Dermabrasion in facial surgery

Surgical planing or dermabrasion has many uses in facial aesthetic and reconstructive surgery but often is an underutilized technique. The purpose of this paper is to familiarize the head and neck and facial plastic surgeon with some of these uses extending from trauma to rejuvenation of the aging face. Detail will be presented regarding analysis for conditions where dermabrasion is indicated and in dealing with modifications of surgical technique. The author feels that dermabrasion is the treatment of choice for scars and acne and favors it over chemabrasion or chemical peel even for fine rhytids because the depth of dermabrasion can be precisely controlled and varied according to the location of and the degree of scarring or facial wrinkles. It offers early and predictable healing without concern for the penetration and absorption of chemical elements (especially phenol). Dermabrasion may be combined with other procedures such as scar revisions, dermal shaves, and de-epithelization of flaps.