Tutorial on Micro-dermabrasion Technology
Thank you for deciding to learn more about the technology behind microdermabrasion by
reading this information from Bella Products Inc. We, at Bella along with Esthetic Technology
Group, hope you find it informative and helpful and we encourage your feedback or
questions.
This information is intended to give you a solid base from which to make an educated
purchasing decision. If you understand how a microdermabrasion system works, the actual
physics behind the concept, you will be better able to choose a well designed system that
fits your needs and budget.
Obviously, we would prefer that you choose to purchase a Bella System and we are certain
that, if you evaluate systems on performance characteristics, ease of use, and effectiveness
of treatment, you will actually buy a Bella. But, at a minimum, we hope this tutorial helps you
end up with a system that has the capability to assist you in building your aesthetic
business. We are a manufacturer of other products in addition to microdermabrasion and we
want you to feel that we have been helpful in your search for knowledge to aid in your search
for the best micro system. Please consider us for other products such as DermaJoule LED
Light System, even if you don’t buy one of our Bella micro-dermabrasion systems.
Introduction
Contrary to what you may have heard,
All microdermabrasion machines are not the same, nor do they work in the same manner.
Each machine is designed by an independent person and based on that persons concept of
'what is needed to perform the task' and their own talent, so goes the design.
There are many microdermabrasion systems available on the market today, maybe as many
as 35 different manufacturers. Machines come in various colors, shapes and sizes, low cost
to very expensive, with many options and features, some of them work, and some of them
don't. A salesperson will attempt to lead you down a path that ends in the purchase of the
system they are selling. Of course they will down play or avoid all of the negative aspects of
their product. Some will stretch the truth and some will be straight liars. You may be inclined
to believe them unless you are informed. If you have the knowledge, you can
differentiate between fact and fiction, reality and sales hype.
I hope to enlighten you on how a design is conceptualized and brought to manufacturing and
you may question my motive. My motive is to sell you my machine, but not by lying to you.
Instead, my plan is to teach you, in a very short course, all about the logic and technology
that goes into inventing a technology for the marketplace. That is what I did in 1997. I
invented a new technology for the aesthetic marketplace.
You will be told that microdermabrasion as a procedure is very profitable. That is a true
statement. In many areas, you can charge $100 or more per treatment. Your cost can be as
low as $2 to $5 in supplies. That is a high profit margin for a single treatment. But, if your
system is not effective, one treatment may be the most you can sell to an individual
client.
Remember when someone comes into your facility with a skin problem, you will get just one
chance to convince them that you are the one who can provide the solution. With a poorly
designed machine that person may feel microdermabrasion just does not work for them and,
after one session, they will not return for additional appointments. In the worst case, they
may not trust you to provide them with any other aesthetic treatment and they will take their
business, and friends elsewhere.
There is a cost, in advertising expenses and referral opportunities, to get each new client in
the door so you must capitalize on every chance to convert everyone into a repeat
customer.
A successful microdermabrasion business is one where you don’t have to do a lot of
expensive advertising because your satisfied, repeat customers will provide you with
numerous referrals. Having a system that is not effective will lead you to continually spend
advertising dollars in the attempt to bring in new clients to replace the ones that stop
coming. Ultimately, you may end up selling a poorly designed system on the used market at
a substantial loss because of the lack of success of your microdermabrasion business.
A high purchase price does not guarantee high performance just as a low purchase
price will not guarantee profitability. There are many used systems available on the
market at very low prices.
You might ask yourself, "Why are these machines on the market"? Why would anyone sell a
microdermabrasion system, at an obvious loss, if it can generate such high profits? You can
be reasonably certain the vacuum motors in those used systems still operate. Very few
systems suffer total motor failure. Most of the problems operators encounter with machines
are performance issues due to a poor design. Warranties do not cover performance
problems, only system failures. The unbelievably low price or the long warranty is no
guarantee that you won’t be listing that system with an online auction site well before you
have made your money back on the investment.
Overall performance is, by far, the most important factor in selecting a micro-dermabrasion
machine. Ninety percent of the used machines on the market are there because of the
inability of the machine to perform the function for which it was purchased.
So, how do you evaluate the performance of a microdermabrasion system? You must first
understand that all vacuum powered microdermabrasion systems operate under the
same laws of physics. That is a fact. Don’t begin your search for a machine before you
have a basic understanding of how these systems should work. Even if you are an
experienced microdermabrasion operator and believe you know how they work, we still
recommend that you read this information in its entirety. There are many points of design
that you will not find addressed anywhere else in any document. Again, we encourage your
questions and comments. Please read on.
The Important Features
A microdermabrasion system is actually a precision closed vacuum/sandblaster for the
skin. The treatment consists of an exfoliation of the top layers of the epidermis, the stratum
corneum, by means of a beam of micro-particles striking the skin at a high rate of speed.
The beam of particles is pulled towards the tissue by vacuum pressure; the level of
vacuum pressure determines the speed of the crystals and therefore the abrasion
power. There are three factors that determine the potential effectiveness of a system.
The size of the abrasion pattern: The beam of particles must cover a sizable area of skin
and must be consistently disbursed within the pattern of exfoliation. This area that is being
abraded by the crystals is called the abrasion pattern. Every pass the operator makes with
the handset delivers a line of abrasion on the skin. The size, strength and evenness of the
abrasion pattern determines how many passes are required to perform an effective and even
treatment.
**The system must be capable of holding a constant and safe level of vacuum
pressure. The vacuum pressure dictates the level of abrasion. A low vacuum pressure will
deliver a mild abrasion and a high vacuum pressure will deliver an aggressive abrasion. A
fluctuating vacuum pressure will deliver an inconsistent abrasion power resulting in an
inconsistent treatment with varying amounts of abrasion as the vacuum and crystal density
fluctuates and is virtually impossible to replicate. To deliver a treatment that is consistent
and reproducible, the vacuum pressure must be constant, making the abrasion power
consistent. The only way to do this with a microdermabrasion system is to set the pressure
adjustment correctly and keep the handset in constant contact with the skin, without
lifting the handset from the skin between the passes over the skin (as in erasing), and
abrading the skin in large sections. This allows the system to attain the vacuum pressure
that the operator has set and then maintain that pressure setting, and abrasion level,
throughout the entire section being treated. Many systems will rupture capillaries if left on
the skin for more than 2-3 seconds so the operator is required to “stroke and lift” which
delivers a fluctuating vacuum pressure and an inconsistent abrasion.**
The system must be able to measure the vacuum pressure on the tissue accurately.
The vacuum pressure that exists in the handset cap dictates the abrasion power so a
system’s treatment pressure gauge must measure the pressure in the handset at the
application window. Almost all systems have their treatment pressure gauge and pressure
adjustment system connected to the motor in a manner where the gauge measures the
vacuum pressure required to pull the air from the handset, through the waste container, to
the vacuum motor. As the waste container fills with skin debris, oils and dirty crystals, the
filter in the waste system will become obstructed. This obstructed waste canister will cause
the vacuum treatment gauge to show an increase in vacuum pressure while the actual
vacuum pressure in the handset will continually reduce as each additional treatment is
performed. This drop in vacuum pressure in the handset is very slow and will change from
one treatment to the next. So the operator cannot accurately measure the abrasion of each
treatment on the client. If a system’s treatment gauge and vacuum adjustment is connected
to the motor, a situation, over time, will occur where the gauge indicates a strong or high
treatment pressure to draw air through the waste system, but there will be very little vacuum
pressure in the handset and no actual abrasion power whatsoever. A system that utilizes
this type of design makes it virtually impossible for the operator to accurately deliver the
same level of abrasion power from one treatment to the next and can never reproduce the
same treatment. It will all be a matter of guesswork. To eliminate guesswork, the gauge
must measure the actual handset pressure on the tissue at all times.
If the system is designed properly, you will have the greatest chance of developing a
repeat client base and a successful aesthetic business. Those three factors cannot be
ignored.
Table of Contents
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Understanding How a Microdermabrasion System Works
Abrasion and Vacuum
Evaluating a System's Abrasion Qualities
Evaluating a System’s Vacuum Qualities
Pressure Gauge
System Clogging Issues
Maintenance-Free Claims
Recommendations by Other Skin Care Professionals
Can the System use Different Types of Crystal Products
Is Corundum Safe?
Low Cost Crystals and the Cost of Operation
"Natural" and "Non-Crystal" Systems
Is the Device FDA Approved?
Medical Grade Systems
Does the System have the Proper Filters?
Does the skin need to be dried before treating?
Microdermabrasion Treatments with Chemical Peels.
Vitamin C and Oxygen Systems
"Diamond" and "Diamond Shaped" Crystals
Marketing Materials and System Appearance
Warranty- Lifetime Guarantees
Trade-In and Buy-Back Policies
Referral Fees
Understanding How a Microdermabrasion System Works
Every microdermabrasion system has these components:
1) a vacuum motor
2) a clean crystal supply container
3) a specially designed handset (which delivers the crystals to the skin and vacuums them
away)
4) a waste canister where the used crystals and skin debris is deposited
5) some form of filter to stop the waste from reaching the motor.
Microdermabrasion systems are, essentially, a vacuum cleaner combined with a
sandblaster. The skin is receiving a precision “sandblasting” treatment. The vacuum draws
the sand (or crystal, in this case) through the system: There is no air compressor pushing the
air and crystals to the skin, the vacuum “pulls” the crystals towards the skin. The
sandblasting and vacuuming action is part of a loop: the vacuum motor draws the air that
creates a vacuum at the Handset application window. This vacuum creates an air stream
through the crystal delivery system and carries the crystals from the clean crystal container,
through the abrasion system, at the handset, and on into the waste container. Along the
way, at the handset, the crystals strike the skin in the abrasion window and perform the
abrasion. This method is referred to as a closed loop system. You are probably wondering,
“How does the vacuum drive the crystals to the skin and clean them up too?” This is
achieved by the specially designed handset, which is a very critical component of the
system.
(cont. on next page)
Photo 1. An example of a handset. This example has a removable tip and, as you can see,
the handset tip is installed. (Some designs do not have a removable tip but both designs
operate under the same principals.) The White Arrow points to the handset tip and Blue
Arrow points to the application window (this is the opening where the abrasion is applied to
the client’s skin).
Photo 2. This photo shows the handset with the handset tip removed. The White Arrow
points to the crystal port (also called the accelerator) which is where the crystals exit before
striking the skin and the Blue Arrows point to the vacuum ports (most systems have only one
vacuum port; this example, the patented Bella design, has three).
Photo 3. The Blue Arrows show the direction of the airflow when the system is turned on.
The vacuum motor is drawing air in through the vacuum ports of the handset. Note that
there is no air or crystal movement coming from the accelerator port.
Photo 4. The Blue Arrows show the direction of the airflow when the system is turned on
and the handset tip is installed. Note that there is no air or crystal movement coming from the
accelerator port.
Photo 5. This photo shows what occurs when the application window is covered by the
client’s skin (or in this case my finger). Since the application window is blocked and can no
longer supply air to the vacuum port(s), the vacuum motor creates a vacuum in the handset
tip cavity which then causes the air from the accelerator port to rush in to fill that vacuum,
illustrated by the Blue Arrows. This rush of air from the accelerator port initiates the flow of
air from the clean crystal container, which then brings the crystals along in the air stream and
delivers them to the handset, illustrated by the White Arrows. The crystals are drawn though
the accelerator port at a high rate of speed and, because of their weight and kinetic energy,
fly straight out of the accelerator as if they are shot out of a gun and strike the skin to perform
the abrasion. Once the crystals have struck the skin, losing all their power and energy, they
are drawn into the vacuum ports along with the skin debris.
The abrasion is interrupted when the handset is lifted off the client’s skin. This action allows
air to enter the application window so the vacuum is lost and no longer draws the air stream
from the accelerator port, which stops the air flow in the crystal delivery system.
Now the physics part of this lesson
In order for the particles to have the required kinetic energy to perform an abrasion, they
need to have enough mass, combined with sufficient velocity. This means the crystals have
to weigh enough and be moving fast enough to collide with the skin with enough force to
remove a piece of stratum corneum. The factors that dictate the power of the abrasion are
the vacuum pressure level, the air volume and the size of the accelerator opening and the
mass of the particle.
Let’s put this in simple terms. Compare the microdermabrasion system to your garden hose
and faucet. If you turn on the faucet connected to your garden hose and put your thumb or
finger over the end of the hose, creating a small opening for the water to exit, you can spray
with enough force to clean your car or driveway. The two ways you can increase the
strength and cleaning power of the water stream is to either turn up the water pressure by
opening the faucet more, or pressing harder with your finger over the end of the hose to
make the opening smaller. If you combine those two factors, you can create a powerful
stream of water that has maximum cleaning power. Turning the faucet all the way open
increases the water pressure and volume of water running through the hose.
Making the opening smaller with your finger increases the exiting speed of the water. The
smaller you make the opening, the tighter the stream of water and the faster it will come out
of the hose; it will have more power, but it will cover a much smaller area. Continuing this
analogy to the ridicules we would have a water jet cutting machine.
This is how a microdermabrasion system is very much like your garden hose. The vacuum
valve is like your faucet. As you turn up the vacuum power on the microdermabrasion
system, you increase the air volume that carries the crystals to the skin. The accelerator
opening in the handset is like your finger on the end of the garden hose. The accelerator in
the handset (just like the opening created by your finger in the end of the garden hose) is
much smaller than the size of the hose leading to it and will make the crystals accelerate as
they exit, giving the crystals the speed (and power) to perform an abrasion. The smaller the
accelerator opening, the faster the crystals will be moving when they strike the skin, which
equals more abrasion power.
Vacuum pressure directly controls the level of abrasion. A low vacuum pressure draws a low
volume of air and crystals through the accelerator at a slower speed and delivers a slight
abrasion; a high vacuum pressure draws a high volume of air and crystals through the
accelerator at a much higher speed and delivers an aggressive abrasion. To deliver a
consistent (and effective) treatment, the vacuum pressure must be held constant. It cannot
fluctuate. An abrasion treatment that is delivered with a fluctuating vacuum pressure will
have varying levels of abrasion, making the abrasion inconsistent.
There is no way you can apply the same amount of vacuum pressure and abrasion to each
and every skin type. Nor can you apply the same amount of vacuum pressure and abrasion
to all areas of an individual’s face or body. An adjustment system must accurately control
the vacuum pressure so the operator can make adjustments for each situation and also be
confident in the level of abrasion they are providing at all times. To achieve that goal, the
system must have a gauge that measures the vacuum pressure at the handset application
window. Only the vacuum pressure in the handset dictates the level of abrasion being
delivered to the client’s skin, the vacuum pressure in every other area of a system is
truly irrelevant to the treatment. There are some systems on the market that do not have
a pressure gauge and there are even some without a vacuum pressure adjustment, just one
setting for every treatment. These are very critical components to leave out. Some
systems have a small number of pre-set vacuum levels, limiting the operator’s ability to
perform a custom treatment. The system must have the capability to adjust the vacuum
pressure in very small increments and a gauge that accurately measures the pressure in the
handset at the application window.
High speed (velocity) combined with particles that have sufficient weight (mass) will develop
the power (kinetic energy) to sandblast the skin. The crystals need to be consistent in size
and should not contain any dust since the dust will not perform an abrasion (dust particles
have very little mass and shadow the tissue). Dust will also create clogging problems in the
injection system due to increased lattice structures between dust and crystal particles.
The system needs to have the right amount of airflow with the proper size of accelerator to
do an effective and even abrasion while the airflow combined with the appropriate tubing size
allows for efficient removal of the waste without waste clogging issues. It is truly a balancing
act, because, if the accelerator opening is too large, the system will not have sufficient
power, but as the accelerator opening is reduced, the stream of crystals (just like the stream
of water in the garden hose) is narrowed and will cover a much smaller area. A very small
accelerator opening equates to an uncontrollable abrasion that is too concentrated and will
make it difficult to work with because it covers so small of an area of skin.
This condition will require you to make numerous passes in an attempt to deliver an even
abrasion and will create a “hit or miss” situation (commonly known as “striping”, leaving red
stripes on the skin). If the accelerator opening is extremely small, it will be impossible to
control the vacuum pressure on the client’s skin, which will cause damage in the form of
ruptured capillaries (hickeys).
It is much more likely for someone to design an ineffective and/or bad machine than it is to
design a good one. It is a technology that seems simple, but it is a very complex issue.
Anyone who tells you that all microdermabrasion systems are the same, has absolutely no
understanding of the technology involved in this modality.
Abrasion and Vacuum Aspiration: What is actually happening
The abrasion removes a percentage of the stratum corneum (dead surface cells), causing
underlying fresh cells to be exposed and start the generation of new cells. The vacuum
aspiration draws blood into the dermis, increases circulation, causing immediate fibroblast
activity which promotes the short term formation of collagen and elastin. The misleading
thing about some microdermabrasion systems is that they deliver a vacuum treatment but
have little or no abrasion capabilities. The vacuum treatment alone can produce moderate
results. That may make a few clients think they are getting what they paid for, but most will
be disappointed because they will not receive the long term replacement of cell structure.
This is where the informed equipment buyer can make a difference. The microdermabrasion
system that can effectively and safely do both components independently, the abrasion and
the vacuum aspiration, will provide the best or most optimum results. Additionally, if that
system allows the operator to measure and record the setting and strength of both of the
treatments, abrasion and vacuum aspiration, the operator can accurately replicate all future
treatments. This combination will help to create a satisfied clientele who will continually
return for additional treatments and, more importantly, provide referrals. That is the best
kind of advertising because it is person to person and it is free!
Evaluating a system's abrasion qualities
First determine if the system can perform an effective abrasion. Passing the handset over
the back of your hand may give you the sensation of a cat aggressively licking your skin, but
you have no idea what the abrasion pattern is or how much of the stratum corneum is
removed unless you took samples and examined them under a microscope which is beyond
the capabilities of most purchasers of this technology.
The quickest, easiest and most accurate (and painless) way to measure a system's abrasion
qualities is using the magazine test. Yes, I said using the magazine test. Testing is just that
simple. Remember, this technology is basically; particles in an air stream, brought up to high
kinetic energy, shot out of an accelerator at the skin to do an abrasion. So to look at the end
result all we have to do is find a way to picture it. Now let's do it.
** Place the handset on a magazine page of dark ink and see how much ink is removed
over a set period of time. The white mark that is left on the magazine page indicates many
things including the shape and size of the abrasion pattern. Remember that you are, first
and foremost, charging your clients for an abrasion treatment. If the system cannot be
adjusted to remove ink from a magazine over the area equal to the application window in the
application cap in a uniform and even manner, it cannot effectively and efficiently abrade
skin.
After doing multiple spot tests at multiple pressure settings do some three inch line
abrasions at a constant hands speed to check for linear crystal density over time. The
abraded line should have a uniform abrasion with no light or dark spots. Again do this check
at multiple pressure settings. Testing a Microdermabrasion machine is just this simple.**
If all of the patterns are very faint, small or odd shaped, the machine cannot do an effective
abrasion. Remember, you need to remove the dead skin cells to expose underlying cells
over the complete area, not in a random manner. If the system you purchase is inconsistent
or cannot perform a consistent abrasion, you will not be able to deliver an effective treatment
and you will have a difficult time developing a repeat client base. Some customers may
believe that microdermabrasion, in general, isn’t effective, or worse, will believe you do not
know what you are doing. If they can find another skin care professional that has an
effective system, they may not come back to you for any type of service. Also, your time is
money. If the system has a small abrasion pattern, you will spend a lot of time and effort
trying to deliver an effective and complete treatment to the point that the cost in crystals and
your time will greatly erode your profits.
Your system should be able to deliver an effective abrasion with one pass of the handset,
and with slightly overlapping strokes over an entire section of tissue. Making multiple single
passes over any one area should be the exception, not the rule. Some manufacturers
require four passes (one vertical, another horizontal and then diagonal passes going both
directions) over the same area because they know their handtool or machine abrasion
pattern is inferior and inconsistent.
Some manufacturers have multiple handsets to choose from. Make sure the handset you
evaluate (with the magazine test) is the one you will be purchasing. F.Y.I. - Some
manufacturers charge more for models based on the handset that is included. You
may find there is little to no difference between the performance of each of the models
and the only difference will be the handset (and they charge thousands more per
model... for a $200 handset). Make sure you know what you are paying for and what
you are actually getting.
Also, do not confuse power with lack of control. What appears on the magazine page
when you perform the magazine test is what will happen on your client's skin. If a
system's abrasion pattern burns a hole in the magazine page in a short period of time, that
system can become a liability to your business. The lack of control in many systems comes
from the design in the handset, which produces a concentrated beam of the abrasive
particles. This uneven distribution of the crystals creates an area in the abrasion pattern that
is over-abraded and will result in skin damage; many handset designs create a pinhead size
hole within the pattern. The skin (or magazine) that is over-abraded is referred to as a
"hotspot". Find a system that, even at the highest setting possible, will remove the ink from
the magazine over a large area without producing a hotspot. Although you may never
operate a system at the maximum setting, doing the magazine test at the highest setting will
expose any system design flaws. You may come across a client that requires an aggressive
treatment and, if you don't know that your system produces a hotspot at a higher setting,
there is the possibility that you could cause tissue damage with the resulting liability.
A large, even abrasion pattern that is similar to what an airbrush would produce is important;
one that fades at the edges, because you want to be able to slightly overlap the strokes to
achieve an even abrasion. Keep in mind that, as you make each pass over the client's skin,
you are removing more layers of the stratum corneum. If the abrasion pattern is solid right
up to the margins of the handset cap opening, with no fading near the edges, you will
remove too much skin in the areas where the strokes overlapped and none at all if you do
not overlap.
This is one of the main causes of striping (leaving stripes on the client's skin after the
treatment). Just imagine what type of pattern is going to best deliver an abrasion without
either removing too little or too much in any one place.
The design of the handset is the largest factor in the resulting abrasion pattern. A handset
that delivers crystals at any angle other than 90-degrees will perform an uneven abrasion. It
is a matter of physics. Additionally, if a system delivers crystals in a swirling or orbital
pattern, it will have little to no abrasion power. Please review Handset Designs for
additional information.
In evaluating the abrasion pattern and the manufacturer's recommended
use of the handset, there are these rules to consider:
1. Size; a abrasion pattern the size of the eraser of a #2 pencil is about the smallest
you should settle for, anything less is too small to work with. Multiple application cap
sizes is a plus.
2. Evenness; the abrasion must not be odd shaped and cannot have hot spots
3. Pattern; the abrasion pattern that fades near the edges is much more workable than
one that is solid to the edges (solid to the edge means that the crystals pattern was
actually larger than the window of the cap and some crystals hit the inside of the cap
and were lost into the waste system).
4. One Pass Recommended Operation; one overlapped pass should be all that is
required, if the manufacturer recommends that you always make more than one pass
over an area, they must be aware of their inferior abrasion pattern. Do not settle for
less in this area of design!
Evaluating a system's vacuum aspiration qualities
Vacuum is a very important part of the treatment but can also cause damage if the system is
not designed properly. In all microdermabrasion systems, when you turn the machine power
switch to "on", the vacuum motor starts drawing the air from all of the cavities of the waste
system, i.e. the waste container, the fittings and tubing and the application window of the
handset cap, this window is considered part of the waste system. In fact this window is the
beginning of the waste system because it is where the waste is generated from the impact of
the crystals on the tissue.
However, the vacuum pressure does not reach its maximum in any of those cavities until you
cover the handset cap opening (the application window) either with your finger or by putting it
in contact with the client's skin. The instant you cover the application window, the motor
starts to evacuate the remaining air from the cavities. It takes up to a full second or more in
some machines, and up to more than two full seconds, for all of the cavities to reach a
balance position and hold the maximum vacuum pressure (based on the setting of the
vacuum pressure adjustment of the system).
When you, the operator, set the vacuum pressure on a microdermabrasion system, you do
this with the idea that this is the amount of pressure you, as a skin expert, feel is appropriate
for the treatment you intend on performing. But, unless you keep the handset on the client's
skin for more than one full second, most systems do not reach the vacuum pressure you
have set. F.Y.I. -If you have a system that, when you cover (occlude) the handset cap
opening, the needle on the treatment gauge immediately jumps up to the level you have set,
check the system to see where the treatment gauge is connected. (See "Does the gauge
accurately reflect the pressure on the client's skin?" section following this page.)
If a microdermabrasion system manufacturer instructs you to perform strokes with
their handset in the manner of; stroke, then lift, stroke, then lift, you should not buy
the system for two reasons:
1. Unless you keep the handset in contact with the client's skin for at least one
full second, the vacuum pressure is completely inconsistent, does not attain
the level you have set, and cannot possibly deliver an effective treatment
that is consistent over the entire area you are abrading.
2. The manufacturer probably knows their design is flawed and is aware there
is a possibility of causing damage to your client's skin and capillaries if the
handset is left on the skin for more than a couple seconds due to the
systems over vacuum charging.
The damage is caused by the fact that the opening where the crystals exit the handset, the
accelerator, is too small of a bore. If the manufacturer utilizes a very small accelerator
opening, the crystals will continue to have more abrasion power as the system over charges
over time. It is a fine line between having the correct size opening, making it safe to use and
having a sufficient amount of abrasion power, or making it dangerous.
Making the bore of the accelerator to small will cause two problems: 1) it will create a hotspot
in the abrasion pattern because the crystals will be heavily concentrated in the center of the
beam of particles (see previous page for abrasion qualities)and, 2) and the second problem
is in regards to vacuum. As the vacuum pressure builds in the handset cap (and on the
client’s skin) the vacuum pulls the crystals out through the accelerator opening but, at the
same time, is also trying to draw air from the window opening, which is closed by the tissue
of the client. If the accelerator opening is too small, the system cannot draw both
crystals and enough air through the accelerator opening to balance the vacuum
pressure, the pressure inside the handset cap will build to a high level and possibly
rupture the client’s capillaries! Some manufacturers will actually tell you that the
handset will cause tissue damage if left on the skin for more than two or three
seconds with their machine.
Not only will a system such as described above cause capillary damage, it will deliver an
inconsistent abrasion. Crystals are driven by the vacuum pressure and the air volume
determines the velocity of the crystal particles. That is a matter of physics. At a low vacuum
pressure, the crystals will have a low velocity and deliver a slight abrasion, at a high vacuum
pressure the crystals will have a high velocity and deliver an aggressive abrasion. When you
"stroke and lift", the system will begin at a low pressure and, because the pressure in any
systems will not instantly attain full vacuum, the pressure will continue building throughout
the "stroke" and you will be abrading the skin in a totally inconsistent manner, never abrading
the skin at the setting you, as a skin expert, had determined when you set the system's
vacuum pressure at the start of the treatment. Using a "stroke and lift" method will make
it impossible to replicate your treatments. You will have low speed crystals at the
beginning of the stroke and as the pressure builds the crystal speed will increase so at the
end of the stroke you will have very aggressive abrasion but if you keep the handset on the
tissue to long such as an extended stroke, you will have capillary damage.
This is not meant to offend any skin care professional who has been performing treatments
with a "stroke and lift" method. You are trained by the manufacturer, and they have no
reason to educate operators in the technology of microdermabrasion or shortcomings of their
products. Keep in mind that many of the systems currently on the market were not designed
by pneumatic engineers but were made by copying some other company’s copy of someone
else's design. And that someone, at the beginning, who did not understand the technology,
copied someone else’s silly design. Because of that, for years estheticians have adapted
their technique to this improper unsound.
From very early on after the first patent submission in 1998, machines with
improperly- copied designs were causing tissue and capillary damage and many of
these designs were copied by non-technical individuals so these types of machines
proliferated into the industry. This "stroke and lift" technique, which with the process
of some common sense logic can be seen as completely silly, has been passed down
from one technologically unknowledgeable trainer to another until the majority of
skin care professionals believe that this is the only way it should be done. There are
probably many experienced system operators who are thinking as they read this that
the writer of this article does not know what they are talking about. If you are one of
those people, consider this:
If your vehicle were covered with mud and you wanted to wash it with the garden hose,
would you aim the hose at the vehicle and, with the other hand, turn the faucet on and off,
raising and lowering the water pressure? Probably not. Wouldn’t you set it at your desired
pressure and sweep back and forth with the water stream operating at a constant pressure?
Please take the time to finish reading this information and let me give you, instead of an
analogy of the water hose, the actual crystal and air considerations.
When you first apply the handset to the tissue, the vacuum starts to rise in the cavity of
handset cap. The amount of time it takes for the vacuum to rise to the stable balanced
position is determined by the total size of all the cavities in the waste system from the
handset to the motor. On some machines, based on the sophistication of the design, this
time is very short (.25 seconds), on other machines, with poor designs, it can take up to 3
seconds. But the quicker stasis (balance) happens, the better. During this time the air, due
to the rising vacuum in the handset cavity, is starting to flow through the accelerator and in
the crystal transport section of the machine. As the air flows it will pull crystal from the crystal
storage (jar, tank, receptacle), and into the air stream. These crystals will be flowing,
dispersed in the air stream, towards the accelerator to later impact the tissue and do the
abrasion. Now, let us assume, we have had the handset on the tissue for enough time to
complete a three inch stroke with the handset and have abraded the tissue with this stroke.
Now, we raise the handset from the tissue (stroke and lift method). Remember, while we had
the handset on the tissue we had a continuous air stream, carrying stratified crystals, moving
toward the tissue from the crystal container. Now, when we lift the handset from the tissue, to
start a new pass, the vacuum that created the air stream is lost and the air stream collapses.
The six feet of crystal in the handset hose is no longer supported by an air stream and it falls
to the lowest point in the handset hose as a clump of crystal. When we start the next stroke
the initial vacuum will pull this clump of crystal into the handset as a block but it will do no
abrasion because of the nature of the clump and lack of speed, it will be directly evacuated,
through the handset, to the waste system. So using the 'stroke and lift method' of
treatment, the one thing we know for sure is that we will waste a handset hose full of
crystal, six feet of hose, every time we do a three inch stroke of abrasion. This reason
alone should be reason enough to never use this method of handset movement
during abrasion.
If you stop and think about this concept, you will have to agree that the "stroke and
lift" method is not only inconsistent in abrasion but it is also very costly in materials.
It is truly a matter of physics and cannot be disputed. However, don't change your
method until you are certain your system will not cause capillary damage by over charging of
the vacuum. If you find that your system is safe, you will see that this technique of keeping
the handset on the skin will deliver a more effective treatment than the "stroke and lift"
method. Again, operate this way only if you are positively sure your system is safe (see this
section on how to properly test your system for vacuum safety).
Only purchase a system where the manufacturer instructs you to abrade a complete area
(i.e. the forehead, or a cheek, etc.) while keeping the handset cap in contact with the client's
skin, making passes back and forth without lifting the handset the whole time you are
abrading that area. You will be applying a consistent vacuum pressure to the skin, which
directly equates to a consistent abrasion. Not only will it allow you to deliver a consistent
treatment it will not create a liability for your business. Do not believe any manufacturer if
they say that all microdermabrasion systems will cause a "hickey" if left on the skin for more
than one or two seconds. There are a number of systems that allow you to keep the handset
in contact with the skin for the complete treatment. The real issue is to not let the handset
remain in one place on the tissue, keep it moving. Those are the ONLY systems you
should consider. This is one of the most important factors and you should not
overlook this for any reason!
Pressure Gauge: Does the gauge accurately reflect the pressure on the
client’s skin?
First of all, do not buy a system that does not have a pressure gauge. You are working with
vacuum pressure and should be measuring that pressure with the tool designed for that
purpose, a vacuum pressure gauge. A system that has lights or a digital readout
indicating a percentage is telling you exactly what? Those items are electronic
components and are connected electrically; essentially a switch is controlling the
lights or readout and there is no true measurement of the actual vacuum pressure. (If
there is a pressure gauge controlling those electronic components, why not display
that gauge?) Next, determine if the gauge is measuring the pressure being applied to the
client’s skin. The gauge must be connected in a way so that it only measures the pressure in
the tubing leading to the handset and the pressure in the handset cap, which correlates
directly with the pressure being applied to the client’s skin. If you have that information, you
can document it and use it as a future reference for that client’s treatments when they
return. However, if the system's gauge is measuring the pressure of the whole vacuum
system, it is impossible to know what amount of pressure is being applied to the client’s
skin. As the system’s waste container and waste filter begin to fill with skin debris, oil and
dirty crystals, the vacuum pressure that is required to pull the air through the waste area
increases while the vacuum pressure in the handset cap and the pressure on the client’s skin
is decreasing. If the gauge measures the vacuum pressure in the waste areas, you have no
idea what level of pressure you are applying to your client’s skin unless you keep the waste
container and waste filter spotlessly clean and even then it will at best be just a close guess.
It is just like your vacuum cleaner at home: when the bag is full, the motor can be running but
the vacuum cleaner does not have the power to pick up any more dirt. If the gauge of a
microdermabrasion system is measuring the pressure in the waste container, you could have
a high reading on the gauge with literally no pressure at all in the handset. Handset vacuum
pressure and induced air flow is the critical item because this determines the crystal density,
speed and abrasion.
Many experienced microdermabrasion operators believe they can accurately set the
vacuum pressure by passing the handset over the back of their hand and "feeling" the
pressure. It would be safe to say that there are very few people who can set a
system's vacuum pressure and then consistently MATCH that vacuum pressure using
this method when asked to perform this feat once or twice within a minute or two.
There is NO ONE that can set a system's pressure to the exact same setting two
weeks later by using this method (your clients will be coming once every 7 to 14 days
for treatments). It is physically impossible and would be a matter of sheer luck if any
settings would be close to consistent. Why have any guesswork involved in your
profession if you can choose not to?
There are two easy ways to determine how a system is constructed in terms of the pressure
gauge. The first is a visual check; if the handset is connected directly to the waste
container, it is wrong, period. There is another way to confirm the vacuum pressure
adjustment and treatment gauge position in a closed system: disconnect the waste
container, turn the system on and plug the air suction intake where the waste container was
attached. If the needle on the gauge moves, the gauge is measuring the pressure in the
waste container. Now adjust the vacuum valve and see if you can change the gauge reading.
If you can change the pressure, then you will have double problems with the control of the
vacuum pressure. Do not buy this type of system unless you either plan on changing the
waste filter and emptying the waste container after every treatment, or you are not
concerned about the quality and level of service you provide to your clients. If the
manufacturer tells you to clean the waste filter by brushing it off, you will not actually clean it.
The skin oils that are trapped in the pores of the waste filter cannot be brushed off and can
only be reduced by utilizing a soaking solvent. Brushing will not be sufficient. Replacing the
waste filter after each treatment is the best option if your system gauge and vacuum adjust is
not designed properly, but that would drastically lower your profit margin.
If, when you performed this last test, the needle on the gauge did not move and adjusting the
vacuum pressure valve did not have and effect, then the machine could be a good design
and you should do this last test. Reconnect the waste container and turn the system on.
Adjust the vacuum pressure to maximum, occlude the handset cap, the needle on the gauge
should move, indicating that the gauge is measuring the pressure in the handset tubing and
handset cap, which is what you want. Rotate the vacuum pressure adjust from minimum to
maximum and correlate this movement with the vacuum gauge. This is one of the features
that your system must have in order for you to have a chance at being successful in
this business!
Does the system clog and how much maintenance and cleaning is
required?
Many of the systems available on the current market clog on a regular basis and require after
treatment maintenance. The vast majority of the systems available just 2 or 3 years ago
were very hard to work with because of this problem. Contact the manufacturer and get
the cleaning and maintenance requirement in writing. Some manufacturers say that
clogging is an operator issue (they will say the system is not maintained properly) so the
manufacturer charges for clogging repairs even though the system is still under warranty.
Make sure you know what is considered to be your responsibility before you buy. At a
minimum, the operator/owner pays for the shipping to and from the manufacturer, which can
be hundreds of dollars and take from one week to one month to repair (a long time to be
without your source of income). There are now systems available that rarely or never clog
and require very little maintenance. Make sure the system you purchase does not clog, and
if possible, get the promise of a no clog performance in writing. If a system does not require
any regular cleaning procedures and still will not clog, that is ideal. Some of the poorly made
systems require that you send your system in to the factory for a “tune up” on an annual or
semi annual basis (not covered by most warranties). The higher quality systems can be
easily maintained by the operator, at their site, and do not require a trip to the factory. Try to
find a system that recommends operator maintenance only on a monthly or, better yet,
quarterly basis and determine what are the items, time and costs associated with that
maintenance schedule.
Make sure you are not required to clean the waste filters, just dispose of them and replace
them. Some manufacturers recommend cleaning a dirty waste filter by blasting it with
compressed air. Cleaning a waste filter in that manner exposes you and your clients to
numerous and unnecessary health risks by sending millions of contaminated particles
into the surrounding environment.
Also, remember that this filter in the waste container area will be collecting skin debris
including oils. These particles will block the filter and negatively affect the pressure in the
handset, which will reduce the abrasion level. The only way to clean these particles from
such a filter is to use a solvent, otherwise the oils will remain in the pores of the filter. Just
shaking the filter, brushing it off or blasting it with air (a very bad idea) will not remove any of
the oils and will reduce and eventually eliminate the pressure in the handset. Such a
system will lose abrasion power gradually and, unless the gauge measures the
handset pressure, you will have no idea what level of abrasion you are applying to
your client’s skin, making it virtually impossible to deliver a treatment that is
reproducible. You would be much better off, in terms of performance, by throwing away
and replacing that filter on a very regular basis, but the costs may be prohibitive. Make sure
you know what the manufacturer recommends for cleaning/maintenance and keep in mind
that just cleaning a waste filter (as opposed to replacing one) will adversely affect your ability
to deliver a good treatment.
Low or Maintenance-Free Claims
Be aware that there is no way any microdermabrasion system can be maintenance free.
The system performs a sandblasting treatment on skin. This means there will be crystals,
skin particles and oil residue being vacuumed into the waste area. If these particles,
especially the crystals, get into the motor, the motor will lose pressure and in a worst case
seize up within seconds. Crystals are extremely hard and very abrasive so there has to be a
filter that collects the waste particles and stops them from getting past the waste system and
into the motor.
Every machine has a filter somewhere in the system to perform this function. As we
mentioned in the previous section, over time, this filter will get completely covered and will
restrict the vacuum pressure to the point where there will be no power remaining in the
handset to perform the treatment. And, depending on the design, this filter cam be filled or
clogged in as few as one or two treatments. This means that you, the operator, are required
to clean or replace this filter as needed.
The only systems that don’t require the operator to perform this procedure are the
systems that have a disposable waste container because this type of container has
the filter built in and it is thrown away with the waste. If a manufacturer claims their
system is maintenance free and they do not have a disposable waste container, they must
have their own definitions of the word “maintenance” and what they consider to be “operating
procedures”. They are trying to mislead you. Cleaning and or replacing the filter is
maintenance: It is something that has to be done in order for the system to operate. Also,
unless you clean the filter with some type of solvent, the oil will build up over time, block the
vacuum pressure and negatively effect the treatment. This cannot be avoided. That means
you are slowly degrading the effectiveness of your treatments when you continually clean a
filter instead of installing a new one. This is not of a great concern if the system is properly
designed and the gauge accurately measures the treatment pressure, the problem is, in
almost every system on the market, the system’s pressure gauge is not connected correctly
and you will have no idea you are delivering a sub-standard treatment (see the section in this
information titled “Pressure Gauge”). Avoid any company that claims their system is
maintenance free or has a lifetime warranty. It is just part of a sales pitch that is filled with
false information and false promises.
Recommendations by other Skin Care Professionals
When asking for recommendations from experienced skin care professionals who own
microdermabrasion systems, make sure they know as much as you should know about how
a system should work. You may discover that they are completely unaware of their system's
inability to even produce an abrasion. Have them give you a treatment, pay attention to
everything they do, ask questions and test their system (see Tests for more information).
When discussing cleaning and maintenance, find out what is required to achieve clog free
operation of the system they recommend. A skin care professional that has been in the
business for any length of time may have the opinion all microdermabrasion systems have
clogging, cleaning and maintenance issues and may not think it is important to tell you what
is involved. Keep in mind that some people will defend their purchase because they don't like
to admit they made a mistake. Or, they may not know they made a mistake. Doctors, for the
most part, are very intelligent individuals, but they are not engineers and can make mistakes
too. They may have bought their system based only on a recommendation and may have
never even used it (they may have an aesthetician or technician who operates it). Also, a
recommendation by another individual may be driven by other factors, such as referral fees
or other incentives. If it is someone you know and trust, the recommendation has more
weight. Don’t be lazy and just take someone’s recommendation, you must do your own
evaluation. After weighing all information, you can have the confidence that you know as
much or more about how to evaluate a microdermabrasion system than the majority of skin
care professionals. You may just lack the actual experience. Trust yourself and do the
investigation. Don't base your decision solely on a recommendation.
Will the System operate with different types of abrasive "crystal" product?
At the present time, Corundum (Aluminum Oxide) is the most widely used and most abrasive
material for microdermabrasion procedures. There are four reasons why corundum is used
primarily throughout the microdermabrasion industry:
1) The product is widely available (it is a naturally occurring crystal and very abundant
in the earth’s surface)
2) It is an inert crystal and non-toxic
3) It is the second hardest crystal (after diamonds) and since it is a crystal it has
multiple sharp edges for abrasive contact. It is a colorless sapphire.
4) The crystal of corundum is impervious to moisture (does not absorb liquid) and
therefore has no systemic reactions with bodily fluid.
The two other materials that are also predominately used in microdermabrasion procedures
are Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) and Salt. Both of these materials are of a crystal
structure and both work quite well as the abrasive. Neither of these materials is as hard as
corundum (aluminum oxide) nor do the materials have the mass (weight per particle) of
corundum. Therefore, neither material will have the abrasive power of corundum because of
the softer edges of the crystal and the lower kinetic energy per particle. The advantage to
using either of these types is in the case of abrading into a fluid area, the crystal
particles will dissolve in a very short period of time. Physicians primarily use Sodium
Bicarbonate for scar revision microdermabrasion procedures and for active acne
treatments.
Regardless of the material selected as the medium for microdermabrasion, the abrasive
material needs to be manufactured and sealed in pre-measured packages to insure purity
and quality of the product. Pouring crystals from a large jar or bag that will be opened
multiple times (and exposed to room air and possible contaminants) is not the best idea.
Is Corundum (Aluminum Oxide) Safe to Use?
Corundum (Aluminum Oxide) is not an unsafe material, as some will lead you to believe; in
fact, it is the only FDA approved abrasive for microdermabrasion. Corundum is an inert,
naturally occurring substance and is a crystal, not a metal. Some people claim
aluminum oxide has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, which is totally false and merely
shows the ignorance of some manufacturers or their representatives. A short course in
chemistry at the local junior college would be very beneficial for them. As a point of fact, the
material used in dentistry to polish the teeth after cleaning is a fine corundum abrasive,
mixed with a pleasant tasting paste, and is approved by the FDA for that procedure. Find out
for yourself; do a search on the web by typing in “dental polish aluminum oxide” and you
will find numerous dental supply companies that offer an aluminum oxide based dental
polish.
Corundum, as an individual item, has never been linked to any medical condition in any
study performed by any of the research laboratories, not just in the U.S. but also in Europe.
(If you know of a study as such, please forward the web link to us.) There was a study that
was published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine linking metal particle and
aluminum dust inhalation to a lung condition but the resulting report was not clear about what
the examination determined regarding 'aluminum oxide' individually as opposed to the
aluminum metal particles the subjects inhaled. It is also very narrow because it was a very
small number of industrial workers (14 total workers and the report actually contains the
phrase “6 Heavily Exposed Workers...”) who inhaled aluminum metal particles and aluminum
dust while performing industrial work, not aesthetic microdermabrasion. Now, keep in
mind that metal particles will not remain suspended in the air permanently even if they are
extremely small specks like dust. That is the same for Aluminum Oxide particles. Aluminum
Oxide dust will not perform a sandblasting job because those particles have no mass so the
dust must have been created by the crystals colliding with a very hard target causing the
crystals to fracture into smaller particles. Although the report does not state the obvious, the
industrial workers were probably performing industrial sandblasting of metal objects and
most likely were not wearing any protective breathing gear.
Based on this report, your chances of developing a lung disease from the use of Aluminum
Oxide during microdermabrasion treatments is about the same as getting “miner’s lung” or
black lung from charcoal barbecuing in your backyard. Regardless of the safety, or claimed
lack thereof, of Aluminum Oxide, a microdermabrasion (and crystal-free dermabrasion)
operator should wear a breathing mask because of the close contact with the other person,
the client receiving the treatment, and the possibility of interpersonal contamination. The
same thing can be said of wearing protective gloves and a gown. The chances of having
airborne contaminates in the air, during a treatment, using a vacuum powered microdermabrasion machine is almost zero. This cannot be said of the procedure crystalless dermabrasion.
The other health concerns come from inferior crystal media that is not properly sized
because this will contain fine powdery dust, smaller than 20 microns, that when emptied
into wastebaskets or purged from clogged systems, can possibly create a small amount of
airborne contaminants and could be irritating to both client and technician. A good quality
microdermabrasion system, with the proper design that utilizes properly sized corundum
(100 micron) crystals will not clog and if it utilizes a disposable waste container will not emit
any airborne particles at all.
How should you evaluate the cost of crystals and operating costs?
Many skin care professionals believe that one of the biggest factors in evaluating the
purchase of a system is the cost of the crystals and supplies. Before you can make an
educated decision regarding this point, you need to first focus on a system's performance in
relation to the consumption of crystals. Many systems use a large amount of crystal per
treatment; even buying the least expensive crystal available will still leave you with a high per
treatment cost if you own such a system. And that system will not deliver an effective
abrasion. Remember that you are attempting to “sandblast” the skin and the only way to
efficiently achieve that goal is for the incoming crystals to have an unimpeded direct path to
the skin. Only the crystals that are directly striking the skin at the optimal angle of attack will
cause an abrasion. Any crystal that is colliding with another crystal or hitting the skin at a
sloughing angle will not optimally abrade the skin. If a system produces a large amount of
crystals lying on the skin, on the patients gown or swirling about in the handset cap, will not
provide an effective abrasion and will be very expensive to operate.
Next, you need to consider this: contrary to the claims of many crystal suppliers in the
market and on the Internet, there is a difference between one grade of crystal and
another. If you buy crystals that are properly sized and air sifted to remove the dust
particles, your system will perform at a higher level for a longer period of time and you will
deliver consistent treatments (as opposed to using lower grade supplies). The low grade
crystals are not sized to within a reasonable tolerance: many low grade crystals may claim to
be 100 microns but 60% are actually between 50 and 150 microns in size and the remaining
40% is outside of all tolerance. Inconsistent size of crystals will deliver an inconsistent
treatment and in some cases will not perform any treatment at all. Inferior crystals may also
include a lot of dust. Dust will not do any abrasion at all: only particles of sufficient mass can
generate the kinetic energy to perform an abrasion. Dust will also create performance
problems in your system and is a prime source of lattice structure issues in the crystal
injection system. The dust will accumulate with oil and skin particles and then attach itself to
internal surfaces of the machine (much like plaque will collect on blood vessel walls) and
eventually clog the waste system. Low-grade crystals in connection with a poorly designed
machine cause many of the clogging problems currently faced by system operators/owners.
The use of these crystals in a poorly designed system will also result in a large amount of
time spent on cleaning. Do not forget to consider the cost of your time when shopping for a
system and a crystal supplier, usually the best supplier is the manufacturer of the machine or
someone they recommend. There are also the maintenance costs (filters and other
replacement parts) to consider and, again, your time spent performing those duties. A low
cost crystal is no guarantee that you will have a low per treatment cost. If your system uses
too much crystal per treatment, requires you to spend time cleaning it at least once a week
(some have to be cleaned every day, some after every treatment), and you spend a fair
amount of money on replacement parts for the maintenance of the system, you could have a
very high per treatment cost. The point of this section is: Do not just focus on the cost per
pound of crystals. It is far more important to know the total cost per treatment. If you
can buy a system that uses a conservative amount of crystals per treatment and doesn’t
require constant cleaning and maintenance, you can afford to use a higher grade of supplies,
which will give you a reasonable cost per treatment and will create fewer problems for you in
the long run. Remember to speak about these issues with the manufacturer of your choice.
What about "Natural" Material or "Non-Crystal" Microdermabraders?
Don't be sold a sales pitch that is based on false information. First of all, corundum is
natural, is not dangerous, as some of the companies who sell the crystal free or natural
crystal systems will falsely claim. The claim that corundum/aluminum oxide will cause
Alzheimer’s or that it will cause a lung disease is false.
The companies and people that make those statements are either uninformed or reciting
what they have heard or they are trying to mislead you. (See the previous section on the
safety of corundum.) One of the other claims is that crystals "get everywhere" during a
treatment. Well designed systems available on the market do not have this problem, poorly
designed systems naturally do. There is no material available that is as effective as
corundum, but you should choose a system that can use any type of inert abrasive crystal. If
you have been told you need to be offering a "natural" material (corundum is completely
natural), as is baking soda and salt.
Organic crystals are not a good choice for any abrasion on the body. Organic means
that the product was alive with a cell structure at one time. Therefore the product has
a cell structure that is in a dormant state. If one of the particles of this product is left
in the tissue of a patient, the patient's bodily fluid will mix with this cell structure and
we will have an adverse rejection reaction because the body does not like foreign
cells inside of its space. Have you ever had a sliver in your finger? Same story! Do
not use Organic Crystals to do microdermabrasion or any other type of abrasion or
scrubbing on your or other peoples bodies. Think!!
The "non-crystal" approach to dermabrasion is early 1900's technology presented in a new
way. Of course it has been presented many ways since the days of ancient Egypt when it
was just sand and someone scrubbing your body. You are performing a manual scrubbing of
the skin by means of a tool that has an abrasive material (read corundum or Aluminum
Oxide), similar to sandpaper, or a sintered metal system, affixed to it. Cleaning all the skin
particles and debris from the crevices in the abrasive material at the end of the handtool is
almost nearly impossible. Also, the amount of pressure you apply to the skin with the
handset greatly affects the treatment outcome. Abrading an area that is backed by a bone
structure will increase the abrasion and may cause fine striation cuts in the skin, especially
when an aggressive handset tip is used (such as a medical or coarse handset tip). The
“medical or coarse” handset tips have larger bits of abrasive material which protrude from the
handset and will cause deeper cuts in the skin, especially at more aggressive treatment
levels. Training and technique is extremely critical for a non-crystal system. The pressure
applied by the operator, the coarseness of the tool and the structure beneath the tissue are
the gating factors of the treatment to the skin. The simple test for this evaluation point is,
if you can perform an abrasion of the skin with the machine turned off, do not buy that
system. An operator is not as precise as a machine and does not have the ability to
accurately control the pressure they are applying with their hand. Delivering an
inconsistent or possibly damaging treatment is highly likely. Only purchase a system that
completely controls the abrasion treatment and one that cannot perform an abrasion unless
the system is turned on. Remember according to almost all state regulations and the US
FDA only doctors are allowed to break the papillary (blood) barrier of the skin. Estheticians
will lose their license and be prosecuted for this offence. Be Very, Very Careful.
Some of the non-crystal manufacturers claim their technology has been proven superior in a
clinical study. Keep in mind this fact: There have never been any independent clinical
studies performed by any independent evaluator that included the major manufacturers of
both crystal and non-crystal technology. All claims, as such, are made by dishonest and
misleading individual manufacturers without true, un-biased, comprehensive, clinical studies.
Some manufacturers may have done a comparison in the confines of their own private shop
using someone’s homemade machine, but you can be assured they did not compare their
system with anything from the industry let alone the best of the industry in a clinical setting.
The ideal situation would be where all manufacturers contributed money and equipment to
an independent clinic for scientific evaluations of the results of all machines. That evaluation
has never happened and it never will because most of the manufacturers are not interested
in building a great machine, they are interested in your capital investment and their profit
margin only. So it is up to you to learn as much as possible about how to protect your
investment by being and educated buyer and purchasing wisely.
**Some manufacturers also claim their system will abrade up to xx microns deep.
That is a ridiculous claim. The level or depth of an abrasion is dictated by the power
setting of the system, the amount of time the beam of crystals is aimed at the target
area (with a crystal machine) and, in the case of a non-crystal system, how hard the
operator presses on the skin and how many passes are made with the handset. It is
something that is impossible to quantify.**
Also, "Micro-dermabrasion" is defined as an abrasion of the skin performed by the
application of a directed beam of abrasive ’micro’ particles. If you purchase a system that
operates in a non-crystal mode only, you should not be promoting and advertising those
services as ‘micro-dermabrasion’ because that type of system performs a “dermabrasion”
treatment no different from the treatments performed in the 1900s.
If you are evaluating a non-crystal system, have the manufacturer state in writing whether
that system is considered to be a “micro-dermabrasion” or a “dermabrasion” system and how
are you allowed to advertise and promote this service. Get that in writing. Correctly
promoting the non-crystal services as a dermabrasion treatment may greatly reduce your
potential clientele and may limit your income. The vast majority of the people who regularly
purchase skin treatments are familiar with the term "micro-dermabrasion". There are microdermabrasion systems that perform both non-crystal and crystal treatments. Don’t limit your
potential by buying a non-crystal only system.
Is the device FDA Approved?
Microdermabrasion systems are all considered a Class I Medical Device and do not
need to be individually FDA approved. The FDA has approved the microdermabrasion
procedure, not individual units. There are numerous companies that manufacture microdermabrasion machines, and of those companies, very few are currently registered with the
FDA. Any company who is serious about staying in this business will be registered with the
FDA and follow all of the guidelines required to track and control the quality and functionality
of each unit. You take your skin care business seriously; your equipment manufacturer
should be making the same type of commitment.
"Medical Grade" Systems
Many physicians have the opinion they should only be evaluating and purchasing microdermabrasion systems that are classified as "medical grade". However, the buyers of
medical grade systems must be aware that no agency or organization, including the FDA,
has anything to do with this classification. All medical grade systems are designated, and
marketed, as such by the manufacturers themselves.
Target marketing to a specific group, with a large portion of that group convinced they need a
system with that classification, allows for a higher sales price. In many cases, it is strictly a
marketing tool and very misleading. In some cases, a manufacturer will put a different label
and/or chassis on their medical model and raise the price tag by thousands of dollars.
Many of the medical grade systems currently on the market lack features that probably would
be required to qualify the system as a medical device (if there were such regulations put in
place by the FDA). A micro-dermabrasion system that is intended to be used for medical
treatments (such as scar revision) must be properly designed and equipped to safely
penetrate to the fluid (blood) level if necessary without comprising the integrity of the
machine. The suggested minimum requirements would be:
1. An air intake system that will eliminate all possible contaminates from entering the
clean crystals and air stream, which may be making contact with an open wound.
Any system that cannot operate under high humidity or moisture does not meet this
requirement (some “medical” systems cannot be operated in the same room as a
steam machine because it cannot filter out the water molecules... how can it filter out
much smaller, viral molecules?)
2. The capability to handle tissue that is moist or wet. Any system that requires the
operator to thoroughly dry the area to be abraded before the treatment (or it may
clog) is not able to handle any fluids so therefore cannot handle blood or other fluids
that may be involved in a scar revision treatment
3. Disposable or autoclavable handset and handset tips
4. Sealed and disposable waste container. Since blood may be a part of the waste, it is
a biohazard, by the way so is skin debris, and should be treated as such (some
systems require the operator to pour the waste crystals from the waste container into
a trashcan or other waste receptacle, the debris that is generated in this process is a
biohazard)
5. Disposable waste filters (some systems require that the operator clean the waste
filter on a regular or daily basis by removing the filter and blasting it with compressed
air, which creates a potential biohazard for more than just the immediate area)
6. Must be able to utilize all types of crystal material. If there will be an open wound,
the crystal material must be fluid soluble, such as sodium bicarbonate, so the
particles will dissolve when in contact with fluids. Aluminum Oxide will not dissolve
and will cause granulomas to form when driven into an open wound.
Many of the "medical grade" systems cannot be operated at or even near their highest
settings. The manufacturers of those systems will claim that power is the reason for the
classification. That is partially true. Owners of those systems must be aware of its potential
to cause damage and make sure their operators have the proper training and background.
The whole truth is, not only does it have an excessive amount of power, there is almost a
total lack of control. The operator cannot properly control the system’s abrasion and/or
vacuum, which is multiplied when performing medical level treatments. The majority of these
systems have an abrasion pattern that is so concentrated the system will produce a small
hole up to 5 pages deep within 2 seconds when performing the magazine test (see the
Magazine Test). If the abrasion pattern were large and even, this would be an amazing
machine. The problem is, most of the systems with such concentrated abrasion patterns
produce a piercing hole that is not much bigger than the size of a pinhead. That type of
abrasion pattern can only cause damage, with no medical benefit whatsoever. In addition to
a small abrasion pattern, many “medical grade” systems have a problem with vacuum
pressure control. At higher settings, these systems will allow the vacuum pressure to
build in the handset cap and on the patient’s skin to the point where capillaries are
ruptured.
Since the classification of a system as a medical grade device is determined by the
manufacturer, a potential buyer must do their own research to confirm whether a system has
the qualifications to safely and effectively perform a medical treatment. Do not assume that
any system will be more effective than another just because of its classification. You will find
that many of the “medical grade” systems will not meet even obvious minimum requirements
and some "esthetic" models will pleasantly surprise you (and your budget).
Does it have the proper Air Stream filters?
This is a concern for all operators of the system, from estheticians to physicians. If the
manufacturer recommends that you do not operate their system near or in the same room as
a steam machine or a wax pot, do not buy that system. That recommendation by the
manufacturer indicates they do not have a filter that can remove the moisture or wax
molecules from the incoming air. The results will be clumping of crystals and clogging of the
system. The first reason to avoid such a system is that it clogs too easily. At the least, you
are limited in where you can operate the system or what other equipment can occupy the
same room.
At worst, if you are a physician and break into a fluid area, you may be introducing possible
viral contaminates. You have to consider the fact that water molecules are much larger than
viral molecules so a system that cannot filter out moisture is useless (or a liability) in a
medical situation. The possibility of cross contamination is extremely high. With a flawed
system such as this, the operator would be driving dirty air and crystals onto the surface of
freshly abraded skin.
In the case of a physician performing a scar revision treatment (and the possible situation of
an esthetician inadvertently abrading an acne breakout area), the operator would be
introducing contaminates into an open wound. A system that does not have the proper
filtering to control moisture intake should never be used in any type of medical
microdermabrasion treatment and should not be classified as a "medical" unit. Any
serious medical system manufacturer could easily make the changes and install the proper
filters. The parameters for incoming air filters on a microdermabrasion system should
be less than .1 microns. There are systems that have filters as fine as .01 microns.
Do you have to completely dry the area before abrading?
If the manufacturer recommends that you completely dry the area you plan on abrading, you
need to consider this information. This may not be of great concern to an esthetician
because drying of the skin is just one more step and the manufacturer recommends this
because the extra moisture may cause the system to clog. (Although, that is a major flaw
and the possibilities should be of great concern to the buyer; it means this type of system will
clog.) But this is not acceptable for a physician. The physician may be performing
treatments that reach into the fluid barrier and, if a system cannot handle moisture, that
system is useless. A physician, on occasion, will have clients that require more than just a
superficial treatment and the system must be able to handle moisture; whether that is blood
or other fluids.
Microdermabrasion Treatments with Chemical Peels
Some microdermabrasion system manufacturers recommend performing a chemical peel in
conjunction with a microdermabrasion treatment. Microdermabrasion treatments, glycolic
acid peels, alpha hdroxy acid peels, enzyme peels, etc. all perform an exfoliation. Would
you give your client a glycolic peel and immediately follow it with an alpha hydroxy peel or
vice versa? Most likely not. If a microdermabrasion system manufacturer recommends that
you begin (or follow) a treatment on their system with a chemical peel, you can be
reasonably certain their microdermabrasion system does not perform an effective exfoliation
treatment on its own.
Think about this, a good microdermabrasion machine, with a properly trained operator, will
physically remove around 25% to 35% of the stratum corneum as well as the oxidized lipid
that holds the cells together in one treatment. This is equivalent to a 70% Glycolic Acid Peel,
only with immediate results. After the microdermabrasion treatment the new skin cells and
the new lipid structure is exposed to the environment. If an acid peel is now applied to the
tissue how will you know what is going to happen with any strength of acid? Acid treatments
are normally administered to skin with the environmental barrier intact not removed. Should
an esthetician do an acid peel immediately following a good microdermabrasion treatment?
No, I do not think so, to do so would be extremely foolish until you become very familiar with
the patient and the microdermabrasion machine you use on a regular basis.
What about systems that use Vitamin C Crystals or Oxygen?
First ask yourself, how does either of these features work and can they truly be a benefit to
my clients? Yes, you can charge more for the treatments because of these supposedly
added features, but are you improving your services or just selling your clients (or being sold
by the equipment sales rep)? This is a question of ethics.
We all know that Corundum crystals are impervious to moisture, period. How do we infuse
Vitamin C, a water based vitamin, into a crystal that is impervious to moisture? We can not.
Or could we use actual Vitamin C in a crystal form? Either way lets do some theorizing.
But just for the sake of argument let us assume we can. Now we will load these special
crystals into the microdermabrasion machine and give our customer an abrasion treatment
with these vitamin C infused crystals (?), or actual Vitamin C crystals (very expensive)
Let us look at this issue in the best light. In the process of abrading the tissue with the
crystals each crystal will impact the tissue one time and remove some tissue cells and then
the particle and the tissue cells are immediately evacuated into the waste system. Another
particle will impact the same or an adjacent area and remove more tissue cells and again be
evacuated into the waste system. This continues ad infinitum until the treatment is over.
Now the question is "as each particle impacted the tissue and removed cells, how much of
the Vitamin C was left on the remaining new tissue of the patient?
After all, the only Vitamin C that will do any good is the Vitiman C that stayed with the host the Vitamin C that went to the waste system is of no value. Each time the C particle hit the
tissue it transferred C to the cell then tore the cell off the tissue and sent it to the waste
system. At the end of the treatment what is the net value of Vitamin C increase on the
remaining abraded tissue.
My thought is close to none! This is a waste of time and effort. Do the microdermabrasion
treatment and hydrate the patient then apply a real nice Esther C Moisturizer directly to the
newly abraded tissue. Now all of the Vitamin C goes into the Tissue for maximum benefit.
If you are evaluating a system that utilizes Vitamin C crystals or any other similar variation of
crystal, consider this. How are you delivering the Vitamin C (or other additive) to your client’s
skin in a way that will cause additional actual benefits? If the crystals are Vitamin C (crushed
to the proper size) remember that it is not nearly as effective an abrasive material as
corundum (see the section on “Will the system operate with different types of crystal
product?”). The other way to deliver Vitamin C with a microdermabrasion system is to soak
the corundum crystals in a Vitamin C liquid and allow them to dry (corundum is impervious to
water so the crystals will not absorb the Vitamin C, it will just dry on the outside of each
crystal). Either way, the system will be delivering the crystal to the skin at a high velocity,
colliding with the tissue and the Vitamin C will be vacuumed away along with the debris.
There may be some crystal left on the skin but, unless the system is poorly designed and
leaves a large amount of crystal behind, the vast majority of the Vitamin C will end up in the
waste container. If the technique is to then apply a wet towel to the skin (that has residual
crystals lying on it) in the hope that the water will liquefy the Vitamin C and deliver it to the
dermis, stop right there. Will your client’s skin absorb water molecules that have Vitamin C
molecules attached to it? That is a pretty large particle to get into the organ that is designed
to protect you. If water is able to deliver an ingredient or nutrient to the underlying layers of
the skin, why do formulators and cosmetic companies spend so much effort, money and time
developing micronized carrier solutions? You would be much better off applying a nutrient
rich formula, designed to penetrate and deliver what is needed, to the freshly abraded skin
after the microdermabrasion treatment is finished (which is probably what you will do as a
final step in the treatment anyway).
If you are evaluating a system that delivers an oxygen treatment, either as a stand-alone
system or integrated with a microdermabrasion system, consider this. How does the system
produce the oxygen? If it has a tank that you must refill with oxygen, then it has the
capability to deliver the gas to the client’s skin. If it doesn’t have an oxygen tank, where is
the oxygen coming from? The room air contains oxygen so, technically, you can just fan
some air over your client and you are delivering oxygen to their skin (along with all the other
gases that make up the room air). That is exactly what some of these “oxygen” systems do:
room air is pulled in by the vacuum motor, passed over a reservoir of some type of liquid
(Vitamin C or E, etc.) which is drawn up into the air stream (just like the fertilizer jars you can
attach to your garden hose) and the liquid in the air makes it feel cool and refreshing when
sprayed on your client’s face. The concentration of oxygen is equal to the room air. It would
be much more cost effective for you to buy a $1.00 spray bottle, fill it with your favorite
Vitamin C formula and spritz your clients. There are some skin care professionals who use
systems with oxygen tanks that believe the application of oxygen to the skin truly makes a
remarkable difference. Before you spend your money on a combination
microdermabrasion/oxygen system, consider the fact that if one function breaks down, you
don’t have either function. Evaluate the components separately to determine the overall
effectiveness. FYI: Most scientists believe the only way for a person’s skin to actually absorb
oxygen is to place the individual in a hyperbaric chamber.
What about the companies that offer "Diamond" crystals or "Diamond
Shaped" crystals?
Real diamond crystals would be very expensive and wouldn't add any benefit to a treatment
as compared to corundum crystals. If the crystals were truly diamond particles, you could
not possibly afford to buy them and compete in the microdermabrasion treatment
marketplace. As for "Diamond shaped" crystals, corundum crystals are faceted just like
diamonds because both corundum and diamonds are a form of crystal. If anyone tells you
they are specially shaped, you should not believe them (or trust them): next time you
examine corundum crystals, ask yourself how difficult it would be (and what specialized and
expensive equipment is required) to precisely shape those tiny particles. And this precise
procedure is done on billions of these particles? All crystals are crushed by machinery in a
random manner and then sorted by size. There are no specially made "diamond shaped"
crystals: they are just corundum crystals presented in a way to sound unique. Beware of
companies that try to sell their products based on false information. And, by the way
corundum (Aluminum Oxide) is actually a sapphire on the gemstone hardness scale.
What about the look of the system and marketing materials?
A pretty colored system may fit well in the overall décor of your spa, but remember that your
clients may only see it when they walk in and out of your room. They will either have their
eyes closed or covered during the majority of the time they are with you. Also, very few
individuals outside of the skin care profession are familiar with either a company name or
logo. And lastly, having a complete marketing plan with 4-color brochures and other
collateral is good, but this should be one of the last items to check off your list. These items
should not be a sole determining factor. None of these features will turn a first time customer
into a repeat customer. A customer may be impressed with the look of your system, the slick
look of your marketing brochures and the cute logo in the beginning, but will stop coming if
they don't get results. Your best source of advertising will be satisfied customers who have a
noticeable immediate improvement of their skin.
They are your walking and talking billboards. Friends, family and maybe even strangers will
ask them what they did to their skin and your customer will be more than happy to tell those
people all about you and your wonderful machine. Customers probably won't remember the
color of your machine or what its logo looked like or what brand it is. They may come to your
business because of the brochures, but if the system doesn’t deliver, they will not come
back. Remember that every customer is a potential source of advertising but, based on a
customer's experience with inferior services, how they talk about your business may not be
positive. That is not the kind of advertising any business can survive on.
Lifetime Warranties
There are many options out there in terms of warranties. System manufacturers will
warranty their machines for 1 year up to lifetime, but most provide at least a 2-year
warranty. There are a few that offer options to purchase extended warranties when the
original warranty expires. The life expectancy of any system is based on the vacuum
motor inside the microdermabrasion system. The microdermabrasion system
manufacturer does not make the motor. The motor manufacturer rates the life expectancy of
their vacuum motor by listing its MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) specifications. A
quality motor will be rated at 12,000 hours MTBF, which means it should operate
approximately 12,000 hours before it fails.
That length of time is equal to performing 20 treatments a day, 5 days a week, for 10
years. At such a pace, you will be worn out before the motor fails! The reality is, the
vast majority of system owners will not keep or use their system long enough to test the
accuracy of the motor’s MTBF rating. So, why are there so many used systems available on
Internet auction sites? You would hope that the motors in those systems are still working.
Why would anyone dump an expensive piece of equipment, at a loss, if it still works and is
bringing profit to a business? The motor is the only moving part in a microdermabrasion
system and very few motors fail. Most system problems are due to clogging or loss of
vacuum pressure. Manufacturers, for the most part, do not cover clogging problems
in their warranty. That is a maintenance issue and the manufacturer will say the operator is
to blame, so the repairs will have to be paid for by the owner. System owners sell their
machines at a loss because they are tired of the problems associated with a poor
design, not a failed or failing motor.
Regardless of what the motor MTBF specifications are, it is a mechanical device with moving
parts and it will eventually wear out. There are limits to what a manufacturer can promise,
within reason, when they are selling a mechanical device. Any microdermabrasion
system manufacturer who offers a lifetime warranty is doing it to increase sales now,
and will worry about the consequences later. It is a marketing plan with the intent of
diverting your attention from what really matters; which is, how effective the machine
performs. There is no possible way for any company, regardless of their financial strength,
to sell a mechanical device under a lifetime warranty and budget for the day when those
systems start to fail. They may be able to pay for the repairs of some of the first systems
that fail but, as more systems fail, the major shareholders and/or owners will not want to
continually dip into their pockets to cover this cost. They will choose to close the company
instead. And, if the design is not tried and tested, the failures and/or problems may start
happening very early on and the company will fold sooner, rather than later. After evaluating
the performance of a number of systems you are considering, the true test of whether the
length of the warranty should be a major factor when choosing one machine over another is
to determine how long each company has been in existence. Do not judge a company on
how long they claim to have been designing and working on their system, but how long has
the company been selling their design and how long has that design has been on the market,
under real-world conditions.
Check the PTO (Patent and Trademark Office) to see when they applied for their
patent; keep in mind that a patent application is done before the item goes into the
marketplace. Get a list of referrals and find out how long they have owned their system.
What value is any warranty if the manufacturer does not stay in business long enough
to support it? Also, if that same company makes other impossible claims, (like
maintenance free) you must use caution when dealing with them. Make sure any system
you are evaluating has a sound design and is effective before you weigh such factors as the
warranty.
Trade In and Buy-Back Policies
Most manufacturers offer some type of trade in policy if you wish to upgrade your system
during the life of the warranty. Some offer a small percentage, very few offer a major
percentage, and fewer yet offer a 100% trade in policy.
Rarely does a company offer any type of buy-back policy; most manufacturers will not offer
to buy your system back from you at any price unless you are buying a new machine from
them. It sounds logical since that would mean they make less money on the sale of the used
machine where they could have sold a new one and made a higher profit. They are looking
out for their bottom line, not their customers needs. Find out if the company you are
considering offers any type of trade in and buy back policy. This will tell you how confident
they are in their design and how much they value their customers. If they offer a high trade
in value and/or will assist you in re-selling your used system to one of their new customers,
they are a company that knows their design is reliable and trouble free and they also really
care about their customers.
Attention Physicians and Salon/Spa Owners: Referral Fees can be a
Concern
Most manufacturers offer a referral fee for leads that result in the sale of their equipment.
This is a common practice and has the potential to generate sales for the organization. It
also has the potential to be abused. Many sales people in the medical equipment business
are actually distributors and own the products they are selling. They purchase the items
from the manufacturer at a great discount off of list price, sell the item at or around list and
pocket the difference. For example: an equipment manufacturer lists their systems at just
under $10,000 and sells it to their distributors for $4,500. The distributor is encouraged to
use a portion of that large profit margin to ensure the sale by paying commissions, referral
fees and/or finders fees. There is a possibility that a referral fee could be substantial
($1,000, $2,000 or more per system sold) and has the power to cloud someone's judgment.
The purchaser may not need to worry about this if the person that generated the lead and
being paid the referral fee is an outside individual. But if an employee is generating the
referral AND evaluating the equipment, there could be a major conflict of interest.
Regardless, this could be a concern if the physician or salon/spa owner is not involved, at
some level, in the evaluation of the system. The actual purchaser should be familiar with the
equipment and make certain it will produce acceptable results based on their own
investigation and determination of what features are important.
Concluding Remarks
This information has been an attempt to provide you with an unbiased review of the
Microdermabrasion marketplace. There is a lot of misleading information on this subject and
the treatment results that you can expect.
To a large extent, the success you have will be based on team concept. Having the right
machine is necessary but having a knowledgeable and skilled technician/esthetician that has
the ability to communicate with their clients and who has a thorough understanding of what
happens to the skin during microdermabrasion is equally as important. Post procedure care
with appropriate skin care products is also important.
To that extent, make sure you do your homework and follow up on the
information given to you after any sales demonstration. The only way to
really get a feel of how the machine works is by using it yourself; if you
don’t have clients, use a magazine as the patient. Don’t assume that
what a salesperson says is what will really happen when it comes time to
do procedures.
BE CAREFUL, IT IS YOUR CAPITAL INVESTMENT. Call several sources that
currently own and use the microdermabrasion machine being
considered. When you do, ask to speak directly to the technician that
uses it on a routine basis. See what qualifications they used in deciding
on the unit they have. Some have really never researched the
marketplace; they have only gone on the recommendation of a friend or
fellow physician who may not even use the machine. Also keep in mind
that the technician you speak with may be under the false notion that all
microdermabrasion systems clog and need some repair work on a regular
basis so they may not inform you of the effort required to keep it
working. You can find one that is clog free and requires very little
cleaning or maintenance. Be careful and don’t assume that the physician
who owns the machine knows anything about it, other than it is bringing
revenue to their office. Most physicians are so busy they don’t have time
to spend on selecting the machine; they left it up to the person who was
going to do the procedures. Again, ask them what they based their
decisions on and compare it to what you have seen yourself. When you
have narrowed your decision down to 2 or 3 different units, ask them to
do a head-to-head evaluation at the same time in your office. You might
be surprised at the number of companies that will balk at this request.
Having the units side by side is a great way to compare features like ease
of use and daily service, actual abrasion, messiness etc. Many system
owners have purchased their microdermabrasion system on factors other
than the overall quality and performance of the unit. They were more
interested in purchasing a name brand or the marketing program the
company offered. Don’t let us mislead you, these things have to be taken
into consideration, but in the end you will wish you had bought on
performance and reliability.
If you have further questions or would like to comment on this tutorial please feel free to
call me at 877-550-5655 or contact me on the web at 'al@bellaproducts.com.'
Al Metcalf, President
Bella Products Inc.