How Much Does Dermabrasion Cost?
The average cost of dermabrasion is $2,075, but the price of this skin rejuvenation treatment can range up to $5,000, according to 63 reviews from RealSelf members.
This intense form of skin resurfacing (which comes with at least two weeks of downtime) improves skin tone and texture, delivering much more dramatic results than microdermabrasion does. But you'll pay far more for those results: a microdermabrasion treatment costs just $175, on average, a fraction of the cost of dermabrasion.
Dermabrasion is an elective cosmetic procedure, so insurance won't cover it, but most providers offer payment plans or accept financing.
Is dermabrasion worth the money?
Despite the cost downtime involved, RealSelf members give dermabrasion a Worth It Rating of 67%.
That's slightly higher than laser skin resurfacing (82% Worth It Rating) and slightly lower than chemical peels (89% Worth It Rating), two facial rejuvenation treatments that deliver similar results but cost more.
Only you—with the help of an experienced provider—can determine if a dermabrasion procedure will be worth it for you, based on your concerns, skin tone, and aesthetic goals.
What affects the cost of dermabrasion?
There are a variety of factors that can affect the cost of dermabrasion. These include:
1) Your provider's credentials and expertise
Dermabrasion is quite invasive (it removes both dead skin cells and living layers of skin, revealing new skin), so it should only be performed by a board-certified dermatologic or plastic surgeon. Providers with years or decades of experience tend to charge more for their expertise than those who are just starting out.
There are a host of potential complications associated with dermabrasion—temporary or permanent pigment differences (especially hyperpigmentation) chief among them—and patient selection is key to avoiding them.
"It's important to see an expert and let them examine your skin closely for the best outcomes," says Dr. Amy Paul, a dermatologic surgeon in Grand Junction, Colorado.
During your consultation, ask if follow-up appointments will be covered in the cost of your treatment.
2) Where you have the procedure performed
Dermabrasion prices are typically steeper in major metro areas with a higher cost of living, particularly at practices in upscale neighborhoods.
Provider supply and patient demand for dermabrasion in your area also plays a role. In recent years, dermabrasion has become less popular in favor of treatments like laser skin resurfacing, which many providers believe comes with fewer side effects and offers more consistent results. (According to plastic surgery statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, just 140,000 dermabrasions were performed in 2020, compared to nearly one million laser skin resurfacing procedures.)
If there aren't many qualified surgeons offering the procedure in your area, you might end up paying more to see one who can perform it safely.
3) The type of sedation or anesthesia you have
"Dermabrasion is a painful procedure," says Dr. Tanveer Janjua, a facial plastic surgeon in Bedminster, New Jersey. "Without numbing, it would be close to 8 on a scale of 1—10, with 10 being the worst pain ever."
To prevent discomfort, many providers numb the treated area with a topical anesthetic and then give patients a sedative, along with anti-anxiety medications such as Valium or Ativan to help them stay relaxed.
But some dermabrasion treatments go so deep that the patient requires general anesthesia to stay comfortable during the procedure.
While local anesthesia can be administered by your dermabrasion surgeon, local anesthesia with IV sedation or general anesthesia requires the skills of an anesthesiologist (an MD) or certified registered nurse anesthetist (a CRNA), who monitors you throughout your procedure.
Incorporating a second provider into your procedure significantly raises the price, and an anesthesiologist will charge more than a CRNA.
4) The size of the treatment area.
Depending on the desired effect, dermabrasion can be performed on a small area of the face (say, fine lines around the eyes or mild acne scarring) or the entire surface of the face (to reduce overall sun damage and rejuvenate the skin, for instance).
While most people get dermabrasion on their facial skin, some opt for body treatments to correct the appearance of scars or stretch marks. If more skin is treated (such as an entire back as opposed to just the face), your dermabrasion treatment will cost more.
5) Aftercare supplies
During your consultation, talk with your provider about what kind of supplies you'll need to help ensure a smooth recovery. Healing after a dermabrasion treatment can be extremely painful, so you'll need prescription pain medication for at least the first few days and over-the-counter options after that.
Skin care, including a good sunscreen with a high SPF, is essential to the healing process and good results. In fact, the most common dermabrasion risk is developing hyperpigmentation afterward due to sun exposure, so ask your provider for their recommendation. A gentle cleanser is also be a must.