Dermabrasion is a procedure that helps counteract the affects of aging by removing the top layers of the skin of the face and thereby eliminating wrinkles, blemishes, and large facial pores. As we age wrinkles occur in the corners of the eyes (laugh lines), the lip, or forehead. Such fine lines cannot be removed by the classic techniques of face-lifting or other methods of skin tightening. Resurfacing procedures such as dermabrasion, chemical peel and laser resurfacing are methods that specifically address such problems. Each technique uses a different method of creating a superficial burn in the face. When the new skin is formed it will be tighter and have fewer wrinkles. The purpose of the dermabrasion is to remove the signs of aging in the face by removing the top layers of the skin. The lower layers of the skin then create new skin that has less wrinkles, pores and blemishes.  The beneficial effects of a dermabrasion can vary depending on the patient's anatomy and lifestyle.  In addition, the depth of the wrinkles, pores and color differences in the skin will be important in the result achieved.

We usually perform this operation in an out patient surgical facility under general anesthesia.  The skin of the face is treated with the dermabrasion machine that mechanically removes the top layers of the skin. The skin cells that are in the lower layers of the skin will then regenerate a new skin layer that has less wrinkles, pores and pigmented spots. You can think of it as using high tech sandpaper that peels off the dead superficial layers of skin and you get fresh new skin when the area has healed.  The skin of the face will be tighter giving the affect of a face-lift without the scars  

There will be a moderate amount of swelling and with a Dermabrasion. You cannot do this procedure and plan to go back to work the following week. Most patients elect to take two weeks off from work.  This would give them adequate time to recover sufficiently from surgery and to be seen without drawing attention.  Although most of the evidence of surgery has disappeared by the end of the third week the ultimate result of the Dermabrasion will not be evident until at least five or six months have passed.  You should expect a moderate degree of redness in the skin of face during this period that will slowly resolve. This is because dermabrasion creates new vessel growth in the skin giving a blush to the face. As this blush goes away you will have a lighter color in the area that was dermabraided as compared to your natural skin color. This depigmentation results from all resurfacing procedures to one extent or another. The risk of depigmentation is greater with increasing depth of dermabrasion. You will also remain very sensitive to sunlight and therefore using sun block and protecting of the skin from direct sunlight is advocated.

To see Before and After pictures of our Dermabrasion patients Click Here

To Read Testimonials of our patients about this operation Click Here

 Copyright © 2004.
  To report any corrections, please contact the webmaster.
  Sitemap