Dermabrasion is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which the outermost layers of the epidermis are removed to smooth the skin. It is typically performed in the doctor’s office or on an outpatient basis, by a plastic surgeon or dermatologist.
The operation is painful and is therefore performed under local anesthesia. Sedation or even general anesthesia may be necessary if a more complex surgery is planned and especially if the patient is nervous or a large area is to be treated. Small parts are rubbed every time.
There are a number of devices used (including diamonds, burrs, rasps or sandpaper) to carefully abrade the upper layers of the skin until normal healthy skin is achieved. After it is completed, the skin is smeared with petroleum jelly or antibiotic creams to keep it from drying out and to encourage it to heal with little or no scarring or scab formation.
Facial skin scraping. Image credit: Vita Sun / Shutterstock
Care during the recovery period will optimize the aesthetic result by preventing hyper- or hypopigmentation due to excessive inflammation. Most of the people prefer to stay at home during the recovery period, while the return to work can be expected in about two weeks.
Indications for Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is performed in patients with any of the following indications, although the list is not exhaustive:
- Skin growths or tags as a result of skin aging
- Fine wrinkles and lines on the face
- Premalignant tumors
- Acne scars
- Facial scars after trauma or surgery
- Radial elastosis and photoaging
Adjunctive skin treatment may be necessary in many of these patients, often performed using lasers, chemical peels, or injections of botulinum toxin or dermal fillers to relax or fill in skin wrinkles.
Risks and Side Effects
Dermabrasion is a surgical procedure and complications of anesthesia can occur, as in any other patient. These include difficulty breathing and hypersensitivity to medications, bleeding from the surgical site, or infection entering through the abraded skin.
Hyper- or hypo-pigmentation of the skin may occur, which may persist in the long term. This could cause the treated skin to be distorted by darker, lighter or pink patches. Hyperpigmentation is more likely in people with dark skin. Scarring may also occur, although rarely.
The skin looks and feels inflamed making normal activities like eating or talking more difficult. Swelling may take 2-3 weeks to subside. The treated area may hurt or burn for a few days or weeks, but this is usually treated with painkillers.
Treated skin may look slightly pinker than normal and feel itchy and swollen for several weeks during which time it should be cared for according to disposal instructions.
This period should be characterized by abstinence from contact sports and ball sports such as baseball for at least 4-6 weeks. Chlorinated water should be kept away from contact with the area. It may be wise to abstain from alcohol for a few weeks as it can cause immediate flushing due to vasodilation. Shaving and sun exposure should also be avoided, the latter for up to a year.
During the healing period, it may be advisable to wear hypoallergenic make up to hide the discoloration. If the skin remains inflamed even after it begins to heal, it may be an early sign of scarring, so medical treatment may be required.
