There are more than 100 different microdermabrasion machines currently on the market and the level of treatment they provide differ considerably. A microdermabrasion machine can cost anywhere from $2,000 to 20,000. The majority of spas and beauty retreats that offer microdermabrasion treatment use machines that cost between $2,000 -$4,000, although this doesn't mean that the treatment they provide is not of a good standard.

The cost of a microdermabrasion machine depends largely on how powerful it is. There are generally two different grades of microdermabrasion machine: medical grade and spa grade. Spa grade microdermabrasion machines are less powerful than medical grade machines and are safe and suitable to use for the majority of treatments. Medical grade microdermabrasion machines are only used by qualified dermatologists who have a thorough knowledge of skin types and the risks involved in microdermabrasion. The reason why medical grade microdermabrasion machines are stringer is so that they can treat skin conditions that exist at deeper layers of skin such as pitted acne scars. However, if the treatment provider isn't qualified, there's a great risk of using too much power and causes serious harm to the skin.

Spa grade microdermabrasion machines are deliberately made less powerful so the risk of causing severe damage of a person's skin is eliminated. They are still strong enough to provide an effective treatment against acne, wrinkles, fine lines, mild stretch marks and limited acne scarring.

The microdermabrasion machine performs two main functions. Firstly it delivers microdermabrasion crystals to the skin at high speed in order to cause the exfoliation process. It does this through using air pressure. Secondly, it sucks the spent crystals and dead skin cells away from the surface of the skin through using a vacuum. When these two processing work together this is known as closed loop microdermabrasion.

As the microdermabrasion industry is developing, so too are microdermabrasion machines. Whereas microdermabrasion machines were traditionally quite heavy and needed to be rolled around on a trolley, many modern microdermabrasion machines are very light and small making them easy to carry and take to different places. Some microdermabrasion machines even combine several other treatments that compliment the microdermabrasion process. These include hot and cold hammers which are powered off the microdermabrasion machine and can be used after the microdermabrasion process to enhance the effect or speed up the skin healing process.