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| NAVIGATOR: Home: Treatment FAQs: Cosmetic Surgery: Dermabrasion | 03 September 2010 | ||
Dermabrasionor simply scroll down.
Background Information
Dermabrasion, Dermasanding or Dermaplaning is a surgical procedure that has been performed since the late 1950’s. It is another example of a treatment, which aims to “resurface” the skin. It is similar in its aim to lasers or chemical peels, but uses a machine to remove the outer layer of the skin or epidermis and then the top third part of the dermis of the skin. In recent years, the use of this particular form of skin treatment has declined as chemical peels and lasers have become more popular. A milder form of dermabrasion, known as microdermabrasion, has become very popular recently. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (A.S.A.P.S.), over 21,700 dermabrasion (not including microdermabrasion) procedures took place in 2009, a decrease of 19.9% on 2008 statistics. Please ask a practitioner about anything you don't understand.
The practitioner scrapes away the outermost layer of the skin with a rough wire brush, or a tool containing diamond particles. This machine is like any sanding device in that sheets of paper roughened with either aluminium oxide or silica carbide crystals (known as dermasanding) are attached to a motorised handle. As the paper rotates, the skin is “sanded down”. The scraping continues until the surgeon reaches the safest level that will make a scar or wrinkle less visible (please see diagram below indicating the depth of resurfacing).
Dermabrasion can be used to treat wrinkles and certain pigment marks caused by sun damage. It is useful for reducing the appearance of raised or sunken scars due to acne, chicken pox, or certain surgical scars. It can also be used to remove some tattoos, although lasers are more commonly used for this today. Your first discussion with a surgeon should set out what you expect from the treatment and how you and your doctor see the procedure turning out. A medical history should be taken, to ensure that there are no reasons why you shouldn’t have the treatment. You would also normally be asked to read detailed information about the treatment and sign a consent form, which means that you have understood the potential benefits and risks associated with a dermabrasion procedure. Photographs may also be taken by the practitioner, as a “before and after” comparison at a later date. You would normally be asked to stop taking any aspirin or aspirin like drugs a week or so before the treatment to reduce bleeding following the operation. Beforehand, some practitioners like to use a test patch of skin, usually behind the ear, to show the patient how the technique works and check that you have no problems with scarring or pigment changes to the skin during the healing process. Anaesthesia The full treatment involves a local anaesthetic on the area to be treated, and it is usually combined with some form of sedation to make you feel drowsy and to lessen any pain or discomfort. The procedure The area requiring treatment is dermabraded using one or a combination of different types of dermabrasion (as described above) until the required depth of skin removal is reached. This is a skilled technique which requires an experienced operator to use the machine and to judge how badly the skin is damaged and how much skin needs to be removed. Consequently, the procedure may take up to an hour and can be difficult. Dermabrasion generally causes a lot of bleeding, making it difficult to judge when to stop the removal of skin. After dermabrasion, the bleeding may be stopped with cold compresses before a final dressing is applied. Repeat procedures A repeat procedure may be required a couple of months after the first treatment to enhance the results. Dermabrasion can be repeated every few years, or combined with other treatments to help maintain the initial effect. Recovery time Most patients heal within 9 or 10 days and are generally presentable to the general public after this period. However, healing can be delayed in older patients, or if you have any post-operative infection. Redness of the skin can take 3 months or so to fade.
After the procedure, side effects can include pain, along with swollen and red skin on the area of the face which was treated. It is very important that you follow the advice of your practitioner carefully after dermabrasion. The aim is to keep the wound soft and free from infection during the healing process to help the treatment work as effectively as possible and to reduce the risk of complications. Dermabrasion is not recommended in people with olive or black skin because of an increased risk of hypo pigmentation (whitening) and hypertrophic (raised) scarring.
Please note that we follow current guidelines from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons and do not feature real "before and after" images of patients who undergo cosmetic surgery. Results vary enormously depending upon both the patient and the skill of the individual surgeon, so outcomes for cosmetic surgery procedures will always be more variable than those for less invasive non-surgical treatments. Many websites (especially U.S. based sites) do show "before and after" photographs following a Dermabrasion, Dermasanding or Dermaplaning
Generally, only experienced plastic or cosmetic surgeons or dermatologists (skin specialists) should perform a Dermabrasion, Dermasanding or Dermaplaning procedure. For more information about practitioner training, qualifications and relevant medical organisations please view the information contained within the Legislation section of the Consulting Room. Please go to our Find a Clinic section to find a clinic or practitioner specialising in Dermabrasion Surgery.
Dermabrasion can still be a very effective treatment in the hands of a skilled operator. Unfortunately, such experts are becoming rarer as more and more people are choosing lasers instead of dermabrasion to resurface their skin. The advantage of lasers is that they are more precise in removing the skin, cause less bleeding (and so help the practitioner to be more accurate in how much skin is removed) and generally give a better result with fewer problems after the treatment.
It is highly unlikely that anyone considering dermabrasion would be able to access this free of charge on the National Health Service. However certain regions do make special cases, and we would always recommend that you visit your General Practitioner before embarking upon a cosmetic procedure involving surgery. As well as their advice and guidance they may also be able to refer you to a local NHS Hospital who can treat you. Prices for a private Dermabrasion, Dermasanding or Dermaplaning operation can range from £1000 to several thousands of pounds depending on the extent of the area treated.
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Additionally, when you leave a clinic or hospital after a dermabrasion procedure you are likely to suffer from varying degrees of redness and swelling, which may not be the most attractive face that you wish to present to the public as you walk down the street. There is however a solution.
