Medically reviewed by Scott Bradley Burris, MD. Reviewed June 2026.
Physician-directed Dermaplaning in McKinney, TX
What Is Dermaplaning?
Dermaplaning is a physical exfoliation treatment that uses a 10-blade surgical scalpel to gently scrape off the top layer of dead skin cells while simultaneously removing the fine vellus hair (commonly called "peach fuzz") from the face. The treatment reveals brighter, smoother skin and produces an immediately noticeable improvement in surface texture. With the dead skin layer removed, the topical skincare products you apply after treatment penetrate more deeply into the active skin layers below. Dermaplaning is typically recommended on a monthly cadence for ongoing skin quality maintenance.
At Hartwater Aesthetics, dermaplaning is the entry tier of Pillar One (Skin Quality) work. It can be performed as a standalone monthly treatment, as a same-day add-on to other treatments (at a discounted rate), or as supportive post-treatment exfoliation care for chemical peels, retinol skincare regimens, and IPL photofacials. The right approach depends on what else is happening in your skin treatment plan, which is determined at consultation.
Dermaplaning at Hartwater is performed by Stephanie Robertson, CLT and Tiffany Byres, LMA, CLT, our two skincare experts. Tiffany's Licensed Medical Aesthetician (LMA) credential is specifically relevant to dermaplane practice, which is within the medical aesthetician scope of practice. Both providers also help teach treatment protocols to providers from other practices through Hartwater's affiliated provider-training organization, the CARE Institute.
HOW DERMAPLANING WORKS
Dermaplaning works through controlled physical exfoliation. Stephanie or Tiffany holds the 10-blade surgical scalpel at a precise angle (typically 45 degrees) and uses small, gentle strokes across the treatment area. The blade simultaneously accomplishes two things: it removes the top dead-skin-cell layer of the epidermis, and it shaves off the fine vellus hair on the surface of the skin.
The dual benefit is what makes dermaplaning different from other entry-level exfoliation treatments. The dead-skin-cell removal improves topical product penetration and supports the natural skin turnover cycle. The vellus hair removal produces a noticeably smoother base for makeup application and eliminates the soft "fuzz" that catches foundation and other base products. The result is brighter, smoother skin immediately after treatment, with the benefits compounding when paired with the skincare products applied afterward.
Dermaplaning is painless. Most patients describe the sensation as a series of light brush strokes across the skin. There is no downtime. Your skin may appear slightly more flushed than usual for an hour or two after treatment, which resolves quickly. You can return to work, errands, or social commitments immediately. SPF in the days following treatment is recommended because the freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to sun exposure.
COMMON DERMAPLANING BENEFITS
Dermaplaning delivers several benefits in a single 30-minute appointment, which is part of why it is one of the most popular entry-level skin treatments in aesthetic medicine.
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Smoother, brighter skin appearance immediately after treatment. The freshly exfoliated skin reflects light more evenly and looks visibly more refreshed.
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Vellus hair removal for smoother makeup application. Foundation, primer, and other base makeup applies more smoothly without the soft fuzz catching the product.
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Improved penetration of skincare products applied after treatment. With the dead-skin barrier removed, serums, retinoids, moisturizers, and other actives reach the active skin layers more effectively.
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Support for the natural skin turnover cycle. Removing the surface dead-skin layer accelerates the skin's natural renewal process.
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An immediately visible glow effect. Many patients schedule a dermaplane shortly before a wedding, photo shoot, or other event specifically for this effect.
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A monthly cadence that fits into a working skin care routine. Dermaplaning is one of the few aesthetic treatments that can be performed every month without overdoing it.
WHEN AND HOW TO USE DERMAPLANING AT HARTWATER
Dermaplaning at Hartwater is used in three primary ways. Some patients pursue dermaplaning as a standalone monthly treatment. Others add it as a same-day enhancement to a facial or other service at a discounted rate. And some patients use dermaplaning as supportive post-treatment exfoliation care to clean up the natural sluffing that comes with treatments like chemical peels, retinol regimens, and IPL photofacials. The right approach depends on what else is happening in your skin treatment plan.
As a Standalone Monthly Treatment
The base use case for dermaplaning is a monthly maintenance session for ongoing skin quality. At Hartwater, the standalone dermaplaning session is $150 and takes approximately 30 minutes. Most patients on a monthly dermaplaning cadence find that the cumulative effect compounds over time, with each session building on the smoother base established by the previous one.
As a Same-Day Add-On to Other Treatments
The most common dermaplaning use case at Hartwater is as a same-day add-on to another treatment, most often a facial. When a patient is already in the chair for a facial, adding a dermaplane at the start of the appointment preps the skin so that the subsequent facial products and treatments penetrate more deeply. Hartwater offers a meaningful pricing incentive for this combination: a same-day add-on dermaplane session is $75 (a 50% discount off the $150 standalone fee). Patients who book a facial automatically have the option to add a dermaplane at half price.
As Post-Treatment Exfoliation Care (Chemical Peels, Retinol, IPL)
A clinically meaningful Hartwater positioning that most dermaplane competitor pages do not address: dermaplaning as supportive exfoliation care for treatments that produce strong skin sluffing in the days following the treatment. The mechanism is the same as a standalone dermaplane (removing the surface dead-skin layer), but the timing and purpose are different. Use cases include:
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After a chemical peel (including the Enlighten Peel): dermaplaning helps remove the peeling skin during the post-peel exfoliation window, producing a cleaner finish and accelerating the visible result.
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During a strong retinol skincare regimen: prescription-strength retinoids commonly produce surface flaking as the skin adjusts. Dermaplaning exfoliates that retinol-induced flaking, supporting the regimen without disrupting it.
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After an IPL photofacial: IPL treatment of brown spots and sun damage produces a "salt and pepper" sloughing pattern as the pigmented skin lifts off in the days following. Dermaplaning accelerates that sloughing process and produces a cleaner, brighter result faster.
The exact timing within the post-treatment window is determined by your provider at consultation based on which treatment you received and how your skin is responding.
PRE-EVENT DERMAPLANING: PRE-WEDDING, PRE-PHOTO SHOOT, PRE-MAKEUP
Patients commonly schedule a dermaplane in the days before a wedding, photo shoot, anniversary, milestone birthday, professional headshot session, or other event where smooth makeup application matters. The combination of vellus hair removal and surface exfoliation produces two pre-event benefits: a noticeably smoother base for foundation and other base makeup, and an immediate brightening effect from the freshly exfoliated skin that translates into better photos and that "glowing" appearance patients want for their event.
The recommended timing is 1 to 3 days before the event. Same-day-of dermaplaning is generally not recommended because the freshly exfoliated skin can be more reactive to makeup application immediately. A 1-3 day window gives the skin time to settle while preserving the smoothness and brightening effect for the event itself.
Common pre-event dermaplaning scenarios at Hartwater include the bride and mother of the bride preparing for a wedding, attendees of a high-school or college reunion, holiday photo session participants, professional headshot prep, anniversary or milestone birthday celebrations, and any patient with an upcoming event where they want the smoothest possible base for makeup. If your event has a date, a dermaplane can be timed to that date. Many pre-event patients combine the dermaplane with a same-day facial for the most polished pre-event prep, taking advantage of the $75 add-on pricing.
WHICH PILLAR OF AGING DOES DERMAPLANING ADDRESS?
Hartwater Aesthetics organizes facial aging into Three Pillars: Skin Quality (Pillar One), Skin Laxity (Pillar Two), and Volume Loss (Pillar Three). Dermaplaning is a Pillar One (Skin Quality) entry-tier treatment. It addresses the surface layer of skin quality through physical exfoliation, with cumulative benefits when performed on a regular cadence.
Dermaplaning is often the foundation treatment that supports more clinical Pillar One work. Patients pursuing chemical peels, IPL photofacials, or laser resurfacing as part of a broader skin quality strategy often have dermaplaning built into the protocol as either prep before the main treatment or as supportive exfoliation care during the post-treatment recovery window. Lindsey will design the right sequencing at consultation based on your specific skin quality goals.
WHY HARTWATER FOR DERMAPLANING IN MCKINNEY
Three things distinguish dermaplaning at Hartwater Aesthetics from the standard dermaplane offering at other practices in the McKinney area.
Performed by Certified Skin Care Experts
Dermaplaning at Hartwater is performed by Stephanie Robertson, CLT and Tiffany Byres, LMA, CLT, our two skin care experts. Tiffany's Licensed Medical Aesthetician (LMA) credential is specifically relevant to dermaplane practice, which is within the medical aesthetician scope of practice. Both providers also help teach treatment protocols to providers from other practices through Hartwater's affiliated provider-training organization, the CARE Institute.
Integrated into a Broader Skin Quality Strategy
Dermaplaning at Hartwater is not a one-off facial service. It is positioned within the Three Pillars of Facial Aging framework that our Clinical Manager Lindsey Burris, RN applies at every consultation. Whether you are pursuing dermaplaning as standalone monthly maintenance, as an add-on to a facial, or as supportive post-treatment care for a chemical peel, retinol regimen, or IPL series, your dermaplaning plan is integrated into your broader skin quality strategy. Patients on a monthly dermaplaning cadence often see the strongest results when the treatment is paired with a custom Medical-Grade Skin Care regimen designed for their specific skin, which Stephanie or Tiffany can build at consultation as part of the same skin quality plan.
Real Pricing Incentive on Same-Day Add-On
When dermaplaning is added as a same-day enhancement to another treatment at Hartwater, the price drops from $150 standalone to $75 add-on, a 50% discount. This is a meaningful incentive structure that no other practice in the McKinney area is known to offer, and it makes dermaplaning an accessible enhancement to virtually every facial or skin treatment in our menu.
WHAT TO EXPECT: YOUR DERMAPLANING TREATMENT EXPERIENCE
Dermaplaning at Hartwater is a 30-minute appointment. For first-time dermaplaning patients, your provider (Stephanie or Tiffany) will discuss your skincare goals and any relevant medical history before beginning the treatment. For patients combining a dermaplane with another service or pursuing dermaplaning as post-treatment care for an active treatment plan, the consultation is already part of your broader skin quality plan with Lindsey.
Arrive with clean skin (no makeup on the treatment area). Settle into the treatment room. Your provider cleanses your skin further, holds the 10-blade surgical scalpel at a 45-degree angle, and uses small gentle strokes across the treatment area. The sensation is comfortable, painless, and most patients describe it as a series of light brush strokes across the skin. The treatment takes approximately 30 minutes.
Immediately after treatment, your skin appears brighter and smoother. You may notice slight flushing for an hour or two, which resolves quickly. There is no downtime. You can return to work, errands, exercise, or social commitments immediately. Your provider may recommend specific products to apply in the days following treatment to maximize the result. Daily SPF is important because the freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to sun exposure for several days after treatment.
Most patients on a monthly dermaplaning cadence find that the cumulative effect compounds across sessions. Skin quality stabilizes at a smoother, brighter baseline that is preserved between treatments. Your provider will recommend the right cadence for your specific situation at consultation.
HOW MUCH DOES DERMAPLANING COST IN MCKINNEY, TX?
Hartwater Aesthetics publishes simple, transparent dermaplaning pricing. A dermaplane is $150 as a standalone treatment. When added as a same-day enhancement to another treatment, a dermaplane is $75 (a 50% discount off the standalone fee). The add-on incentive is designed to make dermaplaning an accessible enhancement to virtually every facial or skin treatment in the Hartwater menu.
The most common bundle: a facial with a dermaplane added on at the start of the appointment. Adding a dermaplane to a facial costs $75 (instead of the $150 standalone fee), and produces a noticeably enhanced facial result because the dermaplane exfoliation preps the skin so that the subsequent facial products penetrate more deeply.
MEET YOUR MEDICAL TEAM
Dermaplaning at Hartwater Aesthetics is performed by Stephanie Robertson, CLT and Tiffany Byres, LMA, CLT, our two skin care experts. Tiffany's Licensed Medical Aesthetician (LMA) credential is specifically relevant to dermaplaning practice, which is within the medical aesthetician scope of practice. Both providers also help teach treatment protocols to providers from other practices through Hartwater's affiliated provider-training organization, the CARE Institute. Your dermaplaning plan is integrated into your broader skin quality strategy by our Clinical Manager, Lindsey Burris, RN, and every Hartwater treatment plan is reviewed and approved by our full-time on-site Medical Director, Scott Bradley Burris, MD.
Frequently Asked Questions
Serving McKinney, Prosper, Frisco, Plano, Allen, Celina and Collin County
Hartwater Aesthetics is located at 7200 W University Drive, Suite 110, McKinney, TX 75071, and serves dermaplaning patients from across the greater Collin County area, including McKinney, Frisco, Allen, Prosper, Celina, Anna, and surrounding communities. Dermaplaning at Hartwater is performed by our two skin care experts, Stephanie Robertson, CLT and Tiffany Byres, LMA, CLT, with the $75 same-day add-on incentive when paired with any other Hartwater treatment.
