Skin Resurfacing

Purpose

Ablative resurfacing refers to one of three procedures: Dermabrasion, Chemical Peel, or Dermaplaning. All three procedures attempt to achieve the same goal—younger appearing and enhanced skin tone of the face, neck, chest, or extremities. Resurfacing can be done for the fine wrinkles that appear with aging, smoking, or familial inheritance. It is also extremely successful to correct skin changes caused by acne and darkened spots from sun exposure.

Procedure

At least 2 weeks prior to the procedure, patients will be asked to begin two topical medications (hydroquinone and tretinoin) to enhance the results. All patients on accutane, will need to be off this medication for at least 6 months prior to the procedure. This procedure usually takes 30 min to 1 hr. Depending on the modality used, the procedure can be done with conscious sedation or general anesthesia. Together with Dr. Blanks, the appropriate anesthetic plan will be determined.

Recovery

In order to achieve long lasting results, the deeper layers of the skin must be addressed. The skin regenerates or re-epithelializes in approximately 7 days. During this time, you will be instructed on how to care for your healing skin. Antibiotics and anti-virals will be provided to minimize the chance of infection. The skin may appear pink for 3-6 weeks after the procedure, and protection from the sun is imperative during this time for optimal results. Makeup can be worn within a couple of weeks to camouflage the healing skin.