What is dermabrasion?
Dermabrasion is a skin resurfacing procedure used to improve the skin quality and texture. It works by removing the top layer of the skin, allowing the new skin to grow and replace the previous skin. Dr. Bustillo uses dermabrasion to treat acne scarring, scars, and upper lip wrinkles, also known as “smoker’s lines.”
Are there any limitations to what dermabrasion can achieve?
Dermabrasion will improve the appearance of the skin. However, if it is being used to treat acne scarring, it will not completely remove all of the scaring. Patients that have dermabrasion done for acne scarring report a sixty to seventy percent improvement.
Who is the best candidate dermabrasion?
Healthy men and women who have acne scaring, scars, or upper lip wrinkles are good candidates for dermabrasion. The patient must have light skin, as people with darker skin are not candidates for dermabrasion. Darker skinned people may have problems with skin discoloration (hypopigmentation) if they undergo a skin resurfacing procedure.
What happens during a consultation for dermabrasion?
Dr. Bustillo will personally meet with you during the consultation. He will examine and evaluate you. He will then show you before and after pictures and then explain the surgical procedure from beginning to end. This explanation will include what surgical technique he will use, where the surgery will be performed, what type of anesthesia, and a step-by-step explanation of what the recovery will be like. You will then meet with the patient care coordinator, who will explain the scheduling details and the cost.
Where is dermabrasion performed?
Dr. Bustillo performs the dermabrasion procedure in his office-based operating room.
What type of anesthesia is used for dermabrasion?
Dr. Bustillo performs the dermabrasion procedure under local anesthesia with sedation.
How is the actual dermabrasion procedure?
Dr. Bustillo first applies a topical anesthetic cream and then anesthetizes the area with local anesthesia. The skin is then dermabraded with the dermabrader. At the conclusion of the procedure, Miami plastic surgeon Dr. Bustillo applies an antibiotic cream.
What is the recovery like after skin resurfacing?
The recovery for dermabrasion is rather mild. The patient is allowed to return home after the procedure. The post-operative period is painless. Patients are given pain medication in case they need it. The patient will then apply an antibiotic cream twice a day for about seven days. The patient typically develops a scab over the area that is dermabraded. The patient returns to the office at about seven days after the procedure. At that time, Dr. Bustillo will remove the scab. New skin will then be revealed. The area may remain pink for about one to two weeks. The natural skin color will slowly return.
How soon after dermabrasion procedure will I be able to return to work?
Patients are generally able to return to work about one week after the dermabrasion procedure.
Does insurance cover the cost of skin resurfacing?
Dermabrasion is not covered by insurance.
Dr. Andres Bustillo specializes in Miami dermabrasion procedures.