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Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion involves controlled surgical scraping that resurfaces the outermost layers of the skin to give a smoother appearance. It can be done over the full surface of the face or on small areas. Dermabrasion also may be done in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures such as a chemical peeling or face lift. Dermabrasion is used to treat a range of skin imperfections including:
Wrinkles and frown lines
Pre-cancerous skin growths (keratoses)
Facial scarring (excluding burn scars, acne
scars)
Post-surgery scarring
Skin pigmentation
Sun damage
Tattoos
Age spots, freckles, acne spots and other acne caused lesions
Procedure: Microdermabrasion for acne scars uses an abrasive tool to selectively remove layers of skin and is used to remove damaged skin as seen in wrinkles ,acne scars or other scar types. Some physicians use a hand-held motorized tool with a small wire brush or diamond-impregnated grinding wheel at the end. Other physicians prefer to abrade the skin by hand with an abrasive pad or other instrument. Scars removal is one of the prime uses for micro dermabrasion. It also can be used to treat wrinkling, surgical scars, acne caused scar and obliterate tattoos. Even though most people can benefit from micro dermabrasion for skin resurfacing, there are important factors to be considered before making a decision. Certain skin conditions respond very well to dermabrasion such as sun damaged skin. Serious acne scar improvement is not significant.
Facial dermabrasion for scar resurfacing
does not require much preparation. It is usually performed under local
anesthesia, although some physicians use intravenous sedation or general
anesthesia. The physician begins by marking the areas to be treated and
then chilling them with ice packs. In order to stiffen the skin, a spray
refrigerant is applied to the area, which also helps control pain. Some
physicians prefer to inject the area with a solution of saline and local
anesthetic, which also leaves the skin's surface more solid. Since dermabrasion
can cause quite a bit of bleeding, physicians and their assistants will
wear gloves, gowns, and masks to protect themselves from possible blood-transmitted
infection.
Following the procedure, an ointment may be applied, and the wound will be covered with a dressing and mask. Patients with a history of herpes virus infections will begin taking an antiviral medication to prevent a recurrence. After 24 hours, the dressing is removed, and ointment is reapplied to keep the wound moist. Patients undergone facial dermabrasion treatment for scarring removal are encouraged to wash their face with plain water and reapply ointment every few hours. This relieves itching and pain and helps remove oozing fluid and other matter. Patients may require a pain medication. A steroid medication may be taken during the first few days to reduce swelling. The skin will take a week or more to heal, but may remain very red.
Effect: Deep scars such as some surgical lesions scars remain almost unaffected. The procedure is only advisable to people whose skin has been cleared from acne for long time. One study suggest that less postoperative scaling and more rapid healing were noted with the micro dermabrasion. Red skin was of longer duration on laser-treated skin. Patients experienced less pain with procedure of dermabrasion differences that were difficult to quantify were also noted between the methods. Both dermabrasion and carbon dioxide laser resurfacing are effective in the treatment of damaged skin. Serious acne scar is only minimally affected. Acne spots and discolorations show more improvement. Dermabrasion removes the skin's pigmentation, so it is essential to avoid sun exposure for around six to 12 months after undergoing the procedure. Each removal procedure has its own advantages and disadvantages. Consultation with a professional is of paramount importance before making a decision.
Cost: Dermabrasion facial treatments range from $1500 to $2000. Recovery time at least 2 weeks
