So many questions. You'll be happy to know we've answered these and many more in our awesome (if we do say so ourselves) Frequently-Asked-Questions article:
You can think of microdermabrasion as exfoliation on steroids.
Well, not literally. It doesn't involve steroids. It's just a more aggressive way than exfoliation for remove dead skin.
Microdermabrasion involves using rough grains or crystals to (aggressively) remove not only the normal layer of dead skin cells, but sometimes also scars and wrinkles. The crystals are sprayed onto your skin as a thin film, and then removed via pressurized air – in other words, essentially vacuumed up, along with the dead skin.
This type of treatment has been referred to as an "instant facelift" that is intended to be less invasive than chemical peels or plastic surgery.
Since we aren't big fans of mechanical exfoliation, you might correctly guess that we believe microdermabrasion is a mostly unnecessary harsh way to treat your skin.
If you do choose to go this route, there is no question that you want a trained and experienced esthetician doing the work – you want your eyes protected, the correct pressure level used, the spray completely removed, and so on.
Also, every reputable source on the Web notes that microdermabrasion temporarily removes an important layer of protection from your skin, so you will want to use sunscreen, avoid direct sunlight, and be mindful of applying any harsh or allergenic products to your skin for a couple of days after the procedure.
