Frequently Asked Questions About Dermabrasion
1. What is dermabrasion?
2. At what age can dermabrasion be performed?
3. What does a typical dermabrasion consultation entail?
4. How is dermabrasion performed?
5. What should I expect during recovery?
6. Does dermabrasion hurt?
7. When will I be able to see the results?
8. What are the risks of dermabrasion?
9. Are the results permanent?
Dermabrasion is a cosmetic skin resurfacing procedure that uses abrasion of the skin to remove acne scarring and some other types of scars, hyperpigmentations, some types of wrinkles, and even tattoos. Essentially, the top layer of skin is abraded away, allowing new skin to grow in its place.The most common uses for dermabrasion is the removal of perioral lines (also called smoker's lines),which are the thin vertical wrinkles around the mouth, and to reduce or remove acne scarring. Dermabrasion can be used in combination with other types of cosmetic treatments. However, not all patients with the above problems may need dermabrasion. Many people may be better candidates for simpler treatments such as a chemical peel or punch grafting or other acne scar revision techniques. Some may opt for laser resurfacing, if they are a candidate.
2. At what age can dermabrasion be performed?
Dermabrasion can be performed anywhere from age 15 on up. Many children have undergone dermabrasion for various skin types of skin lesions, but if the problems are port wine stains,other birthmarks, or pigmentation problems, laser resurfacing and intense pulsed light may be more appropriate.
3. What does a typical dermabrasion consultation entail?
After checking out a few surgeons and their backgrounds and credentials, you will make an appointment for a consultation. This is your chance to meet with these surgeons and discuss your goals. You will discuss your concerns and the amount of skin that can be safely removed and still correct your problem. Your surgeon will explain the technique or methods that may be most appropriate for you, the anesthesia that is most appropriate, and the risks associated with dermabrasion.
4. How is a dermabrasion performed?
Your surgeon will anesthetize you with either local or regional anesthesia, although general sedation may be used for will then begin to manually abrade your skin. This abrasion will remove the top layers of your skin. The surgeon may use a type of surgical "sandpaper" or use a small device that resembles a Dremel® tool or the sander used on acrylic nails at nail salons. The surgeon may several passes over the area to be treated or one deeper pass. Essentially, he or she will be sanding the surface of your skin down to match the depth of the acne scars or other problems. Some scars can be removed completely by doing this, but some deep "ice pick" type scars may need additional procedures such as punch-grafting or injectable fillers.
After the skin resurfacing is complete, your surgeon will cover your face with either a thin film of antibiotic ointment or burn cream. Some surgeons use a special membrane that acts like breathable skin to protect the resurfaced tissue during its healing.
5. What should I expect during recovery?
Take it easy for a couple of days after a deep resurfacing. You may be told to sleep on two pillows to keep your head elevated for a week or two. With dermabrasion, the treated area may have marked redness, may develop a crust, and weep a clear fluid. This is normal. The crust will fall away,but do not peel it or pick at it.
Your doctor or the skin technician will instruct you on how to care for the treated skin. You may be instructed to apply ice (not directly on skin), gel masks and vinegar soaks on your treatment area for the first 48 hours.
The healing time depends on the depth of your treatment. For a deep dermabrasion, you may not be out in public for up to two weeks as your skin heal. After the skin heals, you must use a sunscreen or sunblock with a high SPF factor whenever you go outside. Your new skin will be sensitive to sunlight and a sunburn will undo the dermabrasion.
Dermabrasion can be painful, so expect some discomfort. With a light dermabrasion, you may feel as though you have a windburn or even a bad sunburn. If you move your face a lot with exaggerated facial movements, the treatment area can cause cracking and bleeding as well as scarring if the aforementioned occurs. Please discuss this with your surgeon and remember pain thresholds are vary.
7. When will I be able to see the results?
You will start noticing pink, fresh skin emerging after your skin begins to heal. Remember, you must not pull or rub any peeling or crusting skin. Within a few weeks, the redness will fade if you had a light treatment. Depending upon the depth of the treatment, you may have lingering pinkness that may look like a mild sunburn or flushed appearance for several weeks. Your physician will tell you what to expect for the depth of the treatment you are having.
8. What are the risks of dermabrasion?
Your surgeon or the skin care technician should discuss all of the risks and complications with you at your consultation. You could have an reaction to the anesthetic used. If you are susceptible to keloid scarring or have active skin infections such as herpes outbreaks (cold sores or fever blisters), you may not be a good candidate for dermabrasion. If you have a herpes outbreak before your skin has healed, it is possible for the infection to spread over the treated area and cause serious scarring.If you are prone to getting cold sores or fever blisters, you will be placed on antiviral medications before your treatment and will continue through the healing phase. Bacterial infections are also in the treated area.
If your skin is olive-toned, black, brown, and yellow-toned, skin resurfacing can lead to pigmentation problems. You should request a spot test if either you or your doctor are uncertain of how well you will heal. If you have taken Accutane within the past 12 to 18 months, you can develop dermal thickening and increased scarring.
The results of dermabrasion are usually permanent, but this depends on how well you care for your skin after your treatment. If you continue to sunbathe and smoke, both of which ar bad for your skin (and smoking caused those vertical lines around your mouth), your results are not going to last. If you do stay out of the sun and wear a good sunscreen, you will still continue to age, but your skin will look younger than if you hadn't had a dermabrasion done.