Do you have facial scars? Tired of wearing those unwanted facial marks? Have these scars prevented you from being self-confident? Well then, dermabrasion may be a solution to this problem! Dermabrasion is a surgical procedure that aims to improve the skin texture. It removes the uncontrolled thickness of the damaged skin. It also stimulates normal healing as well as skin rejuvenation. The main target of this treatment is to get rid of the facial scars caused by accidents and facial wrinkles like those around the mouth. It is also used to remove pre-cancerous growths called keratoses.
Alternative Procedures
Aside from dermabrasion, there are other skin resurfacing procedures that have the same effects too. But these only offer slight differences compared to dermabrasion. These procedures include laser resurfacing and chemical peels. The first alternative involves the use of laser energy and generation of heat. Among the three, this is the most expensive. The second alternative involves the use of dilute acids to cause exfoliation of the damaged skin’s top layers.
Many plastic surgeons perform these three procedures. Sometimes they use a combination of the procedures in order to address the patient’s requests and preferences. But others use just one procedure for all surface repairs. In general, chemical peel is used to treat fine wrinkles while dermabrasion is preferred for deep wrinkles. If you are planning any of these procedures, consult a plastic surgeon in your area.
Who can Undergo Dermabrasion?
It’s true that dermabrasion enhances appearance. But it does not guarantee complete removal of all scars and flaws or thwart aging. Before you decide to undergo this surgical procedure, discuss it first with your surgeon. Anybody can be a candidate for dermabrasion. But there are factors that need careful consideration. These are the skin type, color, and medical history. If you develop allergic reactions, this is not advisable. Also, people with active acne are prone to greater risk of infection. And if you’ve had radiation treatments or bad skin burn, dermabrasion is not a good idea. Same is true if you’ve had previous chemical peel treatment too.
Are There any Risks Involved?
Dermabrasion is safe if performed by a qualified and experienced cosmetic plastic surgeon. But just like any other surgeries, it carries some risks. The most common is a change in skin pigmentation but some have experience permanent darkening of the skin though. Others get a little lighter appearance after the surgery while several other patients may develop tiny whiteheads. Some may develop enlarged skin pores and, in rare cases, infection and excessive scar tissue are also possible risks. To prevent these risks, seek only the services of a qualified plastic surgeon and be compliant with medications and other instructions after the procedure.
Planning and Preparing for Your Surgery
In planning for your surgery, look for a trained and experienced surgeon to perform the procedure. Discuss any expectations you have, and ask questions if something is unclear to you. The surgeon would be more than willing to explain everything to you. Make sure to follow the surgeon’s instructions about your preparation for the surgery, as well as the proper care and treatment after the surgery.
The Surgical Procedure and After Surgery
Depending on the skin area involved, the procedure can be done in just a few minutes to about an hour and a half. Sometimes, it is done more than once especially if the scar is too deep or the skin area is too large. Using a rough wire brush attached to a motorized handle, the surgeon will scrape away the outermost layer of the skin. This continues until the scar or wrinkle becomes less visible. The affected area may then be treated with an ointment, dry treatment, a wet dressing or a combination of these.
The Outcome
After the surgery, you’ll experience dramatic improvements on your skin surface. But it takes quite some time before you see your new look. And when your skin is fully repigmented, the color should be almost the same with the surrounding skin. Then, you will see that it’s as if you have never undergone any surgical operation at all. With this, you can now face the world with a renewed self-confidence.
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