What is Dermabrasion? Benefits, Side Effects, and Procedures

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What is dermabrasion?

Dermabrasion is a a skin-resurfacing procedure that involves the exfoliation of the outermost layers of skin using a rotating device. The Dermabrasion technique aims to improve the skin texture by reducing the visibility of scars, melasma, wrinkles, and other skin conditions.

When it comes to the term “dermabrasion” , it’s composed of two parts “Derm” which stands for “skin” and “abrasion” which means the process of scraping or removing something, so it means literally scraping the skin.

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Who is Candidate For Getting Dermabrasion?

Dermabrasion is a great skincare solution but it’s definitely not for everyone, the ideal candidates for dermabrasion are patients who have specific skin conditions and meet certain criteria.

Here are some skin conditions that Dermabrasion can treat:

• Acne scars
• Age spots
• scars caused by surgery or injury
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Precancerous skin patches
• Sunburn
• Tattoos
• Rhinophyma, or redness and thick skin on the nose

On the opposite of the spectrum, there are some individuals that shouldn’t perform Dermabrasion due to some reasons like:

• Active acne breakouts (People who suffer from active, inflamed acne or other skin conditions like eczema)
• Recent Surgery (Individuals who have recently undergone surgery and their skin isn’t fully healed).
• Certain medications (Especially individuals who take blood-thinning medications)
• Scarring propensity (People who are more likely to have keloids or hypertrophic scars)

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What Are The Benefits of Dermabrasion

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Dermabrasion has several benefits for your skin, that you can’t find in even similar cosmetic treatments like chemical peel, some of them include:

• Stimulation of collagen
• Smoothing of skin texture
• Significant reduction of scars and wrinkles
• Less discoloration risk in medium skin tones
• Improved skin health and appearance

Dermabrasion Before and After

What are the complications and Side Effects of Dermabrasion?

When it comes to the side effects of Dermabrasion, it’s safe to say that they are not common, but can rarely occur, and amongst them, we have:

• Redness, swelling, and discomfort
• Temporary enlarged pores
• Risk of infection or scarring (rare)
• Changes in skin pigmentation (rare)
• Temporary darkening of the skin
• Prolonged healing time in some cases

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What’s The Difference Between Dermabrasion and Microdermabrasion?

Both Dermabrasion and microdermabrasion are physical resurfacing treatments and follow practically the same technique to reduce the appearance of scarring and wrinkles. The differences lays in the exfoliation method of these procedures. Dermabrasion is more of an invasive procedure that should be performed with anesthetic and by an expert dermatologist. Dermabrasion has a somewhat long downtime.

On the flip side, microdermabrasion is a non-invasive treatment which means it’s much gentler and can’t address deep wrinkles and scars. The downtime is also minimal and the procedure is by and large painless.

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Dermabrasion Procedures

As we explained earlier in this article, Dermabrasion is a skin-resurfacing technique, so it involves the use of a high-speed rotary instrument with an abrasive brush or wheel that will softly move over the skin to sand away the outer layers, but the procedure it’ll take a little more work than that, so let’s get more into the nitty gritty of Dermabrasion.

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Before the procedure

First Consultation

The dermatologist will first review your medical history, and ask you about any past skin conditions, medications, and previous treatments, and then discuss your expectations and results  you want to achieve with Dermabrasion.

Skin Examination

Your dermatologists will then examine your skin to determine the best treatment plan for your condition, based on some factors like skin type, tone, scars severity, to name a few.

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During the procedure

Cleaning and Anesthesia

The dermatologists (or one of their assistants) will meticulously clean the treatment area to remove any dirt, oil, and makeup, and straight after that, they’ll apply local (or general) anesthesia to numb the specific area and sometimes, your doctor will give you a sedative for more relaxation.

Marking the Area

Once the anesthesia is applied, the dermatologist will usually mark the specific treatment area with a pen to accurately guide the dermabrasion tool.

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Dermabrasion Process

Device Application:

The dermatologist will use a high-speed rotating device with an abrasive wheel or brush to gently exfoliate the outer skin layers and they will then carefully sand the skin layer by layer to make sure it doesn’t go too deep.

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Dermabrasion Post-Procedure Care

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You’ve undergone the procedure, removed the dead skin layer. Congratulations. But you're not done yet. It’s always necessary to follow certain guidelines to make sure you achieve your desired results:

• Clean the treated area and apply soothing ointment to protect the new skin and help it heal faster.
• Take the pain relievers that your healthcare provider may prescribe to you.
• Strictly avoid sun exposure, and use sunscreen whenever you go out.
• Schedule regular visits for your dermatologists to monitor the healing process.
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Where to perform Dermabrasion in Qatar?

Now that we've covered the ins and outs of it Dermabrasion, you may think: “Okay, that’s great, but where can I perform Dermabrasion in Qatar? Well, look no further than Al Siraj Medical Center and it’s not hard to see why!

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We strive to bring on board the best dermatologists and doctors in Qatar and equip them with state-of-the-art technology machine. Not only that! We also provide a customer support available every day for your inquiries.

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Best of all? We offer unbeatable prices, special offers and discounts throughout the year (keep an eye on our Social Media).

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Want to book your appointment with Al Siraj Medical Center? Give us a call at +974 44493666 and lay it all out on us!

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Dermabrasion FAQs

• How long do dermabrasion results last?

The effects of the treatment will often last for about 1 month.

• Which is better, dermabrasion or laser?

If you suffer from severe discoloration and extensive scarring, laser skin surfacing would most likely be a better option, but if your skin condition isn’t severe, Dermabrasion would be effective enough.

• How long does dermabrasion take to fully heal?

The healing process after Dermabrasion will take about two weeks.

• What does your face look like after dermabrasion?

After dermabrasion, the treated skin will be red and swollen, these effects will begin to decrease within a few days.