Is Dermabrasion Right For Your Skin?
July 30, 2010
Is Dermabrasion Right For Your Skin?
Dermal abrasion, or surgical planning of the skin, is done in selected patients with facial disfigurements from scars resulting from acne, trauma, tattoo, nevi, freckles, and chickenpox or smallpox. (Here’s where you can find more detailed information on skin care and stretch mark removal cream.)
The procedure involves the removal of the epidermis and some superficial dermis while reserving enough of the dermis to allow re-epithelialization of the dermabraded areas. Results are best in the face, because it is rich in intra-dermal epithelial elements.
Surgical planning or dermabrasion is performed either manually with coarse abrasive paper, or mechanically with an abrader or a rapidly rotating wire brush.
Patient Instruction and Preparation
The primary reason for undergoing dermabrasion is to improve the appearance.
Before the process will begin, the surgeon explains to the patient what he can expect from dermabrasion. The patient should also be informed about the nature of the postoperative dressing, the discomforts he may experience, and how long it will take before his tissues will look normal again.
Normally, the extent of the surface to be planed will determine whether the procedure takes place in the surgeon’s office, the clinic, or the hospital. In most cases, a general anesthetic is used and the patient is hospitalized. (Here’s where you can find more skin care products reviews.)
The skin is thoroughly cleansed for several days before the surgery. Shaving is not necessary in the female, but with the males, it is important to shave their face on the morning of the surgery.
In addition to general anesthesia, the use of a topical spray anesthetic for stabilizing and stiffening the skin may be desirable. The depth of planning can be readily gauged and the anesthetized area is momentarily bloodless. The superficial layers of skin are removed by an abrasive machine, usually known as the Dermabrader, or the sandpapering.
During and after planning, copious saline irrigations remove debris and allow for inspection.
