Dermaplaning in San Francisco

Short answer: dermaplaning at Aesthetic OOGII is booked as Dermaplaning with Clinical Treatment with Collagen 90-II or Botinal — $275 for a 70-minute session, or $650 for a three-session package. A specialized tool gently lifts dead skin cells and fine facial hair ("peach fuzz") from the surface of the skin, and the session pairs that with a clinical treatment using Collagen 90-II or Botinal. Skip it during an acne breakout, an eczema flare or a cold sore. The studio is at 450 Sutter St #1530 in Union Square.

What dermaplaning is

Dermaplaning is exfoliation with a blade. A scalpel-type blade is drawn across the skin to shave off the outermost layer of dead cells along with the fine vellus hair that grows on most faces. The menu describes the studio's version as a non-invasive treatment in which a specialized tool gently scrapes away dead skin cells and fine facial hair from the surface of the skin.

Recovery is not the same for everyone. Cleveland Clinic's overview describes a recovery in which redness and swelling subside over the first week and scabs may form in the second, with sun avoidance afterward; how much of that you experience depends on the technique used and on your own skin. Ask the studio what to expect after its session and follow the aftercare you are given.

Dermaplaning benefits, and the limits of each

• Smoother, brighter-looking skin. Cleveland Clinic lists dull skin among the reasons people choose dermaplaning and describes it as revealing smoother skin underneath. The dull skin and texture page compares it with the studio's other options for flat-looking skin.
• Peach fuzz gone for a while. Cleveland Clinic notes that hair removal by dermaplaning is temporary: the hair grows back.
• It will not make hair grow back thicker or darker. A Cleveland Clinic dermatologist explains that trimming hair above the surface has no effect on how it grows; regrowth only feels coarser because a cut hair has a blunt tip instead of a tapered one.
• Fine lines, dullness and sun damage. Cleveland Clinic lists these among the reasons people have dermaplaning done, while noting that it can make skin look younger but does not stop the aging process. Deep lines and sun spots are better matched to other treatments — see IPL for sun spots and redness and microneedling for structural texture.

What the session includes

The bookable service is not a blade pass on its own. Its full name is Dermaplaning with Clinical Treatment with Collagen 90-II or Botinal: the dermaplaning is paired with a clinical treatment using one of those two products, in a 70-minute appointment. The menu does not list the ingredients of either, so ask at your consultation which one suits your skin and why.

• Dermaplaning with Clinical Treatment with Collagen 90-II or Botinal — $275, 70 minutes.
• Dermaplaning with Clinical Treatment, three-session package — $650 (about $217 a session, $175 less than three single visits).

Series packages must be redeemed within a calendar year and are non-refundable. Current pricing is on the treatment menu.

Who it suits

Cleveland Clinic lists dull skin, fine lines and unwanted peach fuzz among the reasons people choose dermaplaning, so it is aimed at skin that looks flat or feels rough rather than skin that is inflamed. The exfoliation is mechanical rather than chemical, but it still disturbs the skin barrier and can irritate; if your skin is sensitive or reactive, have it assessed at the complimentary consultation before booking.

Who should skip it, or wait

Cleveland Clinic advises against dermaplaning if you have active acne, cold sores, eczema, psoriasis, skin tags, moles or recent burns in the area. Its dermatologists add that running a blade over an active breakout can agitate the acne and expose broken skin to bacteria, and that eczema flares and other active skin conditions are a reason to wait.

• Breaking out? Book the acne treatment first and come back to dermaplaning once the skin has settled.
• Reactive or eczema-prone skin? The redness page explains the barrier-repair route.
• Any health condition, allergy, injury or recent procedure should be mentioned when you book; that is the studio's standing policy for every service.

Risks worth knowing

Done carefully, Cleveland Clinic describes dermaplaning as generally safe and low-risk. The risks its pages list are temporary irritation, infection if the skin is nicked, flare-ups of acne, a disrupted skin barrier, scarring (including keloid or hypertrophic scars), and patches of skin that turn lighter or darker than the skin around them — a reason to mention any history of dark marks after irritation at your consultation; dermatology reviews flag post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation as a particular concern in darker skin.

Aftercare

Freshly exfoliated skin needs moisturizer and sunscreen; Cleveland Clinic's advice for the irritation that can follow is exactly that. Keep the rest of the routine gentle while the skin settles, and do not pick at any dry patches. The aftercare guide covers what to use after in-office exfoliation.

Professional vs at-home dermaplaning

Home dermaplaning tools are widely sold. Cleveland Clinic's dermatologist suggests not doing it at home more than once a week, because facial skin needs time to recover in between, and warns that nicks open the door to infection. The studio's service is not a home blade pass: it pairs dermaplaning with a clinical treatment using Collagen 90-II or Botinal in a 70-minute appointment, and every client is offered a complimentary consultation that includes an assessment of your skin.

How often to come back

Fine hair and dead cells come back, so the result is not permanent. How often to repeat depends on your skin and on what else you are doing, because exfoliated skin needs time to recover between treatments. Ask about spacing at the complimentary consultation; the three-session package is there for people who already know they want a series.

Booking and where to find us

Aesthetic OOGII is at 450 Sutter St #1530, San Francisco, CA 94108, near Union Square. Hours are Monday to Friday 9:30 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday 9:30 am to 4:30 pm; call (415) 757-0265 or book from the menu. Every client is offered a complimentary consultation with Oogii, a certified medical and clinical aesthetician whose core treatments include dermaplaning. Changes need 24 hours' notice; later cancellations are charged 50% of the service and no-shows the full amount.