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Modern Medicine Saves Lives Every Day
Dermabrasion: One Technique Plastic Surgeons Use To Rejuvenate Skin
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Dermabrasion is a cosmetic procedure that plastic surgeons perform to rejuvenate the skin. It doesn't matter what your skin type, or if you are a woman or man, dermabrasion smooths out fine wrinkles to give your facial skin a smoother appearance. In deciding whether you are a good candidate for dermabrasion, it may help to know whether the treatment can benefit you, how well it may work, and what to expect during the procedure.
What Dermabrasion Can Do for You
If you are looking to improve skin irregularities such as pale or flat acne scars, superficial scars, age spots, or fine lines around the mouth and eyes, dermabrasion gives your skin a fresh, revitalized look. The procedure improves the contour of your face, as well as the skin tone and texture.
While dermabrasion smooths the top layers of aging and sun-damaged facial skin, it's not a treatment for raised or deeper scars and stretch marks. However, in some cases, a doctor may recommend the use of dermabrasion to remove pre-cancerous growths, such as small cysts or basal cell skin cancers.
What Happens During the Procedure
Although you will receive either local or general anesthesia, surgeons generally perform dermabrasion in the office or other clinical setting on an out-patient basis. Which type of anesthesia you receive depends on the deepness of the abrasions being treated.
The surgeon will thoroughly clean the areas to be treated with an antiseptic and then apply ice packs or a freezing spray to make the skin firm before beginning the procedure. Once you've been prepared for surgery, the doctor will use a high-speed rotary instrument to scrape (abrade) the skin, treating one small area at a time. If bleeding occurs, the area will be covered with an antibiotic ointment and sterile gauze dressing.
What Happens After the Procedure
Following the procedure, your skin may burn, itch, or tingle for a few days. You may experience redness, swelling, and increased sensitivity to the sun. Your skin will look pink for a few weeks until the skin heals and your natural skin color returns. If you've had your entire face treated, the skin may take longer to heal.
By removing the upper layers of the skin, the surgeon is actually injuring the skin. As the abraded areas heal, new skin grows. During the recovery process, your doctor may prescribe pain medications if you need them and will caution you to remain out of the sunlight, as new skin is more prone to damage from the sun's rays. Therefore, once the skin on your face stops peeling and your doctor says that it's okay, be sure to apply sunscreen to your face whenever you go outdoors.
Your doctor may also prescribe a corticosteroid to reduce any swelling that may occur. Although infection is a rare complication, you may need to take an antibiotic or antiviral medication before and after the procedure, especially if you are receiving dermabrasion treatment around the mouth or on a large area of skin.
What Kind of Results to Expect
While the appearance of your skin won't improve 100 percent, you could see good results. Whether the results are lasting depends on how well you follow your doctor's instructions and take care of your skin afterward. Lifestyle habits, such as smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke, are other factors to consider, as they can impede healing and increase the risk of infection and scarring.
Keep in mind that although aging and sun exposure will continue to cause changes to your skin even after dermabrasion, it will look better than it did before. To learn more, consult with a doctor from a clinic like A Beach Medical Group For Dermatology.
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