Do you have signs of sun damage and skin aging? Are there lines and wrinkles, age spots, or changes in skin color or texture on your face? Are you bothered by acne scars? A skin resurfacing treatment called dermabrasion can help correct the signs of sun exposure and skin aging. Read on to learn more about this procedure.
What is dermabrasion?
Dermabrasion is a method of mechanically exfoliating the outer layers of skin using a rotating device. It is a procedure that uses a mechanical device to remove the upper layer of skin and reveal new skin. Dermabrasion is usually performed on the face by a plastic surgeon, dermatologist, or other aesthetic provider. It is popular with people who want a non-surgical skin rejuvenation procedure to improve their appearance. It is not a surgery. Rather, it is a non-invasive, outpatient skin resurfacing treatment that is used to treat common signs of aging such as fine lines, uneven texture, changes in skin tone and skin color, sun damage, and acne scars.
Do home dermabrasion kits work?
There are various home dermabrasion treatments available that use some sort of wire brush to improve the appearance through skin planing. However, these treatments typically take longer to show results. Oftentimes, they cannot produce the same results that can be obtained with professional dermabrasion.
Benefits of dermabrasion
Dermabrasion mechanically removes the outer layers of the skin and exposes new skin that is younger, smoother, and fresher appearing. It is used to treat the following conditions:
- Skin color changes like red or brown spots
- Fine wrinkles
- Scars from acne
- Surgical scars
- Changes in skin color or skin discoloration
- Uneven skin tone
- A skin condition like precancerous skin growths
- Rhinophyma (thick, red skin on the nose)
- Damage from sun exposure
- Tattoos
It is worth noting that dermabrasion may not be the best treatment for all these problems. Your doctor can guide on you on the other options and help you choose the most appropriate treatment.
Who should not get dermabrasion?
Patients with certain skin conditions are not good candidates for dermabrasion. This includes patients with inflammatory acne, radiation burns, burn scars, and recurrent herpes virus flares (cold sores). Dermabrasion may not be recommended in patients who have taken steroid medications that cause skin thinning as side effects. It is appropriate for all skin types but may not be a good option for patients who have a naturally very dark skin tone.
Preparing for dermabrasion
Consultation
During the consultation, your doctor will obtain a complete medical history and perform an examination to assess your skin type. Plastic surgeons or dermatologists will discuss the risks and benefits as well as the potential side effects of dermabrasion in various skin types. The consultation is essential to ensure you have realistic expectations from the procedure. They will talk to you about stopping certain medications before the procedure that can increase the risk of bleeding or discoloration. You should tell your doctor if you have taken the acne medicine isotretinoin within the past year.
Smoking cessation
You will be advised to stop smoking for a few weeks before dermabrasion because smoking can reduce blood flow to the skin and delay healing.
Avoiding sun exposure
It is also advisable to avoid too much sun exposure without proper protection in the months leading up to dermabrasion as this can lead to discoloration.
Pre-medication
Your doctor may give you antiviral medication and/or antibiotics to prevent infections. They may prescribe a vitamin A based retinoid cream to promote healing.
Going home
You will need to arrange for someone to drive you home after the dermabrasion procedure because it is done under anesthesia and there may be some lingering effects.
What to expect from the procedure
Dermabrasion is an outpatient procedure that is usually done under local anesthesia. However, depending on the extent of the treatment area, sedation may be used to relax you and make you drowsy. Occasionally, general anesthesia is used.
During the procedure, an assistant will stretch your skin and the doctor will move the dermabrasion device across the area being treated. The device is a small, motorized diamond wheel with a rough surface to mechanically perform exfoliation of the top layers of skin. You may feel some minor discomfort during the procedure.
Your doctor can use various dermabraders on different areas of the face. For example, circular ones are used on larger areas and small tipped ones are used near the corners of the mouth. Larger sections of skin may be treated over multiple sessions. After the dermabrasion, the doctor will place a moist dressing on the treated areas.
Aftercare and recovery
Your doctor will give you instructions about caring for your skin after dermabrasion, including covering the treated area and using specific products for several weeks. You can expect to return to work in about 2 weeks. You will need to avoid strenuous activities and sports and swimming for 4-6 weeks until the skin is healed. You must limit sun exposure and protect your skin for several weeks while it heals.
It is normal for the skin to be pink and slightly swollen during the healing process. You might experience some minor tingling or burning. A yellow liquid may ooze and crust on the outer layer of skin. It takes around 3 months for the healing process to be complete and the pinkness to fade.
Does dermabrasion hurt?
The pain associated with dermabrasion is minimal. Your skin will feel raw and irritated and look red and swollen after the procedure. You will have a bandage or gauze on the treated area. The discomfort is similar to scrapes you got as a child.
How long does dermabrasion last?
The results of dermabrasion are not visible immediately. It takes about 3 months for the skin to heal and for the results to be fully visible. After the healing is complete, the new skin usually closely matches the surrounding skin and the dermabrasion procedure will be virtually undetectable. The results are lasting, but with age and time, further signs of aging in the skin usually appear.
What is the difference between dermabrasion and microdermabrasion?
Dermabrasion is a procedure that uses a mechanical sanding instrument on the area to be treated. It is more aggressive procedure compared to microdermabrasion (which is also called a power peel). Microdermabrasion involves spraying tiny crystals on the skin while dermabrasion involves sanding the skin. Dermabrasion causes bleeding while microdermabrasion does not. There is a downtime after dermabrasion, which is not the case for microdermabrasion.
However, dermabrasion can erase significantly more scars and wrinkles. Microdermabrasion is, therefore, recommended for people with superficial skin problems like dull skin, fine lines, brown spots, age spots, and mild acne scarring. On the other hand, a person with more severe signs of skin aging is a more appropriate candidate for dermabrasion.
Potential risks and complications
Some of the risks of dermabrasion include redness, rash, swelling, temporary enlargement in pores, acne breakout, changes in skin tone, and loss of freckles. Rarely, people who are prone to keloid (thick scar) formation may develop excessive scarring after dermabrasion. Rarely, it may cause a herpes infection, although your doctor will give you medication to prevent this.
You can reduce your risk of complications by following your doctor's instructions. You should avoid picking your skin scrubbing it for up to 12 months. Do not use harsh cleansers or other skin care products. Apply a thick moisturizer or petroleum jelly to protect your skin while it heals. Limit sun exposure and use sunscreen every time you step out.
How much does dermabrasion cost?
The cost can vary greatly depending on where you live, but on average, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, dermabrasion will set you back by about $1,200. Costs are comparable in other parts of the world. There may be additional costs for anesthesia and other related expenses.
Finding a provider for dermabrasion
The MeTime app makes it easy to find a plastic surgeon, dermatologist, or other aesthetic providers in your area. You can click and upload pictures and have suggestions sent directly to you. Want to find out if you could benefit from dermabrasion? Try the MeTime app now!
