Tyler Plastic Surgery

Dermabrasion is a surgical skin resurfacing procedure designed to improve skin texture and correct problems like facial scarring, acne scars, wrinkles and other surface irregularities.

About Dermabrasion

• The Best Dermabrasion Candidates
• Dermabrasion Resurfacing
• Dermabrasion vs. Microdermabrasion
• Dermabrasion Recovery

The Best Dermabrasion Candidates

Is dermabrasion skin resurfacing right for you?

If you have acne scars or other facial scarring from an accident or trauma, or if you have moderate to severe wrinkles, dermabrasion may be a treatment option for you. Dermabrasion should only be performed on adult men and women with light or fair skin, as dermabrasion may cause patients with ethnic or darker skin tones to experience permanent pigmentation changes.

Dermabrasion can also treat actinic keratoses (pre-cancerous skin growths) and seborrheic keratoses (wart-like skin growths).

It is important that dermabrasion patients have a good understanding of what can and cannot be achieved with dermabrasion and be in good physical and mental health prior to treatment. Alternatives to dermabrasion include chemical peel and collagen injections, which in some cases may be more appropriate treatments than dermabrasion.

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Dermabrasion Resurfacing

Facial rejuvenation with dermabrasion

Dermabrasion typically takes anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour, depending on the size of the area being treated. The procedure may need to be performed in stages, especially when scarring is deep or a large area of skin is involved, to achieve the best results.

During dermabrasion surgery, the outermost layer of skin is scraped away with a motorized abrading device, such as a wire brush or diamond particle burr. Once the scraping is complete, an ointment or other dressing will be applied to your skin.

Dermabrasion may be performed on particular areas of skin or on the entire face. It is also sometimes combined with one or more other cosmetic procedures, including facelift, scar revision and chemical peel.

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Dermabrasion vs. Microdermabrasion

Comparing surgical resurfacing with superficial resurfacing

Although dermabrasion and microdermabrasion sound similar, they are very different procedures. The primary difference between the two is the degree of skin resurfacing they provide.

Microdermabrasion is a superficial skin resurfacing procedure that provides only light or superficial exfoliation to the outermost layers of skin with no downtime. Microdermabrasion does not produce dramatic skin texture improvements, only mild skin smoothing and promotion of cell turnover.

In contrast, dermabrasion produces dramatic improvements in skin texture because it involves complete removal of the outermost layers of skin, often performed under local anesthesia with IV sedation or general anesthesia. The recovery period is significant (more than a few days) and it takes several months for all side effects to resolve and for final results to become visible.

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Dermabrasion Recovery

Downtime and recovery after dermabrasion

Immediately following dermabrasion, your face will be very red and swollen, and you may have trouble talking. Use pain medication to minimize your discomfort the first few days after dermabrasion until pain and swelling subsides.

Your skin will scab and crust as it heals, and you may develop tiny whiteheads or pimples after surgery. These usually disappear on their own, or if they do not, Dr. Motlagh will recommend an appropriate treatment. If you develop enlarged pores, note these will usually shrink to normal size once the swelling has subsided.

Most patients return to work within a week of dermabrasion, and makeup may be worn to cover residual redness after the initial recovery period has passed. Sports or other activities that may result in something bumping your face should be avoided for 4-6 weeks, as should swimming in outdoor or chlorinated pools. Men need to avoid shaving during the initial dermabrasion recovery period as well.

Facial flushing and discoloration will persist for several weeks. The pinkness of your skin will take about three months to fade, and it is very important to avoid sun exposure and protect your skin from the sun for as long as 6-12 months after dermabrasion. Otherwise, irreversible changes to your skin pigmentation may take place.

If you notice any irregular scar development (keloid or hypertrophic scars) or signs of infection (fever, foul odor, discharge), contact Tyler Plastic Surgery immediately.

Be sure to attend all follow-up appointments and follow the pre- and post-operative instructions given to you by Dr. Motlagh. His office is conveniently located in northeastern Texas to accommodate dermabrasion patients from Tyler, Dallas, Forth Worth and Plano, Texas, as well as Shreveport, Louisiana.

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