Dermabrasion

Overview

Dermabrasion is a technique where damaged skin is polished away using a special surgical instrument to uncover smoother skin. Dermabrasion may be combined with other procedures, such as chemical peels, laser skin resurfacing, and aesthetic filler injections to give the treated area a smoother appearance.

Am I a good candidate for a Dermabrasion treatment?

Dermabrasion is an effective procedure to treat:

• scars, especially shallow ones from acne and chickenpox
• upper lip lines
• tattoos
• rhinophyma

What happens during dermabrasion?

The skin to be treated is cleansed, outlined with a surgical marker, and numbed with a local anesthetic. A high-powered, rotating diamond burr is used to abrade the skin in a controlled and precise manner. There is mild bleeding and the procedure may take 15-45 minutes depending on the area treated. After the treatment, an ointment and a dressing are applied.

What should I expect after dermabrasion?

After the procedure, the treated area will be raw and red. Dr. Chung will prescribe a specific skin care protocol of vinegar washes and ointment applications until your skin has healed. Healing takes typically 7-10 days, after which you can wear makeup. Your skin may be pink for a few weeks after the procedure, and you will need to be vigilant about avoiding excessive sun exposure for a month.

What will I look like?

Although dermabrasion cannot completely erase the appearance of wrinkles or scars, it will cause a noticeable difference in the treated area. The upper lip lines will be softer and the scars will be diminished. Although the new skin is apparent in 7-10 days, there will be continued improvement as the collagen continues to remodel.