The face is the most common site for treatment, but other areas of the skin can be treated as well. Dermabrasion is used most often to improve the appearance of acne scars and fine lines around the mouth. Dermabrasion is a cosmetic medical procedure that uses a wire brush or a diamond wheel with rough edges,with which the surface of the epidermis of the skin (the stratum corneum) is removed by abrasion (sanding). The instrument used to perform the procedure is called a dermabrader.
The brush or burr rotates rapidly, taking off and leveling (abrading or planing) the top layers of the skin. This process injures or wounds the skin and causes it to bleed.It is used to remove sun-damaged skin and to remove or lessen scars and dark spots on the skin. The procedure is painfull.Afterward, the skin is very red and raw-looking, and it takes several months for the skin to regrow and heal.As the wound heals, new skin grows to replace the damaged skin that was removed during dermabrasion.
Factors that affect the depth of the resurfacing include how coarse the burr or brush is, how quickly it rotates, how much pressure is applied and for how long, and the condition and features of your skin.
Prior to surgery, a complete medical history is taken and a careful examination is done by doctor, in order to evaluate the general health of the patient. After examiniation the surgeon explains the procedure and the type of anesthesia that will be used during the procedure
The areas that has to be treated are cleaned with an antiseptic cleansing and marked first, then local anesthetic (lidocaine) is used to numb the skin before treatment, and ice packs are applied to the skin for up to 30 minutes.Only one area is treated first,the area being treated is sprayed for few seconds and then the rotating burr or brush is used to take off the top layers.In this procedure a high-speed rotary instrument with an abrasive wheel or brush removes or abrades the upper layers of the skin and improves irregularities in the skin surface.
After the procedure the skin feels as though it has been severely brushed and burned,for few days.Medication is given to the patient to avoid sever pains. Healing usually occurs within 7 to 10 days.The newly formed skin, which is pink at first, gradually develops a normal appearance.Patients are instructed to avoid unnecessary direct and indirect sunlight for three to six months after the procedure and to use a sunscreen on a regular basis when outdoors.
