Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion helps to "refinish"
the skin's top layers through controlled surgical scraping.
The treatments soften the sharp edges of surface irregularities,
giving the skin a smoother appearance. Dermabrasion is most
often used to improve the look of facial skin left scarred by
accident or previous surgery, or to smooth out fine facial wrinkles,
such as those around the mouth. It's also sometimes used to
remove the pre-cancerous growths called keratoses. However,
if you are interested in a minor dermabrasion treatment, we
also have microdermabrasion
or Power Peel.
The Best Candidates For Dermabrasion
Men and women of all ages, from young
people to older adults, can benefit from dermabrasion, although
older people heal more slowly. If you have freckles, they may
disappear in the treated area. Also, if you have acne in an
active stage, Dr. Rajagopal will not perform this treatment
because of a greater risk of infection.
The Procedure For Dermabrasion
Although the procedure time depends
on how large an area of skin is involved, the procedure usually
goes fairly quickly. It's not uncommon for the procedure to
be performed more than once, or in stages, especially when
scarring is deep or a large area of skin is involved.
During the procedure, the outermost layer
of skin is scraped away with a burr containing diamond particles,
attached to a motorized handle. The scraping continues until
the safest level is reached that will make the scar or wrinkles
less visible.
Dr. Rajagopal may then treat the skin with
an ointment.
After Your Dermabrasion
Treatment
Right after the procedure, your skin
will be quite red and swollen, and eating and talking may
be difficult. You'll probably feel some tingling, burning,
or aching; any pain you feel can be controlled with medication.
The swelling will begin to subside in a few days to a week.
Getting Back to Normal
After Dermabrasion
Your new skin will be a bit swollen,
sensitive, and bright pink for several weeks. During this
time, you can begin gradually resuming your normal activities.
You can expect to be back at work in about two weeks. If you
swim, stick to indoor pools to avoid sun and wind, and keep
your face out of chlorinated water for at least four weeks.
It will be at least three to four weeks before you can drink
alcohol without experiencing a flush of redness.
If you have any questions regarding Dermabrasion,
or wish to schedule a consultation, please call the San
Francisco Plastic Surgery & Laser Center at 415-392-3333.
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