Medical Facials

What is a Medical Facial?

A medical facial is typically performed in a doctor’s office, such as VIVAA, and uses medical-grade products and tools. Medical facials are custom-tailored to your skin’s needs and generally include these steps: cleansing, exfoliating, extractions and moisturizing. These facials are usually accompanied by either microdermabrasion or dermaplaning. A chemical peel can further brighten the skin through exfoliation. We use PCA SKIN products to assist with hydration and brightening of the skin.

Other treatments that medical facials often complement are injectable dermal fillers or laser resurfacing. These facial scan help prepare your skin for the treatment and improve post-treatment results.

What is the Difference Between a Medical Facial and a Spa Facial?

Both types of facials have the same goal in mind, namely giving you clear, beautiful skin. Spa facials are often geared toward a more relaxing, pampering experience with add-ons such as hand and foot massages, relaxing musical and aromatherapy. Sometimes spa facials include a superficial pore cleansing or light dermabrasion to exfoliate dead skin cells. Medical-grade facials use products that contain higher concentrations of active ingredients, which will improve the condition of your skin significantly and give you more dramatic results. Only board-certified dermatologists or licensed aestheticians practicing under the supervision of a dermatologist can administer medical facials, which are geared toward delivering clear, functional results.

Who Can Get a Medical Facial?

Almost anyone can get a medical facial. The variety of available methods, tools and products allows the facial to be customized to your skin needs, whether it’s rectifying aging, dehydrated, sun-damaged or acne-prone skin. Patients who have severe acne and take Accutane or those with rosacea should avoid facials. Pregnant women and those with heart conditions or who take blood thinners should avoid microcurrent therapy and photorejuvenation, which are often included with medical facials. As always, our professionals will always discuss any allergies and medical conditions before starting your treatment to ensure that you get the best possible procedure for your goals.

What to Expect During a Typical Medical Facial

Deep Pore Cleansing

The first step is a deep pore cleansing to achieve a deeper cleansing of the skin without disrupting its natural barrier function of balanced pH, oils and lips essential to your skin’s health.

Skin Analysis

A thorough skin analysis is next to determine the exact treatment and products needed for a customized medical facial.

Exfoliation

Exfoliation, either through physical means, such as microdermabrasion or chemically through peels, is selected to stimulate cell renewal and removal of dry skin, while also breaking down stubborn discoloration and fading of post-breakout red or dark marks. Exfoliation also allows the skin to absorb the active ingredients of products more deeply for maximum skin renewal and optimal results.

Steam

Steam warms the surface of the skin, making it more receptive to treatment from masks and serums. It also enhances circulation and softens debris inside the pores for easier removal of blackheads and whiteheads.

Massage of Face, Neck and Décolletage

This step helps to promote lymphatic drainage to remove toxins and reduce fluid retention. By flushing out these toxins, we also promote circulation to leave the skin glowing and more youthful looking.

Manual Extraction

Pre-congestion, including whiteheads and blackheads, will be removed. Regular extractions help keep skin looking smooth while also clearing your complexion.

Masks

Used at the end of a medical facial, masks help lower the temperature of the skin to reduce redness and to deeply hydrate. Masks are also important because they target specific skin conditions. They can be soothing, calming, moisturizing, purifying or stimulating, and work in different ways depending on your skin type and needs.

Tone, Hydrate and Broad Spectrum Sunblock

Toner will help to restore the skin’s natural pH and to help prepare it for proper absorption of moisturizer, which is imperative to any skincare routine, regardless of skin type. We will apply a moisturizer suited to your skin type that replenishes much-needed water into your skin. Finally, you’ll receive a broad-spectrum sunblock that will protect your skin from damaging UVB and UVA rays.

The Lifecycle of a Medical Facial

Immediately afterward, your skin radiates a healthy glow as circulation has improved. Skin cells regenerate within 28 to 48 days of a medical facial. Optimal results occur with consistent medical facials every four to six weeks. Your skin will look and feel better with proper treatments and consistent care.

Benefits of Regular Medical Facial Treatments

1. Women are more inclined to aging due to stress, which can shorten the lifespan of your skin cells, worsen acne and other skin inflammations. A medical facial treatment uses products that can help fight stress and make you feel calmer.
2. Medical facials increase the circulation of the blood under the skin to provide optimal health to facilitate skin cell renewal.
3. Manipulation of the lymphatic system that lies just underneath the skin will decrease waste underneath it that can cause puffiness, ruddiness and fluid accumulation.
4. Cleaning the pores on a much deeper level will help maintain clear skin and stop acne formation.
5. Deeper exfoliation smoothes skin, allows for greater penetration of products, unclogs pores, improves the skin’s ability to retain hydration and evens skin tone.
6. Medical facials slow the aging process as they allow your skin to feel healthier and smoother. Facials reduce fine lines, age spots and relieve dehydrated skin.

Maximizing Your Medical Facial

Many patients see improvement on the same day as treatment and you will continue to see improvements over the next days and weeks. You can make the most out of your medical facial by closely following the home skincare regimen that our staff recommends so that your skin will continue to maintain a lasting and youthful glow.

FAQs

How long does a medical facial take?

Generally 60 to 90 minutes.

Are there any side effects?

At most, your skin may feel slightly warm and appear but nothing that makeup can’t hide, although you may not want to cover your newfound glow.

How do medical facials help my acne?

The steam and medical-grade equipment used will open and clean clogged pores and comedones that have formed on the skin. This process helps speed the improvement of acne by clearing up existing breakouts and allowing prescription medications to absorb well into the skin to prevent future breakouts. During some medical facials we may apply a chemical peel to augment the process even further.

Dr. Sidhu and his staff at VIVAA will be happy to discuss your needs and customize your medical facial as well as set up a regimen that will keep your skin looking good. Contact us today by calling 425-250-9999, or filling out our online form for a no-obligation consultation.