What is Dermabrasion?
Dermabrasion is a type of surgical skin planing that diminishes the appearance of scars (such as acne scars) and uneven pigmentation (such as sun damage). It may also be used to treat fine facial lines and other types of scarring, tattoos and certain kinds of skin lesions.
Traditional dermabrasion (different than microdermabrasion) should be performed by a trained physician, who uses a hand-held precision tool to sand or polish away the top layer of superficial, damaged skin.
Dermabrasion cannot be used around your eyes and is not used to treat scarring from burns, pigmented birthmarks or certain types of moles.
Treatments take place in-office, and local anesthetic is available to minimize discomfort.
Are There Side Effects?
Side effects may include itching, swelling and scabbing, along with reddened skin. Patients normally return to work after the area has new skin covering it, which usually takes seven-to-10 days. The skin may take three months to completely lose its pink color, but during this time makeup works well as a concealer.
What About the Sun?
Sun exposure should be avoided for six months after a dermabrasion treatment and the use of a good sunscreen is strongly recommended. Sunscreens for the face should be rated at SPF 30 and should protect against UVA as well as UVB. SPF ratings are only for UVB rays. A good sunscreen should also contain Parsol, zinc oxide or titanium oxide to protect against UVA.
During a consultation appointment with our facial plastic surgeons, each will discuss the improvements you can expect. The dermabrasion treatment can be performed on a one-time basis, more than once or in stages to achieve your desired effect.