Dermabrasion is done when the following conditions are present

• Acne scarring
• Tattoos
• Vertical wrinkles around the mouth that often cause lipstick bleed
• Facial skin left scarred by accidents or previous surgery
• Pre-cancerous growths called keratoses

• Candidates who are not prone to keloids, hyper or hypo pigmentation
• Candidates who react well to burns or excessive scarring due to minor cuts and abrasions
• Candidates who have fine lines or wrinkles around the eyes, mouth or on the forehead, scars from acne, or non-responsive skin after a facelift
• Candidates without active acne or very dark skin
• Candidates who wish to improve their external appearance
• Candidates who are physically healthy, psychologically healthy and have realistic expectations from the procedure
• Candidates who seek improvement rather than perfection

• Formation of new scars
• Permanent darkening of the skin
• Treated skin remains a little lighter or blotchy in appearance
• Development of tiny white heads after surgery, which usually disappear on their own, or with the use of an abrasive pad or soap or by surgical removal
• Development of enlarged skin pores which usually shrink to near normal size once the swelling has subsided.
• Infection and scarring
• Development of excessive scar tissue which can be treated with the application or injection of steroid medications that helps to soften the scar.

• During the initial consultation, a thorough discussion on the expectations of the patient as well as the complete medical history of the patient is understood
• Photographs are taken for further comparison after procedure.
• The doctor discusses and advises on options of anaesthesia, type of facilities, various techniques and cost with the patient.
• The doctor provides guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications
• For two weeks prior to the dermabrasion skincare products such as Retin-A 0.5% cream should be applied each night before bed to the skin or scar that is to be dermabraded.
• The patient must arrange for transportation and assistance to leave for home after the surgery.

• The patient is administered general or local anaesthesia
• The surgeon then scrapes away the outermost layer of skin with a rough wire brush, or a burr containing diamond particles, attached to a motorized handle.
• The scraping continues until the surgeon reaches the safest level that makes the scar or wrinkle less visible.
• The surgeon may then treat the skin in a number of ways, including ointment, a wet or waxy dressing, dry treatment, or a combination of these.

The procedure takes 15-60 minutes.

• The surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure.
• The skin will be quite red and swollen, and eating and talking may be difficult. The swelling will begin to subside in a few days to a week.
• The patient will feel some tingling, burning, or aching which can be relieved with medications prescribed by the surgeon.
• A scab or crust will form over the treated area as it begins to heal which will fall off as a new layer of tight, pink skin forms underneath.
• The face may itch as new skin starts to grow, which can be relieved by an ointment prescribed by the surgeon. If ointment is applied immediately after surgery, little or no scab will form.

• For men, shaving must be delayed for a while, after which an electric razor must be used first.
• The patient can gradually resume normal activities over a few weeks as the healing is in progress
• The patient can expect to be back at work in about two weeks.
• The patient must avoid any activity that could cause a bump to the face for at least two weeks.
• More active sports should be avoided for four to six weeks.
• The patient must use indoor pools for swimming to avoid sun and wind, and keep the face out of chlorinated water for at least four weeks.
• Drinking alcohol cause a flush of redness in the initial three to four
• The patient must protect the skin from the sun for six to twelve months by using a strong sunscreen.
• If a large area has been dermabraded, the doctor will prescribe Prednisone 40 mg and pain pills to be taken for three days after the procedure.
• If you have had acne, the patient should take tetracycline for one month after a dermabrasion.
• Do not use Retin-A on the face for one month after your dermabrasion.
• Call the surgeon immediately if the treated area becomes increasingly red, raised, and itchy after it has started to heal.