---
title: "HydraFacial®"
---
Four things happen in one appointment. Your skin is cleansed and gently exfoliated, a light peel lifts the dull surface layer, vortex suction pulls the debris out of your pores, and hydrating serums go back in. You see the difference on the drive home, which is not something most treatments can claim.
It is comfortable the whole way through. No stinging, no needles, no going home to hide. Most people find it genuinely relaxing, and the extractions, which sound like the unpleasant part, are the part that feels the most satisfying.
A HydraFacial is maintenance, and it is superb at it: making good skin look its best and keeping congestion under control, appointment after appointment. Being inside a dermatology practice means that if what you actually have is something else, you find out in the same visit instead of six facials later.
**What a HydraFacial is good at**
- An immediate, visible glow before an event, a shoot or a Monday
- Clearing congestion, blackheads and the roughness that comes with them
- Making enlarged-looking pores less obvious
- Softening dryness and the tired, flat look that goes with it
- Evening out surface tone and texture
- Sitting comfortably alongside almost every other treatment we offer
These are our own patients, photographed at our San Luis Obispo office and published with their consent. Individual results vary. There are more in the practice's private gallery, and we will show you cases close to yours at your consultation.
The machine is the same one the med spas use. What is not the same is who is in the building. Your HydraFacial here is delivered by a trained aesthetic provider working under board-certified dermatologists, which matters the same day something turns up that is not cosmetic. A mole that has changed, a rash that is not going away, redness that turns out to be [rosacea](/conditions/rosacea/) rather than sensitivity: you are already where you need to be, and you do not spend three months finding out.
Performed by a dermatologist, this class of treatment has an excellent safety record. [2] Not every place offering it can say that.
We will also tell you when a facial is not the answer. If what you want fixed is [sun damage](/conditions/sun-damage/) or real scarring, a HydraFacial is the maintenance that sits alongside the treatment, not the treatment. You will hear that here rather than after the sixth appointment.
**A HydraFacial is probably a good fit if:**
- You want your skin to look noticeably better today, with nothing to recover from
- Your skin is congested, dry, dull, or all three
- You want something to keep between your bigger treatments
- You have an event and three days to get ready
- Your skin is calm enough right now for exfoliation and extraction
**We will steer you somewhere else if:**
- You have an infection, open skin or significant inflammation
- Your rosacea, eczema or acne is actively flaring, which needs settling first
- You have had a recent procedure that still needs healing time
- What you actually want fixed needs a laser, a prescription or an injectable
Almost nothing, which is the appeal. Some people are slightly pink for an hour. Your skin may feel tight or a little more sensitive than usual for a day. Occasionally an extraction brings something to the surface a day or two later, which settles on its own.
**Afterward, do**
- Put your makeup straight back on if you want to
- Wear sunscreen, which matters a bit more than usual for the first week
- Keep your routine gentle for a day or two
**Afterward, don't**
- Book a strong exfoliating product for that evening
- Sit in a sauna or steam room the same day
- Pick at anything that surfaces after an extraction
Call us about anything severe, worsening, or simply not what we described. We would far rather hear from you.
A HydraFacial is safe for nearly every skin type and tone. Pick a concern to see how we approach it.
A HydraFacial is priced per session, and what you pay depends on the length of the treatment and any boosters chosen for your skin. If you are planning to come regularly, ask about that at your visit rather than paying a single-session price every time.
**Q: How long does it take?**
Usually 30 to 60 minutes depending on what is included. Boosters and longer extractions add time, and you will know before you book.
**Q: Is there any downtime?**
None. Most people go back to their day and their makeup right away. Sunscreen matters slightly more than usual for the first week.
**Q: How often should I have one?**
Every two to four weeks gives the strongest, longest-lasting result. Dark patches and acne scarring usually need a series rather than one visit.
**Q: Does it hurt?**
No. The vortex suction that clears your pores is painless, and most people find the whole thing relaxing. There is none of the sting a strong chemical peel can deliver.
**Q: Will it help my acne?**
It helps with congestion, blackheads and rough surface texture, which is what a lot of people mean by acne. Inflammatory acne and scarring need a medical plan, and being inside a dermatology practice means you can have that conversation in the same visit instead of starting over somewhere else.
**Q: How is it different from a regular facial?**
Consistency. The device does the same thing at the same settings every time, so you are not depending on who is on shift. And the boosters are chosen for your skin and your fine lines rather than for the room's standard protocol.
Offered in San Luis Obispo, and coming soon to Santa Maria.
1. American Academy of Dermatology Association. "Microdermabrasion: Overview." Non-invasive exfoliation is safe for all skin colors and produces no downtime. [https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/age-spots-marks/microdermabrasion-overview](https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/age-spots-marks/microdermabrasion-overview) · Medical Organization
2. American Academy of Dermatology Association. "Microdermabrasion: FAQs." You will not have downtime or a recovery period; performed by a dermatologist, the procedure has an excellent safety record. [https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/age-spots-marks/microdermabrasion-faqs](https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/age-spots-marks/microdermabrasion-faqs) · Medical Organization
3. Freedman BM. "Hydradermabrasion: an innovative modality for nonablative facial rejuvenation." *Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.* 2008;7(4):275-280. Randomized controlled trial, 20 volunteers, six treatments at 7 to 10 day intervals. PMID 19146604. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19146604/ · Peer-Reviewed Study
4. American Academy of Dermatology Association. "How to select a sunscreen." Broad spectrum, SPF 30 or higher, water resistant. [https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/shade-clothing-sunscreen/how-to-select-sunscreen](https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/shade-clothing-sunscreen/how-to-select-sunscreen) · Medical Organization
Content on this page is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. HydraFacial® is a registered trademark of HydraFacial LLC. Individual results may vary. Cosmetic consultations are $125, paid at booking and credited toward the cost of treatment.
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