What is the recovery time?

You can get back to your day after undergoing a microdermabrasion treatment. Your skin will look mildly wind burned and may be a little pink for about a day, but there is nothing to stop you from your normal activities.

Because a dermabrasion treatment is actual surgery, recovery takes longer. Immediately after surgery, your skin is going to be very red and swollen. There will also be some pain for which your doctor can prescribe pain medication. As the newly exposed skin heals, a scabbing may occur. It is recommended that you wait at least two weeks before resuming work and other normal activities as it is extremely important to protect your face from external threats, especially if you participate in sports. Until your skin is back to normal, you must protect your face from the sun as well to prevent discoloration. Recovery can take from six months to a year.

As you can see, your skin is going to be the determining factor for deciding which procedure can help you the most. But, isn't it good to know that you don't have to accept the signs of aging? You can grow old gracefully, but nobody said you have to look at it!