Dermaplaning vs Nd:YAG Laser

Dermaplaning: A sterile blade is drawn across the skin to shave off fine hair and the dead layer on top. Skin feels smooth and makeup sits better for a week or two. It is a finishing treatment, not a treatment for acne, lines or pigment.

Nd:YAG Laser: A laser that reaches deeper than most and is absorbed least by skin pigment. At 1064 nanometers it is the wavelength that makes hair removal and vessel treatment safer on deeper skin tones.

Reviewed by Dr. Schwarz, Board-Certified Dermatologist
Last updated: 10/22/2026

Editorial illustration for Dermaplaning, based on the entry’s treatment or equipment reference.

Editorial illustration for Nd:YAG Laser, based on the entry’s treatment or equipment reference.

Choose if Key differences What is it?What it treats Treatment areas Skin tones How it works Before your treatment Day of treatment After your treatment Risks Cost Questions Related

Choose Dermaplaning if…

Choose for instantly smoother skin and better makeup application — a finishing treatment, not for acne, lines or pigment.

Dull skin before an event
Fine facial hair under makeup
No active acne

Choose Nd:YAG Laser if…

Choose for laser hair removal or vessel treatment on deeper skin tones — the wavelength that makes them safer.

Deeper skin tone with dark hair
Leg or facial vessels
Razor bumps

Fine together

Can you have both?

Dermaplaning shaves surface hair and is fine before Nd:YAG hair removal. Avoid it for a few days after a laser session.

Key differences

● Dermaplaning

● Nd:YAG Laser

DowntimeNone → 2+ weeks

None

1–2 days

PainMinimal → Needs anesthesia or sedation

Minimal

Moderate

Results showImmediately → 3+ months

Immediately

1–4 weeks

How long it lastsWeeks → Years or permanent

Weeks

Years or permanent

Visits neededOne → Every few months

Every few months

A longer series (4–6+)

Cost per visit$ → $$$$$

ReversibleYes, can be undone → No, permanent

No, wears off

No, permanent

What is it?

Dermaplaning

Nd:YAG Laser

What is it?

It uses a blade.

Dead skin and fine facial hair are scraped away.

Results are temporary.

Surface smoothness improves for a short time.

It is superficial.

It is not dermabrasion or laser resurfacing.

Hair does not grow back thicker.

Cutting the shaft does not change the follicle.

It is a family of lasers.

Nd:YAG devices commonly deliver 1064-nm light.

Pulse modes differ.

Long-pulsed, Q-switched and picosecond modes have different effects.

It can suit darker skin.

Its wavelength is often used in darker skin types.

It still carries risk.

Inappropriate use can cause burns or pigment injury.

What it treats

Evidence level

Dermaplaning

Nd:YAG Laser

Strong evidenceMost established uses

—

Unwanted Hair

Safe hair removal on darker skin.

Unwanted Tattoos

Q-switched versions clear dark ink.

Moderate evidenceSome supportive research

—

Spider Veins

Treats leg and facial veins.

Limited evidenceEarly or small studies

Dull Skin

Smooths and brightens.

Unwanted Hair

Removes fine facial hair briefly.

—

Little evidence

—

Ice Pick Scars

Other resurfacing works better.

Not effective

Hirsutism

Temporary only.

—

Can make it worse

Acne

Can irritate active breakouts.

Flat tan patches with soft irregular edges across the forehead and upper cheek of an adult with light skin, the surface completely smooth.

Melasma

Heat can darken patches.

Treatment areas

Face; the selected area depends on the concern and treatment plan.

Upper lip, legs and back; the target and pulse mode determine the treatment.

Skin tones

Skin tone

● Dermaplaning

● Nd:YAG Laser

Lighter skin

Low risk

Not a pigment-based treatment.

Low risk

Works best with dark hair.

Medium skin

Low risk

Not a pigment-based treatment.

Low risk

A safe choice for most.

Deeper skin

Low risk

Avoid on razor bumps, which can darken.

Low risk

The safest laser wavelength for deeper skin; burns still possible with poor technique.

How it works

Dermaplaning

Nd:YAG Laser

How it works

Dermaplaning mechanism diagram. A blade skims the surface: A trained provider uses a controlled superficial technique. Fine hairs and outer cells lift away: The treatment removes vellus hair shafts and surface cells. Skin feels smoother temporarily: Hair follicles remain intact, so fine hair grows back.

Nd:YAG Laser mechanism diagram. A target and pulse mode are selected: Long-pulse and short-pulse treatments have different uses. The chosen target absorbs energy: Pigment or blood can absorb 1064 nm laser energy. The tissue response depends on mode: Uses can include hair reduction, vessels, or selected tattoo pigment.

Diagram explanation

A blade skims the surface: A trained provider uses a controlled superficial technique. Fine hairs and outer cells lift away: The treatment removes vellus hair shafts and surface cells. Skin feels smoother temporarily: Hair follicles remain intact, so fine hair grows back.

Schematic illustration. Technique and response vary. This explains a mechanism and does not specify treatment settings.

A target and pulse mode are selected: Long-pulse and short-pulse treatments have different uses. The chosen target absorbs energy: Pigment or blood can absorb 1064 nm laser energy. The tissue response depends on mode: Uses can include hair reduction, vessels, or selected tattoo pigment.

Schematic illustration. Technique and response vary. This explains a mechanism and does not specify treatment settings.

Before your treatment

Dermaplaning

Nd:YAG Laser

2–4 weeks before

Not specified

4 weeks before: Sun and tanning: Avoid sun, sunbeds and self-tanner on the area.

4 weeks before: Hair removal: Do not wax, pluck, thread or use an epilator.

The week before

Postpone if: Sunburn or flare: A sunburn, fresh tan, active cold sore or inflamed acne flare.

3 to 5 days before: Actives: Stop retinoids (tretinoin, adapalene, retinol), benzoyl peroxide and acids.

Hair removal: No waxing, threading or hair removal creams for a week.

3 to 5 days before: Actives and shaving: Stop retinoids and exfoliating acids.

Day of treatment

Dermaplaning

Nd:YAG Laser

Before you arrive

Clean face: No moisturizer or makeup — the blade needs dry skin.

Not specified

Arrival & prep

Skin is cleaned and dried.

Test spot: On a deeper skin tone, ask for a test spot.

Skin is examined, photographed and cleaned, and hair areas shaved again if needed.

Treatment

Skin is held taut and the blade drawn in short strokes over forehead, cheeks, jaw, chin and upper lip.

Eyelids are avoided, eyebrows shaped only if you agreed. It takes 20 to 30 minutes and often ends with a mask, moisturizer and sunscreen. It feels like a dry razor that pulls slightly; the sound surprises people more than the feel.

Everyone wears eye protection — 1064 nm light is invisible and can injure the eye without warning.

Cool gel or cold air goes on and the handpiece moves in overlapping passes. An upper lip takes a minute or two, a back or legs 30 to 60 minutes. Each pulse is a deep hot snap that lingers a second. Say if it is too much; settings and cooling can be adjusted.

Before you leave

Skin is smooth and brighter, sometimes faintly pink for an hour.

Pink, warm, and often with a small raised bump around each treated follicle, like goosebumps or a mild rash.

After your treatment

Dermaplaning

Nd:YAG Laser

First 24 hours

Days 1 to 3: Skin can feel bare, dry or tight, and products may sting a little.

Days 1 to 3: Redness and swelling fade.

Weeks 2–4

Week 1 to 2: Fine hair grows back at the same rate and thickness as before, and smoothness fades as the dead layer rebuilds.

Week 3 to 4: Skin is exactly as it was.

Weeks 1 to 3: Treated hairs push out and fall away over one to three weeks.

Weeks 4 to 8: Fewer hairs return, finer and slower.

Time to results

Immediately

1–4 weeks per session

How long results last

1–2 weeks; hair regrows in weeks

Long-term for hair; vessels can recur

Risks

A cut that is not healing
A dark mark where a nick was
A breakout afterwards
Bumps along the jawline or chin
A cold sore outbreak

Dark patches
Light patches
Blistering or crusting
Spots and folliculitis
More hair, not less

Cost

Per session

In the US, dermaplaning runs about $75 to $250 a session, often less as an add-on to a facial or bundled with a light peel.

In the US, small areas such as the upper lip, chin or underarms usually run about $100 to $250 a session.

Insurance

Insurance does not cover it.

Insurance rarely covers any of this.

Questions

Dermaplaning

Nd:YAG Laser

Individual Questions

Does dermaplaning make hair grow back thicker or darker?

No. The blade cuts hair at the surface and never touches the follicle, which sets thickness, color and growth rate. Regrowth feels stubbly for a few days because the cut end is blunt.

How long does it last?

Smoothness lasts one to two weeks and the fine hair is back within three to four. Each session stands alone.

Will it help my acne?

No, and it can make an inflamed breakout worse. Once the skin is calm it is reasonable, purely for smoothness.

Is it safe on deeper skin tones?

Yes. It works only on the dead surface layer and uses no heat, acid or laser, so it does not cause pale patches. Avoid irritation and nicks, which leave a brown mark that shows more on deeper skin tones.

Can I do it at home?

Many people do, with a single-blade face razor on clean dry skin. Lower risk than a surgical blade. Go gently, never twice over the same patch, and never over a mole or an inflamed spot.

Is it worth the money?

Depends what you want. For smooth skin and makeup that sits well for a week or two, it delivers exactly that. As treatment for a skin problem it is doing nothing, and the money goes further on a retinoid and a sunscreen.

Is Nd:YAG safe for deeper skin tones?

It is the wavelength usually chosen for them. At 1064 nanometers surface pigment absorbs very little of the light, so the pulse passes through rather than heating the skin. It still needs conservative settings, good cooling, a test spot and a provider who treats deeper skin tones regularly. Safer than the alternatives is not risk-free.

Is laser hair removal permanent?

It is permanent reduction. Hair comes back finer, sparser and slower, and most people need a top-up once or twice a year. Anyone promising permanent removal is overstating what these devices are cleared to claim.

Why does it hurt more than other lasers?

The target absorbs this wavelength weakly, so more energy has to be delivered, and deeper. That is the trade you accept for the pigment safety. Numbing cream, cold air and slower passes help, and settings can be adjusted if it is too much.

Why can I not wax between sessions?

The laser aims at pigment in the hair sitting in the follicle. Waxing, plucking and threading pull that hair out, so the next session has nothing to find. Shaving cuts at the surface and leaves the follicle full.

Will it work on my blond or gray hair?

No. Lasers find melanin and light hair does not have enough of it. This is not a settings problem and more sessions will not fix it. Electrolysis works regardless of hair color.

How many sessions before I see anything?

Treated hairs shed over one to three weeks after each session, which looks like regrowth and is not. Most people notice genuine thinning after three or four sessions, and the plan is usually six to eight before maintenance.

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