The Procedure – Louisville Plastic Surgery Consultants

Description of Procedure

Dermabrasion is a procedure used to reduce layers of skin with a coarse spinning wheel attached to a special instrument. With repeated passes the surgeon can smooth out surface irregularities of the skin to soften the appearance of traumatic facial scars, or scars from acne. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia in an outpatient facility. Dr. Majzoub explains, “this procedure is helpful when attempting to diminish the appearance of facial scars, often facial scars will require more than one treatment with the dermabrator.” In certain cases, “we may combine dermabrasion with facial fat grafting, direct surgical scar excision and dermal fillers to help lessen the appearance of a scar.”

Dermabrasion may cause a change in skin pigmentation, aggressive dermabrasion may also result in scarring from the procedure itself. Individuals who are prone to form keloids or hypertrophic scars should be cautious about considering dermabrasion. The procedure time will vary depending on the region of the face to be treated. A full face dermabrasion requires 1.5-2 hours of operating time.

Recovery

Patients need to plan their recover accordingly after a dermabrasion procedure. Your operative site will be swollen after surgery, pink or red in color, drain a serous fluid and occasionally become crusty around the edges. Dr. Majzoub will prescribe an ointment to be placed on your face or you may prefer to have a laser seal® dressing, a patented occlusive wound dressing applied during the procedure which Dr. Majzoub will remove in the office. If you have a recliner chair, keeping upright will help with your facial swelling which may last a few days. Minor discomfort is relieved with pain medication. Antibiotics and antiviral medication are often prescribed for prophylaxis against bacterial and viral infections. Patients are encouraged to ambulate shortly after surgery and perform breathing exercises.

Results

Your skin at the operative site will have a bright pink appearance with some swelling for several weeks. The bright pink tone will fade after several weeks, however, your skin will still be somewhat pinker than your untreated skin, this takes many months to fade. You must avoid sun exposure over your treated skin, your skin will be sensitive to UV light and heat. Facial scars should be less apparent, however, complete removal is unrealistic. More than one treatment may be necessary to improve the appearance of your scar.

For more information on whether you may be a candidate for dermabrasion, contact Louisville Plastic Surgery Consultants at 502.899.9996. At Louisville Plastic Surgery Consultants our goal is complete patient satisfaction.

Medical Disclaimer: All medical procedures are associated with some degree of anesthetic and operative risks. Surgical results may vary from person to person. Your specific anesthetic and operative risks will be outlined at the time of your consultation.