Dermabrasion

What is Dermabrasion?

Dermabrasion is a skin rejuvenation procedure in which the surface of the skin is removed by sanding. Dermabrasion is often used to remove sun-damaged skin and to remove or lessen scars and dark spots on the skin. Dermabrasion softens the sharp edges of surface irregularities, giving the skin a smoother appearance.

Dermabrasion can be performed on small areas of skin or on the entire face. It can be used alone, or in conjunction with other procedures such as facelift, scar removal or revision, or chemical peel.

Why Dermabrasion?

Dermabrasion is most often used to improve the look of facial skin left scarred by accidents or previous surgery, or to smooth out fine facial wrinkles, such as those around the mouth. Dermabrasion is sometimes used to remove the pre-cancerous growths called keratoses.

What to Expect

Dermabrasion is very painful and usually requires a general anesthetic. However, it is a fairly quick procedure. The time that it takes to complete a dermabrasion procedure depends on the size and the condition of the area to be treated. Usually, it is completed in 30 - 60 minutes.

If the skin needs severe correction, or there is a large area of skin to be treated, the doctor may decide to perform the dermabrasion in several staged procedures.

After the the dermabrasion procedure, the skin is very red and raw-looking. A scab will form over the treated area within 24 to 48 hours after the procedure. It usually takes several months for the skin to regrow and heal. Dermabrasion is useful for scar removal when the scar is raised above the surrounding skin, but is less effective with sunken scars.