Writer: Dr. David Hatton, ND
A common question that comes up in the clinic is “What's the difference between the HydraFacial and the Bela MD?” and “Which should I choose?”
To be honest, looking from the outside it is very hard tell the difference. Both offer a facial treatment that looks to be relatively similar....so it appears. Well, the answers are pretty straight forward if you know and understand the two devices. So let's get into the details of both these devices and what they have to offer.
The first thing they have in common is the preparation. Both the Bela and the HydraFacial start with a cleanse and clean to prepare the skin for the treatment.
Bela MD Facial Device
The Bela MD facial has five specifically designed hand pieces and a customized 6 step process. It doesn't have huge brand recognition yet as its a newer device than its competitor but it's quickly gaining momentum in the aesthetic market.
Step 1- Microdermabrasion with select diamond tip Using 1 of 3 diamond tip pieces, the treatment starts with a medical grade exfoliation which removes the outermost layer of the skin and any debris. This helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while accelerating the cellular turnover rate. By removing this outer layer, the next steps will have better penetration.
Step 2- Hydrogen therapy The Bela MD hydrogen module transforms regular water into hydrogen (H2) rich water which is infused into the skin. Once the H2 is in the skin, it finds free radicals (OH-) and converts it to regular water (H20) which is sucked back out of the skin. This process reduces oxidative stress and inflammation while boosting brightness and hydration of the skin.
Step 3- Customized Serum Infusion With each treatment, a custom bio-infusion is selected based on over all goals (i.e. acne skin facial). Similar to the H2 step, the aqua tip is used to infuse the serum into the face, neck , and décolletage to optimize skin health and reduce the signs of aging.
Step 4- Ultrasonic Skin Scrubber
For trouble spots, an ultrasonic scrubber is used to remove dirt and grim from deep pores. The ultrasonic vibrations create an internal pressure that helps remove dirt, oil, and other gunk from the pores. It also helps to drive the active ingredients deeper into the skin by vibrating the lipid layer allowing the serums to pass through effectively.
Step 5- The Y hand piece
The Y piece is a Micro-current Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation (MENS) aimed to provide muscle stimulation, skin tightening and a general lifting effect. It helps to boost circulation to the area to increase tone and texture to the skin while providing a relaxing facial massage
Step 6- LED hand piece and Electroporation
The final step to the Bela Facial is the LED lights and electroporation. Depending on the goals, blue light therapy, red light therapy or both can be utilized to optimize skin health and goals. Red light is great for anti-aging while blue light is perfect for acne prone skin.
The electrical field provided by the device also allows for deeper penetration of the ingredients so your skin can achieve better long term results. Usually it's paired with hyaluronic acid serums for their great benefit to the skin.
HydraFacial
HydraFacial has the brand name and recognition no doubt. It's like Botox, everyone has heard about it. But is the name the only thing good about it? Of course not. It's a great device and works in a very similar way as the Bela MD.
The HydraFacial breaks down its facial treatment into 3 steps:
Step 1- CLEANSE + PEEL Step 2- EXTRACT + HYDRATE Step 3- FUSE + PROTECT
The HydraFacial doesn't have any microdermabrasion step but it does use salicylic and glycolic acid to help exfoliate the skin. This is where the serums are infused topically to create a gentle peel.
The HydraFacial also has a specific type of technology that is used during the treatment known as the Vortex Infusion technology. The specific suction used creates a vortex that helps to increase the ease that the impurities form the skin can be pulled.
Then it comes to selecting which serum should be used during the infusion step for the customized facial goals. Similar to the Bela, the serums are infused into the skin using the aqua hand piece to achieve a radiant and glowing skin post treatment.
The last step with the HydraFacial is the LED treatment. In the top tier facial for the HydraFacial, LED lights are applied to the skin for the anti-aging effects. The HydraFacial offers red light therapy as well as blue light therapy. Again, depending on your skin goals the red or blue lights can be selected.
Conclusion
Just like any other treatment available, some will gravitate towards the Bela MD while others will choose the HydraFacial MD. Here in Kelowna, both devices are readily available. In this writers opinion, the Bela wins this round due to the additional hand pieces that help to optimize serum penetration and overall results. What is your favourite?
If you are curious about the Bela MD Facial, stop by our Kelowna location and check out our device.
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