Generality
Dermabrasion is a particular technique of aesthetic medicine, widely used in dermatology.
Dermabrasion is a rather simple surgical procedure, but it must be performed with care by expert doctors, in order to avoid the occurrence of side effects and / or counterproductive results.
Of course, the decision to carry out dermabrasion on a patient or not must be made by the specialist who will evaluate all the advantages of the case.
What is Dermabrasion
As mentioned, dermabrasion is a particular technique that is used in dermatology and aesthetic medicine.
This treatment involves the controlled removal of the most superficial layers of the skin (epidermis and dermis) of the face or body, in order to "correct" and mitigate imperfections, such as wrinkles, scars of various origins (from acne, varicella, etc. .), skin blemishes, stretch marks and even tattoos.
Dermabrasion can also be used in the aesthetic treatment of different types of pathologies and skin disorders, such as, for example, acanthosis nigricans, rhinophyma or xeroderma pigmentosum.
How to do it
Dermabrasion is performed through the use of a special tool - the dermabrasor - which performs the mechanical removal of the superficial layers of the skin.
This instrument consists of a rotating head, which can be made of different materials and shapes. For example, to perform dermabrasion, micro-brushes made of steel or micro-diamond burs can be used .
The action of removing the superficial layers of the skin is made possible by the very fast rotation of the cutter, conferred by the small motors connected to it, similar to those used in dentists' drills.
The cutter, once activated, is pressed by the doctor on the area of skin to be treated.
The pressure exerted on the patient's skin must be sufficient to reach the superficial portion of the dermis, but not its deepest region. If the pressure exerted during dermabrasion was excessive, in fact, the skin would be seriously damaged and new grooves and scars could be created.
For best results, the doctor usually exerts more pressure at the central and deeper part of the imperfection (wrinkles, scars, etc.) and then he will tend to "blur" and lighten the pressure as he gets closer to the edges of the same. In this way, one should be able to avoid causing annoying lines of demarcation between the "regenerated" skin from the operation and the skin that was not subjected to the procedure.
Given the delicacy and precision with which it is necessary to conduct this type of intervention, it is clear that it is essential to refer exclusively to highly specialized personnel and doctors in this type of procedure. Although not very invasive, dermabrasion can be considered a real surgical operation.
Normally, this procedure is performed under local anesthesia (possibly in association with a sedative) in an outpatient setting or in a day hospital.
However, if the procedure is to be carried out on larger areas of the face or body, it can also take place under general anesthesia and, in this case, the patient will be admitted to an adequate structure for at least one night.
Before and After the Intervention
After a specialist visit, and after the doctor has agreed to perform dermabrasion on the patient, this must strictly follow all the indications provided by the surgeon, both before and after the treatment.
Before the operation, the doctor will indicate to the patient which measures to take (such as stopping smoking, avoiding exposure to the sun, using sunscreens, etc.), in order to avoid the onset of complications and unpleasant side effects.
The duration of the operation may vary depending on the extent of the area of the face or body that needs to be treated. However, normally, the treatment lasts about 30 to 60 minutes.
Immediately after the dermabrasion procedure, the skin generates a typical "point bleeding", a sign that the abrasion has occurred at a superficial level and has not reached the too deep layers of the skin.
At the end of the intervention, the surgeon will perform a dressing on the treated areas, which must be checked and replaced at certain intervals of time, and will apply a special thin cellulose film (Biofilm), in order to "replace" the abraded skin temporarily .
After treatment, the patient may feel a slight burning sensation, tension and / or tingling, but generally, dermabrasion is well tolerated and does not cause excessive disturbances. However, the treated areas may remain swollen for a few days and appear red for a long period of time (a few months).
The application of cosmetic products - strictly indicated by the dermatologist - can begin after a period of two to four weeks from the intervention. Furthermore, it should be remembered that - after the dermabrasion procedure - the skin is highly sensitive, for this reason it is absolutely necessary not to expose oneself to the sun and to use adequate sunscreens with a high protection factor.
Results
The results of dermabrasion are often excellent: even if it is a procedure that is not able to totally eliminate the imperfections, it can make noticeable improvements, attenuating them almost completely. In fact, once the healing phase is complete, the skin will appear regenerated, smooth and compact.
The results are generally noticeable within 30-90 days after the operation and are consolidated within about 6-10 months.
It should be emphasized that dermabrasion generally offers the best results in individuals who have a skin with a light skin type, compared to individuals with a darker complexion.
However, the results that can be obtained with dermabrasion are influenced by a number of factors, such as the type of blemish to be treated, the type of skin of the patient and the area of the face or body concerned, as they depend on from the overall response of the same patient to the intervention.
Associated Treatments
Dermabrasion can be performed either as a single treatment, or in combination with other types of aesthetic treatments, in order to obtain the best results. Among these, we mention face lifting, fillers or chemical peels.
However, even in this case, it is necessary to consult a surgeon experienced in the field who - depending on the type of imperfection to be treated, the area of the body involved and the state of health of the patient in general - will be able to establish and to identify which aesthetic treatments best suit each individual case.
Complications and Side Effects
Dermabrasion is a surgical treatment considered quite simple, which - if performed correctly by an experienced doctor - should not lead to the onset of side effects.
However, this is not always the case, especially if the intervention is performed by unskilled personnel.
However, complications and side effects due to dermabrasion are rare, but not impossible. Among these, the main ones consist of:
- Infections, usually caused by streptococci or staphylococcus; they are treated with antibiotics.
- Abnormalities during the healing and healing process .
- Skin discoloration that can manifest itself in the form of:
- Spots or hypopigmented areas, generally caused by too deep skin abrasion;
- Spots or hyperpigmented areas, which can be caused either by the inflammatory process caused by the treatment, or by the lack of protection from sun exposure before and / or after treatment.
- Scars, caused by an excessively deep dermabrasion.
- Microcysts, which must be promptly removed.
Contraindications
Although dermabrasion is an intervention considered safe, in some cases it is not recommended or even contraindicated.
For example, in people with very dark complexions, this type of technique tends to be discouraged, as these individuals are at greater risk of experiencing hypopigmentation due to the destruction of melanocytes during treatment.
Furthermore, dermabrasion is contraindicated in the following cases:
- In subjects who have recently stopped, or who are still treating acne with isotretionin.
- In individuals who recurrently suffer from Herpes infections.
- In patients who have suffered burns in the area to be treated.
- In individuals who have a tendency to develop keloids (or keloid scars).
