Dermaplaning vs. Laser: Which Facial Treatment Is Right for You?

If you’re looking for smoother, brighter, more radiant skin, you’ve probably considered dermaplaning or laser facials. Both are popular treatments—and while they can complement each other, they serve very different purposes. So, how do you know which one is right for your skin? At CLEO Skin + Laser, we love helping our clients navigate their options—and while dermaplaning can offer instant glow, laser treatments go deeper, delivering long-term skin health benefits that surface treatments simply can’t match.

What Is Dermaplaning?

Dermaplaning is a gentle exfoliating treatment that involves using a sterile blade to remove dead skin cells and fine vellus hair (aka peach fuzz) from the surface of your face. It leaves the skin ultra-smooth, allows skincare products to penetrate better, and creates a flawless base for makeup. Think of it as a deep shave plus exfoliation—it’s quick, painless, and gives you that instant glow. However, the results are temporary and purely superficial. You’ll need to repeat it every few weeks to maintain that freshly polished look.

What Do Laser Treatments Do Differently?

Unlike dermaplaning, laser facials go beyond the surface. At CLEO, we use advanced ND:YAG and Pico technology to target concerns like pigmentation, redness, fine lines, acne scars, and overall tone and texture. These treatments stimulate collagen production and improve skin quality from within, not just on the surface.

Laser treatments are:

• ✅ Ideal for addressing hyperpigmentation, sun damage, melasma, and scarring
• ✅ Safe for all skin tones when done with the right technology (like ours)
• ✅ Designed to deliver long-term improvements to skin texture, firmness, and clarity
• ✅ Customizable depending on your skin goals and tolerance for downtime (most of our facials are no-downtime!)

While you won’t get that instant “baby skin” feel the same day, you will see real, lasting transformation—and results that build over time.

Which One Should You Choose?

If you're prepping for a big event or want a quick refresh, dermaplaning can be a nice glow-up. But if your goal is to address deeper skin issues or invest in your skin’s long-term health, laser treatments are the better option—especially for concerns like dark spots, aging, or acne scarring.

And if you’re new to lasers? No stress. Our signature CLEO Laser Facial is a gentle, beginner-friendly treatment with no downtime—perfect for easing into advanced skincare with serious results.

Final Thoughts

While both dermaplaning and laser have their place in modern skincare, only laser treatments offer deeper, more transformative results. If you’re ready to do more than just remove peach fuzz and want to truly renew your skin, laser is where the magic happens.

📍 Book a free skin consult at our Edina or Maple Grove locations

📞 Call us at (952) 666-1105

💻 Schedule online and let’s build your glow-up game plan