Dermabrasion
Cosmetic Surgery - Plastic Surgery - Aesthetic Medicine - Reconstructive Surgery
Dermabrasion is a technique used in aesthetic surgery to remove the top
layer of skin (epidermis). It can also go deeper into the dermis. The
depth of dermabrasion will depend on the defect to be corrected, the
area involved and the quality of the skin but also its purpose.
Dermabrasion is primarily used to treat facial skin to smooth out and
erase facial imperfections such as acne scars, signs of aging (more or
less deep wrinkles), brown spots and keratosis.
With regard to scars, the purpose of dermabrasion is to smooth out
irregularities in the surface of the skin. For signs of aging,
dermabrasion may be used in combination with other techniques dealing
with sagging skin such as facelifts and blepharoplasty but also
injections of fillers (fluid such as collagen, hyaluronic acid, etc.
injected into the thickness of the skin.) or Botulin toxin.
Dermabrasion also has a secondary use in the treatment of rather
traumatic superficial tattoos but in the case of tattoos, dermabrasion
is not the standard treatment, pigment lasers are much more effective
and less traumatic for the dermis, which is at risk of total
destruction if dermabrasion is used.
In aesthetic surgery, there are several techniques for smoothing the
skin by abrasion: a mechanical technique with dermabrasion, a chemical
technique with peels and a thermal technique with laser-abrasion.
Dermabrasion is a technique for abrading the skin using brushes or a
rotary burr handled by a qualified plastic surgeon that will control
the speed and abrasive power of the burr and the pressure on the skin.
After dermabrasion healing time is fundamental to restoring a
smoother appearance to the treated skin, which will benefit from a
tightening effect with an epidermis of normal thickness. The dermis is
preserved. It is from there that regeneration of the epidermis takes
place through the natural process of healing, starting, inter alia,
from the pilosebaceous annexes.
Microdermabrasion is a very superficial dermabrasion to give a cooling effect to the skin complexion.
Dermabrasion is performed by a specialist plastic surgeon. It is
performed, like any surgical procedure, after prior consultation with
the plastic surgeon (informed consent) followed by a pre-operative
check-up (preparation of the skin) and a consultation with an
anaesthetist. Dermabrasion can be done under local anaesthesia or nerve
blocks, local anaesthesia in combination with tranquilizers
(analgesia) or classic general anaesthesia.
The period of hospitalization following dermabrasion varies depending
on the type of surgery and anaesthesia. The procedure can be done on
an outpatient basis or with a short hospital stay of 24 to 48 hours.
Dermabrasion is a procedure the duration of which will depend on the
surgical work to be done by the plastic surgeon.
Following dermabrasion the dermis is exposed and must be protected by a dressing to be changed daily.
The postoperative consequences of dermabrasion are initial redness,
swelling and oozing. Then the skin will gradually heal, needing
constant and appropriate care.
A period of 6 months must be allowed to elapse prior to exposure to
the sun and then with use of a total sun block. The process of healing
and recovery of flexibility in the tissues is difficult. The plastic
surgeon is there to provide the psychological help associated with the
various treatments needed.
Do not forget that dermabrasion, although performed in many cases for
purely aesthetic reasons, is a surgical procedure carrying all the
risks associated with any medical procedure (anaesthesia and surgery)
even when carried out under the best conditions, i.e. by a qualified
plastic surgeon. Without overstating the risk, a proportion of hazards
exist. Turning to a qualified plastic surgeon can prevent complications
or treat them effectively.