What It Is
Hydrafacial refers to a non-invasive skin treatment that combines various methods, including exfoliation, cleansing, anti-oxidant protection, extraction, and hydration. It is good for any skin type, especially, aging and sensitive skins. This is according to aesthetic experts, including Haideh Hirmand, MD, an aesthetic plastic surgeon and a private practitioner in Upper East Side.
Hydrafacial uses patented vortex technology to infuse desirable nutrients into your skin. The nutrients include red algae extract, magnesium peptides, copper, zinc, and horse chestnut seed extract. Because of its mechanical nature, the treatment lasts shortly, usually less than one hour. If properly done, hydrafacial nourishes, moisturizes, and soothes your skin, resulting in a more beautiful and younger skin free of wrinkles, fine lines, acne, brown spots, hyperpigmentation, and congested pores.
How Hydrafacial Works
The treatment works by:
- Removing dead cells from your skin
- Detoxifying your skin
- Infusing your skin with essential nutrients that enhance the production of collagen and elastin, which make the skin strong and elastic
- Providing long-lasting skin hydration
- Opening your skin pores by removing debris and dirt
How It Is Done
The treatment consists of various stages which help in detoxification of the skin, dead skin cells removal, and extraction of any debris from your skin pores. The steps also provide long lasting hydration and essential nutrient support to enhance production of collagen and elastin proteins. The steps include:
1. Vortex Cleansing and Exfoliation
The purpose of this stage is to rid your skin of any deal cells by use of water-based exfoliation. This step is also applied to clear your skin of sebum to facilitate the penetration of skin care products. Sebum acts as glue that traps small particles, which block your skin pores.
2. Loosening of Pores
This is the second stage you will undergo during hydrafacial. It is a pore cleansing step that involves the infusion of your skin pores with a mixture of glycolic and salicylic acids. These acids have anti-inflammatory properties, which help in relieving the symptoms of acne. No wonder most acne treatment skin care products contain these acids. The acids loosen the debris, dirt, and other foreign materials that may have clogged your skin pores.
3. Pore Extraction
Pore extraction stage involves the removal of loosened foreign materials from the pores using a hydrafacial applicator. This step ensures deep skin cleaning, which enhances the penetration of skin care products. It also prevents your skin from future acne attacks.
4. Serum Fusion
This is the last step of the procedure. Here, your hydrafacial expert infuses chemicals including antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, and peptides into your skin. These ingredients are beneficial to your skin in many ways. Peptides, for instance, help in replacing any dead cells. Antioxidants are helpful in the repair of any damaged parts of your skin. The hyaluronic acid reduces the signs of aging by eliminating wrinkles from your skin, leaving you with a younger look.
Other than the four steps above, hydrafacial may involves additional treatments, including shining LED lights over your skin to reduce redness and irritation, as well as enhance blood circulation in your skin. The lights are also helpful in stimulating the production of elastin and collagen, which are the proteins that give your skin elasticity and strength.
Recovering From Hydrafacial
Typically, you will not experience downtime after the treatment. The treatment does not involve any pain and is usually completed within one hour. You can go back to your daily routing immediately after the procedure.
Other Areas Other Than Face
Although hydrafacial is majorly a facial procedure, it can also be done on other areas of your body. It can be applied on the skin of your neck, arms, and hands.
At What Age Do Most People Start Using Hydrafacial?
Hydrafacial is appropriate for any age as long as your skin is in need of the treatment. Since people may have different skin concerns, the age at which people begin to use this treatment varies from one person to another depending on the purpose for which a person seeks the treatment. Remember, it restores your skin and can also be tailored to address the specific concerns of your skin. You may know that you need hydrafacial when you begin to see the following skin signs:
- Wrinkles
- Fine lines
- Acne
- Clogged or congested pores
- Hyperpigmentation, including red, dark, and brown spots
- Dry skin due to poor hydration
- Oily skin
- Increased sensitivity
Can Hydrafacial Be Preventive?
Hydrafacial combines both corrective and preventive skin care. The treatment contains antioxidants, which protect your skin against free radical damage and signs of aging.
Benefits of Hydrafacial
Hydrafacial is mainly done for aesthetic benefit. However, the procedure has other benefits beyond just this. It is used to treat acne and signs of aging. It also treats sensitive skins and prevents the buildup of excess oil on your skin. Remember, the procedure can be customized to suit your skin needs by choosing specific moisturizing and hydrating serum to address the specific problems of your skin.
Drawbacks
Unlike laser procedures, hydrafacial does not involve vaporization of your skin cells. This ensures that your skin stays free of inflammation and crusting after the procedure. However, you may experience redness and slight tightness just after the procedure. You may also experience skin irritation as a result of the suctioning and liquid impact on your skin. The good thing with these side effects is that they do not last for long and usually disappear within one hour.
According to Jillian Wright, an aesthetic expert and proprietor of Jillian Wright Clinical Skin Spa, you should consult a dermatologist if you are taking Accutane or suffer from acne before attempting to undergo hydrafacial. The expert also warns that the procedure is not suitable for people with heart problems and pregnant women because it involves microcurrent therapy, which is dangerous to such people.
To avoid any possible side effects, it is advisable to be careful when approaching hydrafacial treatment. You need to hire the services of a well-trained expert who understands the procedure well.