RADIATE
Dermaplaning at REAL Aesthetics + Wellness is the art of refined exfoliation.
FEEL POLISHED WITH
DERMAPLANING
Dermaplaning
Dermaplaning at REAL Aesthetics + Wellness is the art of refined exfoliation. This treatment gently removes the outermost layer of dead skin cells and fine vellus hair,
Dermaplaning
is Perfect For…
Removing dead skin cells and peach fuzz for instantly smoother, more radiant skin
Preparing skin for other treatments like chemical peels or laser therapy for enhanced results
- Brightening dull, lackluster complexions with gentle yet effective exfoliation
- Enhancing the absorption and efficacy of serums, moisturizers, and other skincare products
- Creating a flawless canvas for makeup application that lasts beautifully throughout the day
Treatment Length
Dermaplaning sessions typically take 30 to 45 minutes, including consultation and the treatment itself. The procedure is performed with precision and care, making it a perfect lunchtime treatment that fits seamlessly into your busy schedule.
Treatment Frequency
For optimal results and ongoing maintenance, we recommend dermaplaning every 3 to 4 weeks. This timing aligns with your natural skin cell turnover cycle, ensuring consistently smooth, radiant skin without over-exfoliation.
Treatment Results
Results are immediate and dramatic. You will leave with skin that feels baby-soft, looks luminous, and reflects light beautifully. The removal of vellus hair and dead cells creates an instantly refined appearance that continues improving over the following days as cell turnover accelerates.
Treatment Recovery
Dermaplaning requires zero downtime. You may experience slight redness for an hour or two, but most patients resume all normal activities immediately. We recommend using gentle skincare and sun protection for 24 to 48 hours, but there are no restrictions on exercise, makeup, or social activities.
What is
Dermaplaning?
Dermaplaning is a manual exfoliation technique that uses a sterile surgical scalpel held at a precise 45-degree angle to gently scrape away the uppermost layer of dead skin cells and fine vellus hair (peach fuzz).
Unlike chemical exfoliants that dissolve cellular bonds or microdermabrasion that uses abrasive crystals, dermaplaning relies on the skilled hand of a trained aesthetician and the sharpness of a medical-grade blade to achieve remarkably smooth, glowing skin. This treatment is both immediate and cumulative—you see instant results, and with regular sessions, your skin becomes progressively more refined, luminous, and responsive to skincare products. At REAL, dermaplaning is performed with meticulous precision, ensuring a safe, comfortable experience that delivers the polished results our patients expect.
When combined, these technologies reinforce each other’s benefits. MOXI resurfaces the skin’s texture and clarity, while BBL HERO corrects pigmentation and stimulates youthful collagen, resulting in a noticeably brighter, more even, and youthful appearance after just one treatment.
How Dermaplaning Works
Step One: Physical Exfoliation With Precision
The surgical blade removes the stratum corneum—the dead, dull outer layer of skin—along with fine vellus hair in one fluid motion. This physical removal is more thorough than daily cleansing or topical exfoliants, revealing the fresh, healthy cells beneath. The result is skin that looks brighter, feels smoother, and reflects light beautifully. The removal of vellus hair also eliminates the subtle shadow cast by peach fuzz, creating a more luminous appearance.
Step Two: Enhanced Product Penetration
With the barrier of dead cells and fine hair removed, skincare products can penetrate more deeply and work more effectively. Serums, moisturizers, and active ingredients reach living cells where they can deliver maximum benefit. This makes dermaplaning an excellent prep treatment for patients committed to high-quality skincare regimens who want to optimize their investment in premium products.
Step 3: Stimulating Cellular TurnoverThe Synergy
The gentle mechanical trauma of dermaplaning triggers the skin to accelerate cellular regeneration. In response to the exfoliation, the skin ramps up production of fresh cells, creating a more youthful appearance over time. Regular dermaplaning essentially trains your skin to maintain a faster turnover rate, preventing the buildup of dead cells that dulls the complexion.
This Treatment is
Great For…
Patients who want instant radiance with zero downtime. Perfect for pre-event preparation, maintaining polished skin between more intensive treatments, or enhancing the efficacy of your premium skincare products.
Instant Radiance for Special Events
Dermaplaning is the perfect pre-event treatment when you need to look flawless on short notice. Whether you have a wedding, gala, photo shoot, or important presentation, dermaplaning creates an instantly refined complexion that photographs beautifully and allows makeup to sit perfectly. The immediate transformation makes this treatment ideal when time is of the essence but results cannot be compromised.
Creating the Perfect Canvas for Makeup
For patients who value impeccable makeup application, dermaplaning is transformative. The removal of vellus hair and dead cells creates a smooth, even surface that allows foundation, powder, and other products to glide on seamlessly and wear beautifully throughout the day. Makeup artists consistently report that clients who receive regular dermaplaning treatments are significantly easier to work with, requiring less product and achieving more polished results. This is the secret weapon of those who demand perfection in their daily presentation.
Enhancing Skincare Product Efficacy
If you invest in premium skincare—serums, retinoids, peptides, growth factors—dermaplaning ensures you receive maximum return on that investment. By removing the barrier of dead cells and fine hair, these active ingredients can penetrate more deeply and work more effectively. Patients often report that their skincare feels more powerful and delivers better results after incorporating regular dermaplaning into their routine. This treatment essentially amplifies everything else you do for your skin.
Maintaining Youthful Cellular Turnover
As we age, cellular turnover naturally slows, leading to the buildup of dead cells that dull the complexion and accentuate fine lines. Regular dermaplaning counteracts this process by mechanically removing dead cells and stimulating the skin to produce fresh ones more rapidly. Over time, this trains your skin to maintain a faster, more youthful turnover rate. It is preventative aging care at its most elegant—maintaining the vitality and luminosity of younger skin through consistent, gentle intervention.
What to Expect at
REAL Aesthetics
Step 1: Comprehensive Consultation
Your dermaplaning journey begins with a thorough consultation where we assess your skin type, concerns, and goals. We will examine your complexion, discuss any sensitivities or contraindications, and determine whether dermaplaning is the ideal treatment for you. For most patients, dermaplaning is remarkably well-tolerated and appropriate, but we take care to ensure this gentle treatment aligns with your individual needs. You will leave this consultation feeling informed and confident about your upcoming treatment.
Step 2: Individualized Pre-Care
Before your dermaplaning appointment, we provide simple pre-care guidelines to optimize your experience. This typically includes avoiding any harsh exfoliants or active ingredients for 48 hours prior, arriving with clean skin free of makeup, and ensuring you are not experiencing any active breakouts or irritation. These minimal preparations ensure your skin is in optimal condition for the most effective, comfortable treatment possible.
Step 3: Precision Treatment
On treatment day, your aesthetician will cleanse your skin thoroughly before beginning the dermaplaning process. Using a sterile surgical scalpel held at a precise 45-degree angle, they will make feathering strokes across your skin in small sections, systematically removing dead cells and vellus hair. The sensation is gentle—most patients describe it as deeply relaxing rather than uncomfortable. You will hear a light scraping sound as the blade works, but there is no pain or significant pressure. The entire process takes 30 to 45 minutes, and many patients find it so soothing they nearly fall asleep.
Step 4: Post Treatment Glow
Immediately after dermaplaning, your skin will feel incredibly smooth and look noticeably more radiant. We will apply a nourishing serum and sunscreen to protect your newly revealed skin. You may experience slight redness for an hour or two, but this subsides quickly. Most patients can resume all normal activities immediately, though we recommend avoiding harsh active ingredients and excessive sun exposure for 24 to 48 hours. Your skin will continue looking more luminous over the following days as cell turnover accelerates.
Step 5: Maintenance & Long Term Radiance
To maintain your polished, glowing complexion, we recommend scheduling dermaplaning treatments every 3 to 4 weeks. This timing aligns with your natural skin cell cycle, ensuring consistently smooth, radiant skin without over-exfoliation. Many patients incorporate dermaplaning into their monthly self-care routine, pairing it with facials or other treatments for comprehensive skin maintenance. We will work with you to create a personalized treatment schedule that keeps your skin looking perpetually refined.
CURIOUS ABOUT RESULTS?
TAKE A LOOK AT OUR TRANSFORMATIONS
Neurotoxin to Frown Lines
Neurotoxin to Forehead Lines
Neurotoxin to Fix Gummy Smile – Lip Flip
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
Holistic Aesthetic Assessment
Every treatment at REAL includes a comprehensive aesthetic assessment that looks at the big picture of your beauty and wellness. Rather than isolating a single concern, our experts consider how this treatment fits into your overall skin health and personal goals. We may analyze factors like your skin type, texture concerns, or skincare regimen to ensure our approach is truly bespoke. This holistic perspective means your treatment plan feels integrative and uniquely yours, as we aim for results that enhance your natural beauty in a balanced way.
Expert-Level Technique
At our Santa Rosa clinic, your treatment is performed using expert-level techniques honed by advanced training and experience. Our aestheticians master the precise angle, pressure, and stroke patterns that make dermaplaning both safe and effective. We uphold the highest standards of safety and precision, from using sterile surgical-grade instruments to employing meticulous protocols for your well-being. Our quiet confidence and technical excellence ensure you can relax and trust that you are receiving world-class care with an artistic touch.
Optional Add-On Therapies
To elevate your experience, we offer thoughtful add-on therapies that can complement dermaplaning for enhanced outcomes. For example, many patients pair dermaplaning with a customized facial for deep hydration and nourishment, or follow with a chemical peel for even more dramatic exfoliation and renewal. During your consultation, we will discuss any additional options that align with your goals, from targeted serums to LED light therapy. These enhancements are always optional, but available if you desire a truly comprehensive skin rejuvenation experience.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
WE HAVE THE ANSWERS!
Will my facial hair grow back thicker or darker?
This is the most common concern about dermaplaning, and we can definitively say no—vellus hair will not grow back thicker, darker, or coarser. This is a myth rooted in misunderstanding of hair biology. Vellus hair differs fundamentally from terminal hair (like the hair on your scalp or eyebrows) in both structure and growth pattern. Dermaplaning removes hair at the surface level, not at the follicle, so it cannot alter the hair’s characteristics. When the hair grows back, it returns with the same fine, soft texture it had before. Millions of patients have safely undergone dermaplaning for decades without any change to their facial hair.
Is dermaplaning safe for all skin types?
Dermaplaning is safe and effective for most skin types, including sensitive and aging skin. However, it is not recommended for patients with active acne, rosacea flares, eczema, or open wounds. The physical exfoliation could aggravate these conditions. During your consultation, we will assess your skin carefully to determine whether dermaplaning is appropriate for you. If you have any active concerns, we may recommend waiting until they resolve or suggest alternative treatments that address your goals without risk.
How is dermaplaning different from shaving?
While both dermaplaning and shaving involve a blade removing hair, the techniques, tools, and outcomes differ dramatically. Shaving uses a razor with a safety guard designed to remove hair quickly without precision. Dermaplaning uses a sterile surgical scalpel held at a specific angle by a trained professional to remove both hair and dead skin cells with meticulous care. The exfoliation component of dermaplaning—which is the primary benefit—simply does not occur with shaving. Additionally, the medical-grade blade and expert technique ensure safety and efficacy that at-home shaving cannot replicate.
Can I wear makeup after dermaplaning?
We recommend waiting at least 24 hours before applying makeup to allow your skin to settle and minimize any risk of irritation. However, many patients schedule dermaplaning the day before an event, allowing the slight redness to subside overnight while still benefiting from the incredibly smooth canvas for makeup application the following day. When you do resume makeup, you will be amazed at how flawlessly it applies and how much more polished your complexion appears.
Does dermaplaning hurt?
Dermaplaning is not painful. Most patients find it deeply relaxing and surprisingly comfortable. You will feel the gentle scraping sensation as the blade moves across your skin, but there is no pain, cutting, or discomfort. Some areas may feel slightly more sensitive than others—the upper lip and jawline can be more tender—but the sensation remains well within the realm of comfort. Many patients compare it to a gentle facial massage and find themselves completely at ease throughout the treatment.
How many sessions will I need?
For optimal improvement, most patients benefit from 2–3 sessions. Maintenance is typically every 3–6 months. However, you’ll see a beautiful, noticeable glow after even one appointment.
How long do results last?
The immediate smoothness and radiance from dermaplaning last approximately 3 to 4 weeks before dead cells begin accumulating again and vellus hair grows back. This timing aligns perfectly with our recommended treatment frequency. With regular sessions every month, your skin maintains a consistently polished, luminous appearance. Over time, the cumulative effects of repeated dermaplaning create progressively healthier, more refined skin that looks perpetually radiant.
