Medical Encyclopedia

Medical Encyclopedia

Skin smoothing surgery - series: Procedure

 Procedure

Skin smoothing surgery - series
Illustrations:

  • Indication
  • Procedure
  • Aftercare
  • Dermabrasion is usually done while you are awake. You will receive local anesthesia. This means the doctor will numb the area to be worked on.

    A surgical instrument is used to gently and carefully "sand" the scar tissue off down to normal, healthy skin. The healing tissue is treated with ointments (such as petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointments) to reduce scab formation (crusting) and therefore reduce scar formation.

    Update Date: 4/12/2007

    Updated by: Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Associate, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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