Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion is a skin resurfacing procedure that (for lack of better terms) essentially sands down the top layer of skin. Dermabrasion is frequently used for aging associated changes, acne scarring, lip lines and other problems. It is more invasive than the similarly named "microdermabrasion" and produces much more impressive results. Dermabrasion is the mechanical version of resurfacing, providing comparable results to lasers and chemical peels.
Light treatments with Dermabrasion lead to improvements in skin texture with minimal downtime. Deeper treatments are required to improve wrinkles and necessitate a longer recovery.

What to Expect if You Have a Dermabrasion

Anesthesia: Local, general or heavy sedation
Location of procedure: Office or hospital.
Length of procedure: 15-60 minutes.
Length of stay: Outpatient (home same day).
Discomfort: Mild to moderate. Anticipate 1-3 days of prescription pain medication.
Swelling: Mild to moderate depending on depth. It will improve over 5-7days.
The healing process: Treated areas may be raw and red. Crusting may occur over deeper treated areas. Crusting resolves as skin heals over 1-2 weeks. Redness resolves over 1-3 weeks.
Presentable in public: 1-2 days for light treatments and 1-3 weeks for moderate to deep treatments
Sun protection: SPF 15 or higher should be worn indefinitely.
Final result: 4-6 weeks

Conclusions on Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion improves skin by mechanically resurfacing scars, irregularities and wrinkles. The length of healing depends on the depth of treatment. Dermabrasion has been largely replaced by lasers because lasers can give a more consistent and more reliable result with fewer risks.