Dermabrasion

An AntiAging Cosmetic Skin Procedure for a Younger Appearance

Dermabrasion is the act of mechanically removing layer by layer of skin to remove scars and wrinkles, giving you a smoother, younger looking skin.

Microdermabrasion is a skin refreshing technique, where the face is gently sand blasted. Only the surface of the skin is effected. It may take several treatments to remove fine line and wrinkles, but recovery is fairly quick and painless.

Dermabrasion is also used to perform repairs to the surface of the skin, but is more invasive and is gradually falling out of favor as more and more surgeons use laser skin resurfacing, which allows for more control, results in less bleeding and reduces the chances for scarring.

Dermabrasion and dermaplanning are similar techniques employing different tools.

With dermabrasion, the surgeon uses a spinning wire brush: with dermaplanning, he uses an instrument similar to an electric razor.

The object is to shave off the skin layer by layer, until the defects the surgeon is trying to remove are gone.

The procedures are generally done in the doctor's office under local anesthesia. The entire face or just section can be treated at one time.

There can be a good deal of bleeding during the procedure and in general it carries greater risks that other skin resurfacing techniques.

These treatments try to soften rough or sharp edges, giving the skin a smoother appearance. It is effective at removing acne and other scars, tattoos and age spots in addition to fine facial wrinkles.

If done properly, you'll feel as if you had a bad rug burn on your face. The skin may crust and peel and will remain red for six to eight weeks. You may have to take as much as two weeks off from work. However the results are permanent, at least until you grow new wrinkles.

These procedures are not recommended for dark skinned persons, since there is a good chance the result will be blotchy uneven coloring in the treated areas.

Even in lighter skinned individuals, there may be uneven skin pigmentation that may take six to twelve months to resolve: in some cases it will be permanent. There is also the risk of scarring.

The success of this treatment relies on the skill of the surgeon and his ability to judge the proper depth of the abrasion.

If you are considering this treatment, make sure your surgeon has the requisite skills needed to do a good job.

Don't be afraid to ask questions; it's your face that is at risk.

This article is for informational purposes only. It does not purport to offer medical advice.