Dermabrasion Procedure for Shallow Acne Scars

Dermabrasion and its effects in acne scarring can be summarized as follows:


Limit in certain skin types- Darker skin types may not be candidates due to risk of permanent pigmentation issues

Shallow scars respond best

Consider therapies which build collagen and utilize dermabrasion as a "finishing" procedure once collagen has been restored.  Dermabrasion is much more effective in this role.

Our office has many different treatments for scars depending on the depth of atrophy or hypertrophy. Scars require a combination approach using our HI DEF protocol which uses a combination of lasers, topical scar modulation, and RF treatments to pixelate scars, improve contour, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the visibility of the scars so that they are no longer visible in ambient light. Everyone has a unique pattern of scarring and we employ our HIDEF technique to improve texture, color, contour, and topography. We often use a combination of treatments that begin with a careful examination to examine the micro texturing of the acne scars. Atrophic scars and indented scars can benefit from injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, and Restylane with or without subcision to remove tethered scars and atrophic depression. Hyper-redness in scars can be improved with V beam laser, Excel V, BBL, IPL, and Venus RF to improve the redness and reduce the visibility of deep scars. Fractional Thulium laser and clear & brilliant can also reduce the inflammation and redness of the scar when combined with topical therapy. Fractional lasers such as Fraxel, erbium, and CO2 laser can be combined with radio frequency and also fractional RF to improve textual issues and microtopography. Subcision and TCA cross are also used for deep ice pick scars and narrow valley scars in order to improve the micro texture. Above all, our combination approach with our clinical nurses and board-certified plastic surgeons can improve the quality of your skin by using at home Melarase creams combined with PRP treatments in our office to improve your skin quality and tone. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with an experienced team of experts in order to reduce your scarring.

Finally, hyperpigmentation of scars can be improved with at-home Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads to help reduce active PIH and melanin deposition.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Pitted scars are deep and rarely respond to dermabrasion. However, shallow acne scars may respond to traditional dermabrasion which may require 2-3 weeks for recovery. In brief, 20 sessions of microdermabrasion will not equal the effects of one dermabrasion procedure. Microdermabrasion, if performed properly as defined, is essentially an agressive expfoliation. (removal of dead cells). You should experience no bleeding. Bleeding indicates that you have passed into the dermis which is not an endpoint of microdermabrasion. Dermabrasion, however, does pass into the dermis and this creates a superficial controlled wound which must heal. microdermabrasion require no healing.