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Treatments · Dermaplane Facial

Dermaplaning — a clean surface changes what everything else can do.

Looking for dermaplaning in San Diego? The dermaplane facial at KIAMO SKIN is performed by a licensed esthetician in Mission Hills, and it is $199.

Dermaplaning uses a sterile surgical blade to remove dead surface cells and the fine vellus hair that sits on top of them. Nothing is pulled from the follicle and nothing penetrates the skin. What changes is the surface: product reaches live tissue instead of sitting on debris, and makeup stops catching on texture. Clients from Mission Hills, North Park, and La Jolla book dermaplaning for events and before important occasions because there is zero downtime and the glow is immediate. Dermaplaning is one of several corrective skin treatments that can be integrated into a broader skincare plan.

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Licensed Esthetician · Licensed Esthetician · 7+ years experience · One-to-one, private studio

Dermaplaning treatment in progress at KIAMO Skin Mission Hills - licensed esthetician performing precise blade exfoliation technique
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KIAMO Skin is equipped with HydraFacial Syndeo (the latest generation HydraFacial device with AI-powered skin analysis), Procell Therapies microchanneling system, DMK enzyme protocols developed by Danné Montague-King, LIRA Clinical professional-grade chemical peels, and Keravive scalp therapy using HydraFacial's proprietary peptide complex. These are not consumer devices adapted for professional use — they are clinical-grade systems designed for corrective outcomes.

Kiki is a California licensed esthetician (Board of Barbering & Cosmetology) with 7+ years of experience. Training certifications include HydraFacial Syndeo advanced protocols, Procell Therapies microchanneling, DMK enzyme therapy Level 1-3, LIRA Clinical professional peels, and Keravive scalp therapy. Every treatment is performed by Kiki — not delegated to junior staff or rotating providers.

Advanced certifications — click to view:

Dermaplane Facial is performed at the Mission Hills studio. Clients travel from across San Diego County — from nearby neighborhoods like North Park and Hillcrest to coastal areas including La Jolla, Pacific Beach and Encinitas, and inland communities like Chula Vista and La Mesa.

What happens in the room

  1. 01

    Cleanse and dry

    The skin is cleansed and taken completely dry. Dermaplaning is performed on a dry surface — any residual moisture changes how the blade sits.

  2. 02

    The pass

    The blade is held at a fixed angle and drawn across the skin in short, controlled strokes, section by section. Active or pustular acne is worked around rather than over.

  3. 03

    Treat and protect

    With the surface barrier of dead cells removed, serums are applied while absorption is at its highest, and the treatment closes with SPF.

Ideal for

  • Rough or uneven surface texture
  • Makeup that clings to fine facial hair
  • Skincare that seems to sit on the surface instead of absorbing
  • Anyone wanting a corrective treatment with no recovery time
  • Melanin-rich skin requiring a low-inflammation exfoliation option

Types of exfoliation

Physical vs chemical vs enzyme exfoliation — where dermaplaning fits

Dermaplaning is one of three exfoliation families offered at KIAMO SKIN. Here is the honest comparison against the other two, and where each one wins.

Exfoliation familyMechanismBest forKIAMO offers
Dermaplaning (physical)Sterile surgical blade removes the surface layer of dead skin plus vellus hairSurface dullness, pre-event glow, vellus hair, makeup baseYes — $199
Chemical peel (acid)Acid-driven cellular turnover across the epidermisMelasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, sun damage, scarringYes — Lira only, $199–$299
Enzyme (protein dissolution)Enzymes dissolve the protein bonds holding dead cells togetherSensitive, reactive, or barrier-compromised skin that cannot tolerate a peelYes — DMK Enzyme Therapy from $279

Dermaplaning is surface work only — it does not address pigmentation, scarring, or barrier damage, because it never reaches the cellular layer where those conditions live. For those concerns, a Lira peel or DMK Enzyme Therapy is the right tool. The honest recommendation depends on what the skin actually needs, not what the studio most needs to sell.

Before you book

Dermaplane Facial questions

How much does dermaplaning cost in San Diego?
The Dermaplane Facial at KIAMO SKIN is $199.
Is dermaplaning legal in California?
Dermaplaning is legal in California and sits within the scope of practice for licensed estheticians and cosmetologists. The California Board of Barbering & Cosmetology confirmed this in an industry bulletin effective January 1, 2022, following Senate Bill 803. The Board draws the line at depth — dermaplaning exfoliates the epidermis and removes vellus hair without going beyond it, which keeps it inside esthetician scope. Every blade used at KIAMO SKIN is sterile and single-use.
What is the downside of dermaplaning?
The real downside of dermaplaning is that it cannot be performed over active or inflamed acne, and those areas are worked around rather than over. It also does nothing for pigmentation, scarring or barrier damage, because it is a surface treatment and the smoothness is temporary as dead cells rebuild. There is no downtime, but the skin is more exposed afterwards, so SPF matters more than usual. If the goal is correction rather than a clean surface, a peel or microchanneling is the honest recommendation.
Does dermaplaning make hair grow back stubbly?
Vellus hair does not grow back stubbly or thicker after dermaplaning. The blade cuts the hair at the surface and never touches the follicle, and the follicle is what determines thickness, colour and rate of growth. What does change is the cut end — a blunt tip can feel different under the fingertips than a tapered one, which is where the myth comes from. The hair returns exactly as it was.
Is it a problem to remove peach fuzz from the face?
Everyone has vellus hair on the face, and removing it is a cosmetic choice with no effect on how it grows back. There is no health reason to remove peach fuzz and no health reason to keep it. Most clients choose dermaplaning because makeup stops catching on the surface and skincare absorbs into skin instead of sitting on debris. If the hair itself is not the issue, the exfoliation is still reason enough.
Is dermaplaning safe for melanin-rich skin?
Dermaplaning is safe for melanin-rich skin when the blade technique is correct and the skin is not actively inflamed or broken out. The risk in darker skin tones is not the blade itself but what happens after — sun exposure on freshly exfoliated skin can trigger post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), which is more common in melanin-rich skin. Daily mineral SPF with at least SPF 30 is required after dermaplaning on any skin tone, but on deeper skin tones it is the difference between a smooth surface and additional dark marks. Dermaplaning at KIAMO SKIN is performed by a licensed esthetician trained on Black and brown skin, where the risk of PIH is highest.
How often should you get dermaplaning?
Every 4 to 6 weeks is the standard interval. Vellus hair regrowth is part of the natural cycle and not a reason to book sooner — booking more frequently can sensitize the barrier without changing the result. San Diego clients who dermaplane monthly for events typically space the treatments with a HydraFacial between for maintenance. The Dermaplane Facial at KIAMO SKIN is $199.
Who is the best dermaplaning provider in San Diego?
The safest dermaplaning in San Diego depends on blade technique and post-care, not the brand of the studio. KIAMO SKIN performs dermaplaning in a private treatment room at 3067 Reynard Way in Mission Hills by Kiki, a California licensed esthetician with 7+ years on the Fitzpatrick I–VI spectrum, sterile single-use blades, and the right pre/post routine for melanin-rich skin. The Dermaplane Facial is $199.
What should you avoid after dermaplaning?
Direct sun exposure for 24 hours, retinoids and acids for 48 to 72 hours, and any active that stings — the freshly exfoliated surface is more permeable, which is the point of the treatment, but also why anything strong goes in harder than usual. Daily mineral SPF 50+ is non-negotiable in San Diego’s year-round UV. Makeup can go back on immediately. The Dermaplane Facial at KIAMO SKIN is $199.

Clients from across San Diego

Dermaplane Facial is performed at the Mission Hills studio. Clients travel from these areas across San Diego County:

See all areas served across San Diego County

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