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The treatment:

This procedure should be carried out by a surgeon or dermatologist with relevant skills and experience in an establishment registered with the Healthcare Commission.

Dermabrasion is a procedure which involves removing the surface of the skin so that blemishes become less obvious. The process can take up to an hour.  You will have a local anaesthetic on the area to be treated, and usually some kind of sedation help you relax.

There are two types of dermabrasion. One involves the surgeon or dermatologist scraping away the outer layer of skin with a wire brush, to a level that will make a scar or wrinkle less visible. The other type involves the surgeon or dermatologist using a dermatome - which resembles an electric razor - to skim off the layers of skin that surround a deep scar or other defect, until the skin is at the same level as the lowest point of the scar.  The skimmed skin then heals.

The results:

The results are long lasting, although many people choose to have further dermabrasion every few years to maintain the initial effect.

The risks:

Dermabrasion generally causes a lot of bleeding, making it difficult to judge when to stop the removal of skin. This can lead to scarring or pigment changes. However, you can avoid most potential problems by talking to the surgeon in depth about what you require before the treatment.

Most people heal within ten days, although there may be some redness for up to three months.

Before you start:

Make sure you know what to expect from the treatment. Dermabrasion can't reduce pore size, or tighten loose skin.

There are a range of other skin treatments which can be as effective as dermabrasion, such as chemical peels or laser skin resurfacing  - so you may want to discuss these alternatives with your doctor.

Also see:

• Chemical peel
• Laser skin resurfacing