Dermabrasion In Lewisham

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).

In dermaplaning, the surgeon uses a hand-held instrument called a dermatome, which resembles an electric razor. The dermatome has a blade that moves backwards and forwards to “skim” off the surface layers of skin that surround a deep scar or other skin defect. The skimming continues until the lowest point of the scar or wrinkle becomes more even with the surrounding skin, and the skin is much smoother.

The skin which has been skimmed by the machine, then heals, producing tighter skin and reducing the appearance of wrinkles and scars.

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.

After the procedure, side effects can include pain, along with swollen and red skin on the area of the face which was treated.

Once the skin begins to heal, itching can be a problem. Very rarely an infection can develop.

Many of the potential long term problems of dermabrasion can be avoided by careful guidance as to whether your skin is suited to the treatment and exactly what sort of dermabrasion you should undergo. Even then, risks such as scarring and pigment changes (both too much and too little pigment) can occur following treatment.

Dermabrasion is not recommended in people with olive or black skin because of an increased risk of hypo pigmentation (whitening) and hypertrophic (raised) scarring.

The results of dermabrasion in skin which is uneven in pigmentation or colour can also be unpredictable.

Treatment may also not be recommended if you:

• have a history of problems with keloid or hypertrophic (raised) scarring of your skin;
• have abnormal skin pigment or colour;
• have facial warts or any current facial infection such as cold sores;
• have used isotretinoin within the last 6 - 12 months.

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.

The NHS has set out the following guidelines on how to get cosmetic surgery through the NHS:

"To qualify for surgery on the NHS you must meet specific criteria as set out by your local health authority. The NHS will not pay for surgery for cosmetic reasons alone. Reconstructive and cosmetic surgery to correct, or improve, congenital abnormalities and injuries will usually be carried out free of charge.

NHS reconstructive surgery is performed by plastic surgeons who have had extensive training and belong to the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Surgeons who carry out cosmetic surgery through the NHS also belong to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.

To receive cosmetic surgery from the NHS, you will normally need a referral from your GP. You will have a consultation with a plastic surgeon and an assessment by a psychiatrist, or psychologist. It will then be decided whether there is enough social, psychological, or physical benefit to be gained to justify 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 ablative lasers or fractional laser resurfacing 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.