Dermabrasion Surgery
If the upper layers of your skin are damaged or have defects then dermabrasion surgery may work for you. Dermabrasion can improve the appearance of acne scars and in some cases remove them all together. The same is true for scars caused by surgery or trauma, if they are not deep. It can also help fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth.
A wire brush or a diamond wheel with rough edges is a dermabrasion technique that removes the upper layers of the skin. This process injures or wounds the skin and causes it to bleed. As the wound heals, new skin grows to replace the damaged skin that was removed during dermabrasion.
How coarse the burr or brush is, the speed that it rotates, the amount of pressure is applied and for length of time, and the condition and features of your skin are factors that affect the depth of the resurfacing.
Any area of the skin may be treated, but the face is the most common site that people request treatment. Dermabrasion is used most often to improve the appearance of acne scars and fine lines around the mouth. It also may be used to treat an enlarged nose caused by rosacea, an inflammatory skin condition.
How it is done
The area that you are having treated should be cleaned and marked. A local anesthetic will be used to numb the skin before treatment, and ice packs are applied to the skin for up to 30 minutes. To harden the skin for deeper abrasions a freezing spray may sometimes be used to make the sure that the skin is firm enough. If the entire face is being treated for deep abrasions you may require a stronger anesthesia, pain killers, or sedation.
Only one small area at a time can be treated. If it's needed the freezing spray is applied, then the rotating burr or brush is removes the top layers of skin. Gauze is used to stop any bleeding, and the area is covered with a clean dressing or ointment.
What to Expect After Surgery
Your recovery and healing time after dermabrasion depends on the size and depth of the area that was treated. Someone who has a full-face dermabrasion, for example, will require a longer recovery time than someone who has just a small area of skin treated. Deeper abrasions take longer to heal.
In general, regrowth of skin occurs within 5 to 8 days. This new skin is a pink or red color, which usually fades within 6 to 12 weeks. Until then, normal skin tones can be achieved using makeup.
Many people have little or no pain after dermabrasion surgery and can get back to their regular activities soon after the procedure. Some people require pain relievers. If swelling occurs, a corticosteroid such as prednisone may be used to reduce the swelling.
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