Dermaplaning Facial in Chicagoland

Dermaplaning is a manual, physical exfoliation. Your esthetician holds a sterile surgical blade at a 45-degree angle against taut skin and draws it across the surface in short, controlled strokes. Each pass lifts away two things at once: the outermost layer of dead keratinized cells, and the vellus hair most people call peach fuzz.

Removing that layer matters more than it sounds. Dead cells sit on the surface and scatter light, which is what makes skin read as dull. Vellus hair holds onto oil, makeup pigment, and everyday debris. Clearing both in one pass is why the change is visible the moment you sit up, rather than developing over days.

Because dermaplaning is mechanical rather than chemical, it does not rely on an acid to loosen the bond between cells and it does not create a controlled wound. Nothing is left on the skin to keep working after you leave, which is exactly why there is no peeling phase and no required downtime.

It also improves what you apply afterward. With the dead layer and fine hair gone, serums and moisturizers meet living skin instead of a barrier of debris, and foundation lies flat instead of catching on hair.

Dermaplaning is a facial treatment. At Express Med Spa the blade is passed over the broad, relatively flat planes of the face where the angle can be held safely and consistently:

• Forehead: the widest flat plane and usually the first area treated.
• Cheeks: where vellus hair is typically densest and most visible in side light.
• Jawline and chin: where hair tends to be coarser and makeup most often catches.
• Upper lip: treated with shorter strokes and a lighter hand.

Some areas are deliberately left alone. The blade is not used on the eyelids, inside or around the nostrils, or directly over active, inflamed blemishes. The bridge and sides of the nose are generally avoided because the curve makes a consistent 45-degree angle difficult to maintain.

Dermaplaning is also offered in two forms here. The full Dermaplaning Facial is a complete facial service that includes cleansing, skin analysis, the dermaplaning pass, extractions if needed, and a finishing serum and SPF. The Peach Fuzz Express Removal add-on is a shorter version using a coarse blade, designed to be attached to another service when hair removal rather than a full facial is the goal.

A dermaplaning facial at Express Med Spa runs about 45 to 60 minutes and follows the same sequence at every location.

• Cleanse: your esthetician thoroughly removes makeup, sunscreen, oil, and debris. The skin has to be completely clean and dry for the blade to work correctly.
• Skin analysis: your skin is examined to identify areas needing extra care and to confirm dermaplaning is appropriate that day. An active breakout or cold sore can change the plan.
• Dermaplaning: the sterile blade is drawn across the skin at a 45-degree angle in short strokes, section by section. Most people describe it as a light scraping or brushing sensation. No numbing is needed and it should not hurt.
• Extractions: performed if your skin needs them, which is easier and more effective once the surface layer is gone.
• Finish: a soothing serum and SPF are applied to protect freshly exposed skin, along with complimentary skincare products.
• Aftercare: you leave with written instructions covering sun protection and which actives to pause.

You can wear makeup out if you want to, though most people prefer not to for the rest of the day. There is no peeling phase and no recovery period to plan around.

The smoothing and brightening are immediate. Because the dulling layer is physically lifted off rather than dissolved over time, you see and feel the change the same day rather than waiting for it to develop.

Results hold for about 3 to 4 weeks. That window is set by your own skin cell turnover cycle: as new cells rise and the old ones accumulate again, the surface gradually returns to its baseline. Vellus hair regrows on a similar timeline.

Several things shift where you land in that range:

• Cell turnover rate: turnover slows with age, so results often last slightly longer for older clients simply because the surface rebuilds more slowly.
• Skin type: oilier skin tends to look dull again sooner.
• Home care: consistent sunscreen and gentle exfoliation extend the smooth phase.
• Sun exposure: unprotected sun accelerates the return of rough, uneven texture.

Most clients rebook every 3 to 4 weeks to keep results continuous. That cadence is deliberate rather than arbitrary: treating much sooner does not give the surface layer time to rebuild, and there is no benefit to removing a layer that is not there yet.

Dermaplaning results are cumulative in the sense that regular treatment keeps skin consistently smooth, but the treatment does not permanently change your skin or your hair. Stopping simply returns you to your natural baseline.

All of these exfoliate. They are not interchangeable, and the right choice depends on what is actually bothering you.

• Dermaplaning vs microdermabrasion: microdermabrasion exfoliates through abrasion or suction and does not remove vellus hair at all. Dermaplaning removes both dead cells and peach fuzz in one pass. If smoother makeup application is the goal, dermaplaning is the better tool. Our full dermaplaning vs microdermabrasion comparison covers this in more depth.
• Dermaplaning vs a chemical peel: a chemical peel uses acids to work below the surface, targeting pigment, acne, and sun damage, and typically involves visible peeling. Dermaplaning is strictly surface-level with no downtime. Peels treat discoloration; dermaplaning treats texture and dullness.
• Dermaplaning vs shaving: a razor is designed to cut hair with skin protection built in. A dermaplaning blade is held at a specific angle by a trained hand to lift the dead cell layer as well, which a razor is not built to do.
• Dermaplaning vs laser hair removal: if your goal is permanently reducing unwanted hair rather than exfoliating, laser hair removal is the appropriate treatment. Dermaplaning removes peach fuzz temporarily as part of an exfoliation service.

These treatments also stack well. Dermaplaning is frequently paired with a chemical peel or an aqua facial, because clearing the surface layer first lets the second treatment reach the skin more evenly. Your esthetician will sequence them appropriately in one visit.

Express Med Spa performs dermaplaning facials at all four Chicagoland locations, with the same protocol and the same licensed esthetician team at each:

• Frankfort, IL: serving Will County, including Mokena, New Lenox, Orland Park, and Tinley Park.
• La Grange, IL: serving the western suburbs.
• Shorewood, IL: serving the Joliet area.
• Mount Greenwood, Chicago: serving the southwest side.

Every dermaplaning facial is performed by a licensed esthetician under the clinical oversight of our founder, Stefanie Drozd, MSN, APRN. Consultations are complimentary, so if you are unsure whether dermaplaning or another resurfacing option suits your skin, book a consultation and we will assess it in person.