Table of Contents:

 

• What is microblading?
• Microblading vs. Permanent Makeup
• Who are likely candidates for microblading?
• What are the benefits of microblading eyebrows?
• What happens before microblading procedure?
• How is microblading done?
• How long will the microblading effect last?
• What will you do after a microblading procedure?
• How much does microblading cost?

Eyebrows are one of the most visible and noticeable facial features. Some women are blessed with beautiful eyebrows whether they’re arched and feathered, or straight and bold. Others love to enhance their eyebrows with the use of pencils, brow gels, and permanent tattoos.

While some women put a lot of effort to get the perfect eyebrows, there’s a better natural way to achieve beautifully looking eyebrows.

If you’re tired of putting too much effort on drawing eyebrows, or not satisfied with its shape, Microblading is a wise option for you. This cosmetic procedure produces semi-permanent results with strokes that look like real hairs.

What is microblading?

Microblading eyebrows have long been practiced by people in Asia and Europe. This cosmetic procedure goes by the names: eyebrow embroidery, eyebrow feathering, microstroking, micropigmentation, and 3D eyebrows.

Eyebrow microblading is gaining momentum in the cosmetic industry. It’s a relief for most women who have concerns with their eyebrows. And people who undergo microblading are usually satisfied with their results.

By: Beverly Hills Permanent Makeup

Microblading can enhance the appearance of your eyebrows by drawing hairs strand-by-strand. 3D hair-like strokes will be meticulously filled and adjusted in areas needed. The plastic surgeon or a well-trained microblading artist usually shapes and shades your eyebrows to make it proportional to the other facial features.

Microblading vs. Permanent Makeup

The microblading procedure sounds much like a permanent tattoo procedure. However, the difference between these two cosmetic techniques is that microblading uses a set of micro needles and semi-permanent inks.

Microblading uses an iron oxide base pigment which is a known ingredient in most cosmetics like lipstick, blush, and foundation.
This type of pigment is semi-permanent and softly fades over time, unlike permanent tattoo inks that may look unpleasant over time.

The pigment isn’t embedded deep into the skin, unlike permanent tattoos. It’s only the upper layer of the dermis that’s implanted with a pigment.

The artist makes sure that the pigment is embedded deep enough to obtain better color retention. Poor color retention is achieved if the ink doesn’t go deep enough. If it’s too deep, scarring occurs, and the strokes appear blurry and unnatural looking.

Who are likely candidates for microblading?

You can undergo eyebrow microblading if:

• You have hair loss on your eyebrow areas
• You want to improve the shape of your eyebrows
• You have thin brows because of over-plucking or over-tweezing
• You have a scar or a gap on your brows
• You have difficulty in obtaining well-defined eyebrows

What are the benefits of microblading eyebrows?

• Microblading eyebrows improve the appearance of your face by giving it well-defined eyebrows
• Cuts your makeup time and effort
• People with hair loss problems will have naturally-looking eyebrows
• Microbladed eyebrows don’t fade or smudge even when doing rigorous activities or active lifestyles
• It’s safe, painless, and long-lasting

What happens before microblading procedure?

Your aesthetician or microblading artist will discuss with you about the procedure, tools to be used, risks, and other relevant concerns. Questions about your medical health condition, desired results, and concerns may be asked before the procedure.

Your plastic surgeon or microblading artist will then outline your eyebrows to create a shape that’ll improve your eyebrow appearance. Outlines made will serve as a guide during the actual microblading procedure.

How is microblading done?

In microblading, your plastic surgeon or microblading artist uses a microblading hand tool that looks like a pen-like scalpel knife, but its tip has a series of tiny needles instead of a blade. This set of tiny needles also known as microblade is dipped into your preferred pigment color. Then, your cosmetic surgeon or microblading artist creates microstrokes on your eyebrow skin.

The entire cosmetic procedure brings about the color being embedded into the skin, which is known as micropigmentation. In microblading, your plastic surgeon or microblading artist meticulously makes superficial cuts in and along your brows. Then, your preferred pigment color is embedded in the skin. This procedure may sound like you’re getting a painful new tattoo, but it’s not that painful. If you’ve experienced an eyebrow threading procedure, the pain you’ll feel may be similar.

Microblading eyebrows usually take at least about an hour especially if a well-experienced plastic surgeon or a well-trained microblading artist does the process. Beautiful, well-defined, and natural-looking eyebrows result by using proper stroking techniques.

How long will the microblading effect last?

Microbladed eyebrows usually last up to three years depending on the pigment used. Your microblading artist or aesthetician may recommend you to undergo a touch up at least after 12 months to keep your eyebrows fine and crisp.

What will you do after a microblading procedure?

Here are a few helpful tips that you should do after undergoing a microblading procedure:

• For at least a week, never get your eyebrows wet
• Avoid activities that may make you sweat profusely for at least a week
• Cover your microbladed eyebrows with an antiseptic ointment to prevent infection. An antibiotic ointment may be prescribed to you by your doctor for the first 24 hours. Another ointment may be recommended to you to avoid scab formation on treated areas
• Solutions that contain glycolic acid must be avoided as it can fade the pigments embedded in your brows

How much does microblading cost?

Around Beverly Hills, California, the typical cost for microblading eyebrows ranges from $300 to $800 with an average price of $500 near Beverly Hills.

However, you should know that the costs vary widely because of several reasons. Factors that may affect the cost of microblading are surgeon’s expertise, geographic location, surgical facility fees, and the complexity of the microblading procedure.

Microblading your eyebrows is a personal decision which can be life-changing. You’ll achieve well-defined eyebrows that’ll reduce your makeup time in obtaining perfect eyebrow shapes. Make sure that you adhere to your doctor’s instructions and advice to meet desirable and long-lasting results.

Table of Contents:

• What causes acne scars?
• What are the different types of acne scars?
• What are the options for removing acne scars?
• How much is an Acne Scar Removal Treatment?
• How do you choose a doctor for Acne Scar Removal Treatment?
• Do Acne Scar Removal Treatments guarantee success?

Acne scars may be a skin problem, but it isn’t just skin deep. It may affect your self-esteem and everything that’s tied to it.

If you’re facing this kind of facial problem, it’s not too late to know more about them and explore your options in minimizing acne scars.

What causes acne scars?

Bacteria, dead skin cells, and excess oils can cause inflamed blemishes on your skin. The pores swell and may cause breakage of the skin. Typically, shallow lesions may heal quickly.

If the pore experiences deep breakage, the infection can spill out into the surrounding tissues. This factor results in the creation of deeper lesions.

As the skin aims to heal itself, it forms new collagen fibers. This mechanism doesn’t usually result in a smooth and flawless renewal of skin. This mishap creates various types of acne scars.

What are the different types of acne scars?

Acne scars can be as mild as few patches or as horrible as a bunch of craters. However they look, it pays to know their forms for you to have an idea which treatment might suit you.

1. Macules

They’re flat and red spots caused by acne lesions. Macules can be visible for weeks and then fades on their own.

2. Skin discoloration

This skin problem is also called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Acne scars may leave the skin discolored.

3. Tissue scars

Also called keloids or hypertrophic scars, these scars are caused by the excess production of collagen in your skin. They may appear as enlarged and raised growths of tissues.

4. Loss of tissue

These are more common than raised tissue scars. They look like pits on the skin. Loss of tissue causes it. They’re also called Follicular Macular Atrophy, Ice-Pick Scars, Depressed Fibrotic Scars, Soft Scars, and Atrophic Macules.

What are the options for removing acne scars?

Acne scars may have ruined your self-esteem, but it’s not too late to know your dermatologically tested solutions in minimizing acne scars. These procedures can’t erase ‘everything, ‘ but they can reduce the problem that’s right on your face.

By: Jason Emer, MD

1. Dermabrasion

This scar removal treatment uses a high-speed brush or another instrument to reduce scars or minimize its depth.

Risks:

• Scarring
• Redness
• Swelling
• Loss of skin color
• Tissue damage
• Infection

Preparing for the procedure

One week or so, Dermabrasion candidates should:

• Stop taking certain medications, such as aspirin
• Stop smoking
• Avoid certain skin care products
• Avoid sun exposure

What to expect after the procedure

• Several times a day, the treated area must be cleansed. Also, regular application of ointments and changing of dressing should also be observed.
• Within five to eight days, new skin growth is expected.
• Within six to eight weeks, the skin will start to fade to normal tones
• Minimal pain and swelling from treatment may be experienced.

2. Micro-Dermabrasion

This procedure is less intensive than Dermabrasion. In this treatment, a dermatologist or aesthetician uses minute crystals instead of a high-speed brush to remove the surface skin. More than one treatment may be required. No downtime is needed.

Risks:

• Infection
• Skin irritation

Preparing for the procedure

• Patients who have experienced other skin procedures should consult their doctors before undergoing microdermabrasion.
• For one to three days, avoidance of exfoliating creams must be observed.
• Avoid sun exposure before the treatment.
• Avoid waxing before the treatment.

What to expect after the procedure

The recovery time for Microdermabrasion is minimal. Patients should:

• Keep new skin clean and moisturized
• Application of anti-inflammatory creams or cold compresses is needed
• Use a gentle cleanser
• Avoid scratching or picking new skin
• Avoid chemical solutions such as Glycols, Beta Hydroxyls, Retinols, and Benzyl Peroxides for one to two days

3. Chemical Peels

This treatment may help reduce the appearance of Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) around a healed acne lesion. It can also lessen the presence of shallow scars.

Chemical Peels should be performed by a doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner or spa aesthetician. This treatment involves the removal of the skin’s outer layer. It may give a smoother and more even appearance. The strength of the acid used may cause redness and may peel for a few days.

Risks:

• Scarring
• Re-activation of cold sores
• For women taking birth control pills, temporary or permanent change in skin color may be experienced

Preparation before the procedure

• The patient must discuss skin condition and treatment goals with the doctor to know the intensity of chemical peel
• Reveal any history of cold sores, scarring, or facial X-rays
• Avoid any medications or supplements that can affect blood clotting like Ibuprofen, Aspirin and Vitamin E for 10 days before surgery
• Avoid using medications such as Retin-A or Renova

What to expect after the procedure

• The patient may encounter response like sunburn
• Redness, trailed by scaling of the skin for about three to seven days
• Swelling
• Blisters may appear, covering the face. They’ll turn into dark colored and peel off within 14 days
• Bandages may have to be worn over the treated areas for a few days
• Chemical peel patients ought to dodge the sun for a while after the treatment
• Light peels might be redone in one to four-week interims. Medium-profundity peels might be repeated each six to a year

4. Lasers

This treatment includes the use of a laser to remove the outer layer of skin. It may be used to contour areas of acne scars. It can also help in lightening the redness around healed acne lesions.

Whether an acne scar is flat or raised, different types of lasers might be used. Also, more than one laser treatment may be required for every type of laser used. Several days might be needed to heal.

Risks:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Bleeding
• Scarring
• Crusting
• Discoloration
• Infection

What to expect after the procedure

• Cleanse the treatment area after the first 24 hours
• Follow-up cleansing for four to five times a day
• Application of petroleum jelly on treated areas may help in preventing scabs
• Swelling for 24 to 48 hours after treatment may be experienced
• Itch or sting may be felt during 12 to 72 hours after treatment
• Healing typically takes around 10 to 21 days

Once the treatment area is fully healed, you should:

• Only use oil-free make up for at least two to three months
• Avoid sun exposure
• Keep your new skin well-moisturized

5. Fillers

Fillers are especially for those that have experienced the crater-like appearance of skin. Substances like Collagen Fats and Hyaluronic acid may be used to ‘fill out’ the pits.

The skin eventually absorbs fillers. This factor means that filler injections should be repeated every few months. Repetition of the treatment may depend on the type of product used. For this treatment, no downtime for recovery is needed.

Risks:

• Allergic reactions might occur due to the injection of fillers

Preparing for the procedure

You should inform your doctor if you’re using any of the following:

• Prescription medicines
• Over-the-counter medicines
• Herbal supplements

What to expect after the procedure

• Bruising (may last for one week)
• Swelling
• Redness

6. Excision and Punch Replacement Graft

In excision, the doctor would cut into the skin to remove the acne scar. The wounds are closed with stitches.

In Punch Replacement Grafting, the doctor takes a skin graft from behind the ear. The graft will be used to fill in the acne scars.

What to expect after the procedure

• You may not see immediate improvement
• Wounds must be cleansed thoroughly
• Bandages must be changed daily
• On the first one to two weeks after treatment, bruising may occur

How much is an Acne Scar Removal Treatment?

The treatments may cost from several hundred to several thousand dollars. Also, it depends on the extent of treatment. Since most medical insurance considers these procedures as cosmetic treatments, they’re generally not covered.

How do you choose a doctor for Acne Scar Removal Treatment?

Only certified experts must perform Acne Scar Removal Treatments. Wrong administration of this treatment can lead to irreversible effects. Heed these factors that allow you to choose your doctor wisely.

• Certification and Memberships. It’s a plus when the doctor is a certified member of an American Society of Plastic Surgeons or any dermatology society in the region. This factor elevates the credibility of a plastic surgeon you’re about to see.
• Experience. The doctor must be well-aware of the risks and limitations of the Acne Scar Removal Treatment.
• Reputation. One way to find your suitable cosmetic surgeon is by looking for a suggestion. If you know someone who underwent some of the treatments above, you can ask them. Check the doctor’s record for any misbehavior. This data might be made open by state restorative sheets.

Do Acne Scar Removal Treatments guarantee success?

The effectivity of the treatments may vary on the patient’s ability to maintain the procedures. Also, lifestyle and health may affect the occurrence of side effects.

Table of Contents:

• Who are Good Candidates for Cheek Implants?
• How Much Does Cheek Implant Surgery Cost?
• Cheek Implants Surgical Procedure
• How to Prepare for the Surgery
• Recovery Period

Cheeks are one of the things that we first notice in a person’s face. Plump and elevated cheeks give out that youthful appearance, which is why some people would say that cheeks are one of the key areas of the body which determines your age.

Aging, unfortunately, makes the cheeks sag due to volume loss. Strenuous physical activities such as weightlifting may also be the reason why there’s volume loss on your cheeks which results in a deflated appearance.

Cheek implants also called as malar implants are one of the more enduring and permanent surgical methods that can bring back the volume of the cheeks that lacked contour.

This type of surgical method is proven safe and pretty straightforward, and the postoperative recovery does not take a long time.

Who are Good Candidates for Cheek Implants?

If you’ve tried and enjoyed the results of dermal fillers and wants to have long-lasting, enhanced and plumped cheeks, then cheek implants are the way to go.

If you’re one of those persons who have:

• A flat face that lacks in contour, this might be due to genetics or aging.
• The structure of the cheeks is limp.
• Lost cheek volumes, because of strenuous physical activities and aging.

Then you can be a good candidate for cheek implants. Be sure to consult a trusted surgeon first to know which procedure would work best for you.

How Much Does Cheek Implant Surgery Cost?

Most health insurance providers don’t cover cosmetic surgery expenses, so you have to take it out of your own pocket. Your surgeon can give you an exact estimate regarding the cost of the cheek implants surgery. More or less though, cheek implants cost around $3,500 on average. Some factors can affect the cost of the cheek implants surgical procedure, and these are:

• Where your surgery will be performed. Is it an ambulatory, or an office-based, or a hospital facility? The cost will differ according to the location where your surgery will be performed.
• Your surgeon. How well-known and the level of the expertise of your surgeon will be put into consideration.
• Where your surgeon is located. A surgeon’s professional fee may vary according to where he or she is located because some cities have a higher cost of living.
• Medical tests and check-ups might be needed before the surgery. You may need to undergo medical tests and follow-ups with your surgeon to avoid complications during and after surgery.
• Anesthesia. Will it be a local anesthetic with IV, oral sedation or a general anesthetic?

By: Dr. Ben Talei

Cheek Implants Surgical Procedure

Different options will be discussed with your surgeon regarding the surgical techniques and anesthesia. A local anesthetic with IV, oral sedation, or a general anesthetic can be used when performing a cheek implant surgery.

The implants are usually inserted through the mouth, or underneath the lower eyelids. If inserted through the lower eyelids, the incision will be made beneath the eyelids, so that the eyelashes can conceal the incision.

The most popular material used is solid silicone implants. Other options include Gore-Tex® and Medor® implants. Gore-Tex® is made from expanded polytetraflouroethylene. Medor® is an implant which comes with the facial tissue to integrate the implant with the bone over time.

The duration of the cheek implant surgery alone usually takes about 30-45 minutes.

How to Prepare for the Surgery

When you have decided to undergo surgery and get the results that you’re hoping for, you should prepare well for the surgical procedure.

Following your surgeon’s pre-operative instructions is vital to the success of your surgery.

These are the guidelines that are usually given by your surgeon:

• You’re required to have medical evaluations and testing before the surgery. This is to ensure your readiness for the surgery and to avoid complications during the surgical procedure.
• No drinking and smoking two months before the surgery.
• You should provide a detailed and accurate medical history. This should include the medications that you’re currently taking.
• To avoid increase bleeding during the surgery, aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs or herbal supplements should not be taken before the surgery.
• You should be accompanied by a loved one or a friend when you undergo surgery. This way, you won’t have to go to the surgical facility by yourself. Having someone drive you to the facility will make you feel at ease because surgeries can make you feel anxious.

Recovery Period

Bruising and swelling after surgery is normal. However, it should subside within two weeks. Cold compresses help in minimizing the discomfort. Make sure to apply it to the area where the incision was made.

These are the things that can help for a faster healing process:

• If incisions were made in your mouth, always rinse with mouthwash to minimize the possibility of infection at the incision area.
• If incisions were made beneath your eye, your eyes should be lubricated with eye drops as often as possible. It’s best that you consult your post-operative surgeon which eye drops you’ll have to use.
• Rest and avoid any physical activities that’ll require you to exert a lot of effort for six weeks. Physical activities might misplace the implants and open the sutures.
• To prevent the fluid from accumulating around the implants, you should keep the head elevated, especially during sleeping time. Find yourself a comfortable sleeping position that’ll enable you to raise your head.
• It’s best that you eat soft and nourishing food for ten days to avoid discomfort caused by chewing solid food. Having a soft diet can ensure that the sutures in your mouth won’t be disturbed.
• To minimize swelling and make sure that implants stay in place, you should wear the bandage provided to you for a week after the surgery.
• Only return to work or your daily activities when you have received the go-signal from your surgeon.
• Never miss follow-up appointments with your plastic surgeon.

For matters of the heart, time holds the cure. This idea is almost absolute for most cases. But for other injuries that involve tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints (musculoskeletal injuries), Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections may help in accelerating the healing process.

Plate Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment has been used by a number of professional athletes and has received significant attention from the media.

Table of Contents:

• What is PRP?
• What are some procedures that involve PRP?
• Postsurgical repair
• How do you choose your doctor?
• Pre-Proceduce Planning
• Procedure
• What happens after the PRP treatment?
• What are the potential side effects of PRP treatment?
• Does PRP injection guarantee success of a surgical procedure?

What is PRP?

Blood contains Plasma, Red blood cells, White blood cells, and Platelets. Platelets are little discoid cells with a life expectancy of around 7-10 days.

These Platelets have a significant role in the wound healing process. They work together by aggregation and formation of a clot to stop further bleeding of an injured site.

Platelets are usually found in the circulating blood. But accumulating PRP and injecting the concentrate to an injured site may guarantee faster wound healing. The concentration level may differ depending on your blood platelet count, the technique of extraction and equipment used. And studies show that clinical advantage can be acquired if the PRP has a four times greater concentration than normal blood.

What are some procedures that involve PRP?

• Hair loss
  Doctors will inject PRP into the scalp to promote hair growth and prevent hair loss.
• Tendon injuries
  Tendons are tough and thick bands of tissues that connect muscles to bones. When torn, their healing process is slow. Doctors use PRP injections to heal chronic tendon problems like Achilles Tendonitis, Tennis Elbow, and Jumper’s Knee.
• Acute injuries
  PRP helps in treating acute sports injuries like pulled hamstring muscles or knee sprains.
  

Postsurgical repair

Sometimes, doctors make use of PRP injections for repairing a torn tendon like the Rotator Cuff Tendon in the shoulder.
Osteoarthritis treatment
Doctors may inject PRP into the knees of those people with osteoarthritis.
Note that none of these procedures have been thoroughly demonstrated to give complete results.

• How much does a PRP injection cost?
  PRP injection costs around $500 to $1,200 per treatment. The prices may vary by geographic region, the complexity of the procedure, and the doctor’s experience.

How do you choose your doctor?

Only certified experts must perform PRP treatment. Wrong administration of this treatment can lead to irreversible effects. Heed these factors that allow you to choose your doctor wisely.

• Certification and Memberships: It’s a plus when the doctor is a certified member of an American Orthopedic Association or any Orthopedic society in the region. This factor elevates the credibility of a doctor you are about to see.
• Experience : The doctor must be well-aware of the risks and limitations of PRP treatment.
• Reputation : One way to find a great doctor is by looking for a suggestion. If you know someone who underwent PRP treatment, you can ask them. Check the doctor’s record for any misbehavior. This data might be made open by state restorative sheets.

Pre-Procedure Planning

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications should be avoided 7 days before and after the procedure. Typical examples of these are Ibuprofen, Naproxyn, Indomethacin, and Aspirin.
• Non-steroidal medications work by blocking the growth factors present in PRP. These medications may render the injection useless.
• For lower extremity shots, it’s recommended that patients should have someone have them home after the procedure. In some cases, the physician may need the patient to be on crutches for 1-2 days.

Procedure

• Assessment of the injury
  During your first appointment, the doctor will view your detailed clinical history. A thorough physical examination will follow. Basing on your situation, the doctor may need other tests like an ultrasound to confirm diagnosis and point out the particular site for injection.In most cases, your doctor will check to see if you have recently used any Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory medications (NSAID’s) like Voltaren, Nurofen, and Mobic. These can affect the platelet production of the bone marrow. Your cosmetic surgeon may advise you to stop taking them 10 days prior the procedure.
• Blood Collection
  Through venipuncture, your blood is extracted with the same technique used when collecting a sample for blood tests. Standard blood collection site is a large vein (median cubital) in your arm. At least 20 mL of blood might be gathered.
• Preparation
  With the use of a centrifuge, blood components will be separated. The procedure takes about 15 minutes. The Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) forms a white layer between the clear fluid and the red blood cells. A laboratory instrument is then used to separate the PRP from other blood components. Depending on your platelet count, up to 2-8 mL of PRP will be extracted from the centrifuged blood.
• The Injection Procedure
  The PRP can be injected into the injury with or without the guidance of an ultrasound procedure.

By: Dr. Ben Talei
An ultrasound procedure uses sound waves that forms images to visually demonstrate the site of injury. It’s a similar technique used in monitoring and assessing the condition of your body. This method is also used in monitoring the progress of pregnancy.

What happens after the PRP treatment?

• Every 2-3 hours, you’ll be instructed to apply a cold compress (ice pack) on the area for about 20 minutes during the first 24-48 hours after the procedure. Some patients may experience a ‘flare’ reaction or an intense pain beginning the day after the procedure.
• To lessen pain and discomfort, doctors usually prescribe medications.
• You’ll need to rest and refrain from doing rigorous activities for a couple of days or weeks after the treatment.

The pain typically subsides during the third to fourth week after treatment. It continues to improve over half a year. Recovery time relies on the extent of the injury, and your body responses towards wound healing.

What are the potential side effects of PRP treatment?

Though PRP uses your own blood sample for the procedure, possible reactions may still occur. However, the use of an ‘autologous’ sample lessens the dangers of unfavorable effects that can happen from infusing different synthetic and chemically-prepared pharmaceuticals.

Some risks may still occur from injecting your own PRP which includes:

• Infection
• Nerve injuries
• Pain at the injection site
• Tissue damage

Discussing the potential risks with your doctor is necessary before undergoing the treatment.

Does PRP injection guarantee success of a surgical procedure?

Evidence from studies shows that the success of PRP treatment is purely circumstantial. Your ability to recover delicately depends on the outcome of the injected PRP treatment and your body responses towards healing.

Table of Contents:

• What are the types of dermabrasion?
• Who can likely undergo dermabrasion?
• How much does a dermabrasion cost?
• How do you choose your plastic surgeon for dermabrasion?
• Initial consultation
• Where is dermabrasion performed?
• Dermabrasion procedure
• Dermaplaning procedure
• Recovery
• Results
• Risks and Safety

Acne scars, wrinkles, and blemishes can be an inconvenience for body-conscious people who desire of having smooth and flawless skin. These facial flaws may be caused by heredity, unhealthy lifestyle, sun damage, or an underlying medical condition. Other causes include facial traumas, accidents, and skin cancers involving the face.

Cosmetic procedures like dermabrasion are available to reduce those facial imperfections and improve the appearance of the skin. People with facial skin problems can achieve a smooth and flawless skin after dermabrasion.

Dermabrasion is a non-surgical facial cosmetic procedure which is often used to treat facial imperfections.

This aesthetic procedure uses an instrument that smoothes the skin by exfoliating the damaged outer layer of the skin. One advantage of dermabrasion is that it doesn’t require an extensive recovery period unlike surgical cosmetic procedures, such as a facelift.

Dermabrasion and dermaplaning (dermablading) can be performed on specific areas of the skin or the entire face. Depending on the plastic surgeon’s recommendation, dermabrasion can be performed alone. This cosmetic procedure can also be in combination with other surgical procedures, such as facelift, chemical peel, or scar revision.

What are the types of dermabrasion?

Laser Dermabrasion – This cosmetic procedure removes skin irregularities by passing concentrated beams of light (laser) through layers of skin. It’s also known as lasabrasion, laser peel, and laser vaporization.

Microdermabrasion – This cosmetic procedure is one of the safest resurfacing techniques. Correction of skin irregularities is made by using an instrument which has Aluminium oxide crystals.

Diamond Dermabrasion – An instrument with a diamond tip is used to ‘refinish’ the skin. This dermabrasion technique is more precise than other skin resurfacing methods.

Who can likely undergo dermabrasion?

Dermabrasion can be performed to people of all ages and genders. Though several factors may affect a person’s recovery from dermabrasion, a person’s skin type, color, and medical history are the most common important factors to consider.

By: The Wax Shop

Before coming up with a decision to undergo dermabrasion, you should think about some considerations. You may undergo dermabrasion if:

• You have facial scars caused by acne, previous injury, or previous infection like chicken pox
• Wrinkles and fine lines on your face make you feel uncomfortable
• You have freckles, dark spots, and uneven skin tone
• Facial skin problems caused by physical injury or accidents

Though there’s no age restriction to undergo dermabrasion, most plastic surgeons may not perform this procedure if you have any of the following:

• In the active stages of acne
• Undergoing radiation treatment
• With severe burn injuries
• Recently underwent chemical peel treatment

If you consider undergoing dermabrasion, you must also have good general health and positive attitude. Setting realistic expectations of the procedure will help you achieve successful results.

Though dermabrasion can improve your facial aesthetics, you should carefully think if the cosmetic procedure may work well for you. Here are a few known advantages and disadvantages of dermabrasion.

Advantages

• Facial flaws are reduced and improved
• More intensive than mild chemical peel and microdermabrasion
• Non-surgical cosmetic treatment
• Shorter recovery period
• Less invasive than a facelift

Disadvantages

• Scarring or irritation may occur
• Skin becomes very sensitive to sun exposure
• Changes in skin color may occur
• Skin pores may become enlarged
• May cause skin reactions or allergies

These are a few points to consider before undergoing dermabrasion. There may be an improvement of your appearance and self-confidence through dermabrasion and dermaplaning, but these procedures don’t guarantee a permanent or long-term effect.

How much does a dermabrasion cost?

According to the 2016 statistics of American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of dermabrasion is $1,162. This cost is only for the procedure alone.

Dermabrasion treatment prices vary widely. Several factors affecting its cost includes the surgeon’s expertise, geographic location, anesthesia costs, the surgical facility used, type of treatment done, and extent of the procedure.

Health insurance providers may not shoulder any expenses covered by dermabrasion. However, many plastic surgeons offer financing plans for you. It’s best to inquire your chosen plastic surgeon about the entire costs and ask if he or she provides affordable financing options for you.

How do you choose your plastic surgeon for dermabrasion?

Dermabrasion involves many options, and inadequately trained practitioners may offer this cosmetic procedure. But, remember that dermabrasion involves the most visible part of your body which is your face. If an unqualified practitioner does this cosmetic procedure, it may lead to surgical complications and unsatisfying results. A well-trained and certified cosmetic surgeon is the best option to accomplish the best results. Keep these factors in mind when choosing a surgeon for your plastic surgery with facial implants.

• Certification and Memberships. First of all, make sure that a surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Memberships may not be necessary, but it could be a great indication that your surgeon is well-skilled.
• Experience. A surgeon’s experience can tell if he can give you a safe and satisfying dermabrasion procedure.
• Reputation. One way to find an excellent plastic surgeon is by seeking a recommendation. If you know someone who underwent dermabrasion, ask them. Check the doctor’s record for any malpractice complaints. This information may be made public by state medical boards.

Initial consultation

Before you decide to have a dermabrasion treatment, think carefully about your realistic goals and expectations. You mustn’t hesitate to discuss your concerns with your chosen plastic surgeon.

Your cosmetic surgeon will give a detailed discussion about the procedure, risks factors, complications, and expected results. You may undergo a thorough evaluation about your overall health. Personal information, medical history, and other relevant concerns will be asked from you.

Specific instructions will be given by your plastic surgeon about what you’ll do before and after the procedure. Your chosen plastic surgeon may need you to do the following instructions:

• You need to avoid smoking at least six weeks before undergoing buttock lift to promote better wound healing.
• You need to avoid taking medications that can cause increased bleeding like aspirin, certain anti-inflammatory drugs, and some herbal medicines.
• You need to be well-hydrated before and after buttock lift for safe recovery.

Where is dermabrasion performed?

Dermabrasion treatment may be done in a surgeon’s clinic, an outpatient surgical facility, or a hospital. This cosmetic procedure is usually done on an outpatient basis, and you may go home after treatment. You may require a hospital stay depending on the extent of the skin-refinishing treatment and your surgeon’s assessment.

It’s best that you arrange someone to drive you to the surgical facility and back home after surgery. Someone also has to help you out after dermabrasion if needed.

Dermabrasion procedure

Dermabrasion is a relatively simple cosmetic procedure and may be done in a few minutes to an hour and a half. This cosmetic procedure may take longer depending on how much your skin needs to be treated. Most often, dermabrasion is performed more than once or in stages. This cosmetic procedure takes longer to finish especially when deep scars or a large area of skin is involved.

The plastic surgeon refinishes the facial skin by scraping away the outer layer of your skin using a rough wire brush. Another instrument used for dermabrasion is a hand-held device that has a diamond tip which is attached to a motorized handle. With the use of any of the two instruments, the cosmetic surgeon refinishes your skin until your facial skin irregularities are less visible.

Dermaplaning procedure

In dermaplaning, the cosmetic surgeon uses a ‘dermatome,’ which is a hand-held device. This refinishing instrument has an oscillating blade that ‘skims’ back and forth to remove the outer layer of the skin. The skimming continues until the skin becomes smooth and the facial irregularities are reduced.

After dermabrasion and dermaplaning, the cosmetic surgeon may then treat your refinished skin usually by using an ointment, applying a wet or waxy dressing, or using dry treatment. Your cosmetic surgeon may also use a combination of these treatments.

Recovery

You’ll experience the following conditions directly after surgery:

• Redness and swelling of your face
• Tingling and burning sensation on your face
• Difficulty in speaking and eating
• Pain and discomfort on the face

These are normal occurrences right after undergoing dermabrasion. But the redness and swelling may subside within a few days to a week. Your cosmetic surgeon may give you medications to ease the pain and discomfort. Antibiotic or antiseptic ointments or medications may also be given to you to prevent infection.

As your treated areas heal, there’ll be a formation of crusts on your face which indicates healing. You may feel itchiness on your face as a new layer of skin starts to grow. Your cosmetic surgeon may prescribe you an ointment or cream to relieve the discomfort. Little or no scab may form if you apply the ointment immediately after the procedure.

Your cosmetic surgeon will also give you specific instructions on how to take care of your face. Remember to follow your doctor’s instructions to achieve desirable results.

If you notice abnormal formations or unusual changes on your skin, inform your cosmetic surgeon so that proper treatment will be given to you as soon as possible.

Here are some guidelines that may be given to you by your cosmetic surgeon to achieve the best results:

• You should avoid activities that might damage your facial skin for about four to six weeks
• You can expect to be back on doing your normal activities for about two weeks
• Avoid sun exposure
• Avoid swimming in chlorinated waters or pools at least four weeks
• Avoid alcoholic beverages for at least three to four weeks
• It’s important to protect your skin by using sunscreens or sunblocks as your skin may become sensitive to sunlight

Results

Dermabrasion may improve your facial appearance, but it may require more treatment sessions and proper treatment to achieve optimal results.

You may experience redness and discomfort during the first few weeks. When your new skin has fully achieved repigmentation, you’ll have a smooth and flawless skin.

Risks and Safety

Dermabrasion is a normally safe cosmetic procedure. However, there are possible risks that may occur when the right aftercare procedures aren’t when performed well.

Some of the changes that might occur after dermabrasion are:

• Skin discoloration which may lead to permanent darkening of the skin may occur in some patients due to sun exposure in the days or months following surgery.
• Blotches on skin
• Whiteheads may develop
• Enlarged pores
• Keloid formation or hypertropic scars
• Changes in your skin due to infection

You can minimize your risks by choosing a well-skilled, qualified plastic surgeon and follow his or her advice. Your convenience and safety is what matters most when undergoing dermabrasion.

Table of Contents:

• Assessment of facial burn injuries
• Choosing the right facial burn plastic surgeon
• Initial evaluation
• Initial treatment
• Facial burn surgical approaches
• Surgical techniques for facial burn surgery
• What happens after a facial burn surgery?
• Signs and symptoms of infection at the surgical site

Every year, burn injury cases represent more than 100,000 hospitalizations in the US. More than half of these burn injuries involve the head and neck areas which are caused by flames, chemicals, hot substances and electrical currents. Facial burn injuries may differ from minor burns to serious debilitating injuries.

Facial burns may cause problems with speech, breathing, neck mobility, oral continence, and sight. There are distortions on the facial features like contractures, scars, and discolorations that may also affect a patient’s overall appearance.

While most scars on the body can be hidden with reasonable effort, scars from facial burn injuries are highly noticeable. Preventing the formation of facial scars is one of the main goals when treating burn patients. A burn patient may require challenging facial reconstruction procedures and may need to be assisted by different medical specialists.

Reconstructive surgery for a facial burn injury is done to restore the function, appearance, and well-being of a person.

Assessment of facial burn injuries

An in-depth evaluation of the facial skin anatomy and degree of damage is made before facial burn injury is treated.

By: Dr. Robert M. Kimmel

First-degree facial burn injury

First degree burns are usually superficial burn injuries which involve minimal tissue damage. The injury appears pinkish, dry, and without blisters. It’s often painful which may be caused by scald, sunburn, or flash flame. The burn site may heal for about 5 to 10 days. Typically, there’s no scar formation, but skin discoloration may occur.

Second-degree facial burn injury

In this classification, the top-most layer of the skin and may be a portion of the dermis is damaged. The wound site is often painful and appears reddish with blister formation. With proper treatment, the affected site may heal for about 10 to 14 days. However, deeper second-degree burns may take at least 30 days to recover. Utmost care must be given on a second-degree burn as it may develop into a third-degree injury if infection occurs.

Third-degree facial burn injury

Almost the entire skin may be damaged in a third-degree burn injury. The sensory nerve endings of the affected site are also destroyed, so pain on the injury site isn’t felt.

Formation of blisters and eschars is common. The skin appears dry and leathery with a gray, white, brown or black discoloration. Most severe burns fall in this classification and healing doesn’t occur spontaneously. Third-degree burns may result in disfiguring scars, loss of senses, and severe deformities.

Surgical treatment for facial burn injuries may be given to second and third-degree burns, depending on the extent of the injury.

Choosing the right facial burn plastic surgeon

A facial burn surgery must be done by a certified and expert cosmetic surgeon to accomplish the best results. An unqualified practitioner may lead to surgical complications and unsatisfying results. Keep these factors in mind when choosing a surgeon for facial burn surgery.

• Certification and Memberships. Facial burn surgery is a challenging procedure as it involves the reconstruction of important facial features. Make sure that the cosmetic surgeon is a certified member of the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Memberships may not be necessary, but it could be a great indication that the surgeon is well-skilled.
• Experience. A plastic surgeon’s experience can tell if the surgeon can give a safe and successful facial burn surgery.
• Reputation. One way to find an excellent plastic surgeon is by seeking a recommendation. If you know someone who went through a facial burn surgery, ask them. Check the doctor’s record for any malpractice complaints. This information may be made public by state medical boards.

Initial evaluation

The initial evaluation and treatment of facial burn injuries should follow the same systematic approach as for all trauma patients. Doctors will ask about personal details and other relevant information so that a definitive treatment will be made on a burn patient. Head and neck burns are prioritized because of further potential injuries on airways that might occur.

Patient’s age, underlying medical conditions, drug or alcohol intoxication, and circumstances surrounding the burn injury, are to be taken into consideration for proper medical and surgical intervention.

The plastic surgeon or staff will discuss in details with their patient and their family on the extent of the injury, surgical procedure, and the realistic goals of the surgery. After the patient fully understands what’s being discussed, a waiver or consent form will be signed as a confirmation to undergo a facial reconstructive surgery.

The patient is ensured that perseverance and patience will be required during the long reconstructive process. It’s important that the surgeon’s instructions and advice must be observed as the reconstructive process may take several years to finish. The burn patient must also realize that he or she won’t be able to acquire the exact pre-injury appearance after a successful facial reconstruction surgery.

Initial treatment

A patient with severe burns is first treated with fluids intravenously to obtain proper hydration of the body. Depending on the extent of burn injury, a patient may be treated on an inpatient or outpatient basis. The surgeon usually decides on this matter.

The burn site is cleansed thoroughly, and appropriate wound care is given to the patient. An antibiotic is then applied to the burn site to prevent infection.

The doctor will give instructions for wound care. Therapy for local wound care may be recommended for about 10 days after injury. During this period, many facial wounds heal quickly because of the excellent blood circulation in the face region and faster skin cell rejuvenation.

If wounds haven’t healed by 10 days or are clearly third-degree burns at initial assessment, no benefit is obtained by further delaying. These wounds are at risk of developing scars which may require undergoing excision and grafting.

Other considerations during this initial period include:

• Flap coverage of exposed bone or cartilage
• Protection of exposed corneas
• The release of the mouth or neck to allow proper eating and speech.

Exercise and stretching are recommended in patients with second and third-degree facial burns soon after hospital admission. They’re essential in managing facial contractures effectively.

Facial burn surgical approaches

Proper planning of facial burn surgical treatment is necessary to acquire satisfactory and desirable results. Priorities have to be established like putting facial functioning issues first before aesthetic concerns. Allocating potential donor sites are also to be taken into consideration when setting priorities for facial burn surgery.

The patient is permitted to set the priorities. But, he or she will be assisted by the surgeon in regards to expected benefits and proper scheduling of surgical procedures. After a thorough discussion, a well-planned flow of surgical procedures will be created. However, the plan may be changed as the treatment progresses depending on the patient’s condition.

Facial burn surgery may start at the time of a facial burn injury. But the earliest fundamental concern before any facial reconstruction surgery is to achieve a completely healed wound.

Surgical techniques for facial burn surgery

General procedure

Certain standards are necessary when dealing with facial burn injury reconstruction. Some doctors recommend doing the same reconstructive procedure for each side of the face to achieve symmetry. However, this approach may only be applicable if the entire face needs reconstruction.

Initial treatment is made after the scars have matured and contractures occur on the applied skin grafts. The scars may result in a patch-like appearance. Raised scars may occur in wounds that take more than 2-3 weeks to heal. If this happens, a scar revision or staged excision may be needed.

Things to do before a facial burn surgery treatment:

• Antiseptic bath and application of an antibiotic ointment are to be done daily for 10 days.
• Address to the plastic surgeon wounds that won’t likely heal within 14 days of injury.

A definitive treatment may be considered once the patient is found to have a deep facial burn injury. The plastic surgeon will decide which surgical procedure is appropriate for the deep burn injury. Depending on the extent of the injury, the plastic surgeon may consider surgical procedures like healing by primary closure, granulation, free skin grafts, local, regional, or distant skin flaps. If the burn injury is clearly a third-degree burn, excision and grafting may be done within 7 to 10 days.

Facial burn surgery is a very challenging procedure, and a careful surgical technique is important to achieve desirable results.

Antibiotics may be administered before surgery. The patient’s eyes are protected by placing corneal protectors. A lubricating ointment is also applied on the patient’s eyes. Then, anesthesia is administered by the doctor to prepare the patient for facial burn reconstructive surgery.

For facial burn injury reconstruction, the patient’s face is first cleansed with diluted Betadine® or saline solution. The plastic surgeon carefully removes damaged tissues and meticulously stops the flow of blood to the affected areas. Removal of damaged tissues by cauterization isn’t recommended as it might devitalize tissues. Gentle pressure or application of a topical vasoconstrictor like epinephrine is usually done to achieve a good hemostatic control.

In facial burn reconstruction surgery, early excision and grafting are the commonly used surgical treatment. This procedure may be done in 1-2 stage technique. Other facial burn reconstruction techniques include:

• AlloDerm – Skin cell components that cause rejection are removed from a donated (cadaver) human skin.
• TransCyte – A temporary skin substitute used is derived from a human fibroblast.
• Integra – A temporary silicone skin substitute and an artificial dermal layer are used. The neo-dermis usually forms for about a month. Then, the silicone layer is taken out and replaced with a very thin split-thickness skin graft.

Skin grafting

Skin grafting is the easiest method for facial burn reconstructive surgery. It’s usually the preferred technique for burn injuries that involve large full-thickness or deep partial thickness defects. In this surgical procedure, it’s important to put the face’s donor site aside before all donor sites are used to restore other body parts.

The patient should have realistic expectations when undergoing this procedure. Even the best full-thickness graft may lose some of its natural skin qualities. Changes in the skin’s texture and pigmentation may also occur. But, the good thing about skin grafts is that they aren’t bulky, so they don’t mask facial expressions.

Full-thickness skin grafts

Full-thickness grafts involve the epidermis and the entire dermis. The plastic surgeon carefully harvests from discreet donor sites that easily close or heal. They may be taken from the upper eyelid, nasolabial fold, pre-auricular and post-auricular areas, and the supra-clavicular fossae. These donor sites are often used to close facial or neck burn injuries or to resurface existing scarred areas.

Split-thickness skin grafts

Split-thickness skin grafts include the epidermis and part of the dermis. Its thickness depends on the donor site and the needs of the person receiving the graft. It can be prepared through a skin mesher which creates spaces on the graft. This method allows the graft to grow up to nine times its size. Split-thickness grafts are often used in facial burn reconstructive surgeries as these grafts can cover large areas and the rate of auto-rejection is minimal. After 6 weeks, the surgeon can harvest from the same donor site. The donor site usually heals by the regrowth of the skin cells of the dermis and surrounding skin.

Composite skin grafts

Composite skin grafts are usually a small graft consisting of skin and underlying cartilage or other tissue. The donor sites for composite skin grafts include the ear skin and cartilage to restore nasal defects.

In addition to skin grafting, regional flaps, free tissue flaps, and tissue expansion are taken into consideration by the surgeon for patients with larger facial burn defects.

Regional flaps

Regional and transpositional flaps provide adjacent and damaged tissues with blood supply. An advantage of doing this procedure is that it achieves skin of similar quality and pigmentation as with the burned site. These flaps are generally thin and flexible, but they’re not as thin as skin grafts.

Free tissue flaps

Free-tissue flaps may be needed to cover a patient’s exposed bone or cartilage. It can also be used to introduce extra tissue when local tissues or skin grafts are inadequate or rejected.
There’s a 94% success rate for head and neck reconstruction using free tissue flaps.

Some of the commonly used free tissue flaps for facial burn reconstruction surgery include the abdomen, arm, and groin areas. Free tissue flaps aren’t usually a first-line surgical treatment because it has disadvantages, like the complexity of the surgery with microvascular anastomosis. However, it’s an important supplementary procedure when needed.

Tissue expansion

Tissue expansion technique is a surgical procedure that allows the patient’s body to ‘grow’ extra skin which will be used for reconstructive surgeries like facial burn surgery.

Advantages of tissue expansion

When the body is allowed to grow extra skin, the generation of new tissues will have similar qualities with the burned site.

Other advantages of this surgical procedure are the following:

• Tissues generated are similar to the defect in color, texture, and thickness.
• Donor sites aren’t required
• Tissue expansion allows larger donor sites for full-thickness skin grafts. Harvesting of relatively large full-thickness grafts is possible
• Skin grafts generated by tissue expansion behave like smaller, non-expanded full-thickness grafts

Disadvantages of tissue expansion

• Additional surgeries are required
• Needs a longer time for the tissues to generate or expand

Face transplant (human partial face allograft)

Some patients may have severe facial burn injuries. Face transplants may be the best solution for their facial burn injury concerns. However, this surgical procedure involves a lot of risks and disadvantages. There’s a high risk of rejection, and the patients are required to take immunosuppressants. Someday, science and technology will make incredible developments on this procedure that’ll benefit those severely disfigured burn patients.

Scar revision

Scars are actually visible signs that surgical wounds have healed. Scar revision surgery helps minimize the development of scars on surgical sites. It’s done to make the developing scars less visible and may blend in with the surrounding skin.

Non-surgical techniques for facial burn surgery

Non-surgical techniques for facial burn surgery include scar massage, usage of pressure garments, and cosmetic camouflage.

Dermabrasion is also a convenient non-surgical method for reconstructing old facial burn scars.

What happens after a facial burn surgery?

After surgery, the patient mustn’t expect immediate results as reconstructive surgeries take at least a year to achieve visible results. As the healing progresses, changes in the color and appearance of the skin at the surgical site will be noticed. Numbness or a tingling sensation around the surgical site may also be felt. These feelings are normal but will typically subside over the next few months.

Development of scars may start within 3 weeks following a facial burn reconstructive surgery. Hypertropic scars are most evident over the next 3 months. The scars are mostly raised, red, and itchy. These scars then slowly regress during the following 12-24 months. After some time, mature scars which are white, soft and flat remain or may become permanent.

After surgery, the plastic surgeon will provide instructions which need to be followed to avoid complication and achieve desirable results. Some of the instructions given are:

• Continuous use of pressure garments or masks early after surgery
• Start massaging the scars as soon as the healing of wounds occurs
• Apply moisturizing sunscreen or sunblock and avoid exposure from direct sunlight for the first 12 months. This avoids potential complications with hyperpigmentation.
• The surgeon may prescribe antibiotics and pain medications. Make sure to follow the doctor’s advice when taking meds strictly.

After your facial burn reconstructive surgery, it’s important to carefully monitor the passage of fluid and blood circulation of the surgical site. The patient is advised not to wear tight-fitting clothes or clothes that put pressure on the surgical site. Additional instructions for monitoring will also be given to the patient by their plastic surgeon. Make sure to follow the instructions to avoid risks of complications or infections.

Signs and symptoms of infection at the surgical site

When undergoing a facial burn reconstructive surgery, one must be very careful about signs and symptoms of a possible infection. The patient must inform their plastic surgeon immediately if any of the following signs and symptoms is felt:

• Fever
• Sweats or chills
• Rashes
• Tenderness, redness, or swelling of the surgical site
• White pimples or blisters around incision lines
• Discharges from the surgical site
• Pain that isn’t relieved by prescribed pain meds
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Sore or scratchy throat or pain when swallowing
• Persistent, dry or moist coughing that lasts more than two days
• White patches in your mouth or on your tongue
• Burning pain when urinating or frequent urination
• Bloody, cloudy, and foul-smelling urine

You may experience some other signs and symptoms of infection that might need immediate medical attention. If you notice any telltale signs and symptoms of infection, it’s important that you call your doctor as soon as possible.