Reviews
2.4
89 Reviews
Good or Excellent Response
80%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
Moderate Response
98%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
Side Effects
High
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist or plastic surgeon? Make an appointment to get this procedure done. Don't have a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find a dermatologist or the American Society of Plastic Surgeons to find a plastic surgeon.
Read All About Dermabrasion
Compare To Other Treatments
5
7.9%
4
19.1%
3
18%
2
16.9%
1
38.2%

Used Dermabrasion? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
September 16, 2008

Pros:

hypertrophic scars leave, but depressed scars show little improvement,i use dermatix silicone gel on the treated area, good result seen

Cons:

skin becomes excessively coarse, pores are extremely enlarged(just like orange peel).i was very distressed to see my face,cuz i was expected too much improvement before, but i can't see any change.

after dermabrasion,it should be accompanied by the rich antioxident diet,like vitC,A,E,zinc and copper rich containing diet.n eat rich fibre diet,defeacate eveyday,don't allow toxic substance stay in u'r body.it'll improve healing process and new skin'll be better than the previous.sleep early n sleep much(at least 8hrs).don't use AHA and doing chemical peeling after the treatment as it'll make worse of the scars and acid containing treatment cream should be avoid,live in a dark place.artificial light also contain UV,so don't miss suncreen at night also,but can wear off when u sleep(switch off the light).BEWARE:don't be so aggitative when u can't see improvement and buying many products for improve redness and scars as redness will fade by itself after 3 mths, n skin is too soft to withstand the effects of many hard cosmetics.the most suitable product is silicone gel or cream or sheet.
This Was Helpful

4 user(s) found this helpful

Report
June 27, 2008

Pros:

Smooth the scars

Cons:

More scarriong, hypermentation for about 6 months.

Dermabration is good for medium scars but it just improve a little bit with each treatment wich its mean that for see best resulst u most have at least 3 treatment. I already have 2 but I make the mistake that in the first one my dr a surgeron just made my cheek area and it form a hipermantation and some scarring then the second dermabration I did in the whole face with a dermatologist and he recommended to do the whole face for even result.I would say that I just see like 20% of improvement and Im having starting the tca cross wich doesnt afected the rest of the skin and fallow of tca cross I will have subsicion in conjuction with fraxel.
This Was Helpful

3 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 24, 2008

Pros:

Got rid of 50% of the deepest of scars, more even tone skin.

Cons:

Took 6 months for skin to return to normal color. Use high SPF sunscreen but remember not to overload or else can cause terrible irritation due to skin's sensitivity after procedure. Can't eat seafood, sticky rice, peanuts, beef, tea, yam for 3 mnth

Can boost one's confidence due to having a more even texture, tone skin but need to be extremely cautious in taking of skin. Use gentle cleanser like Cetaphil and moisturizer with spf at least 30 2x/day (morning and night). Skin will be very sensitive... so watch out... watch out...of using irritating products on face!
This Was Helpful

3 user(s) found this helpful

Report
August 25, 2007

Cons:

I have wasted money again, No improvements what so ever, not even on the light scars.

If you have deep acne scars do not waste your time or money.. I regret my decision
This Was Helpful

3 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 16, 2007

Pros:

?

Cons:

expensive.

I think it made my scar's stand out more. i'm thinking of doing a co2.
This Was Helpful

3 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 16, 2016
made thinks worse, downtime huge, 6 months
I tried this in my 20s. It created much more scars and the downtime was huge. Not just 3 weeks, but at least 6 months to return to normal evels. never again
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
January 10, 2017
where did u have this done ?
July 15, 2013
Dermabrasion review
Dermabrasion is a treatment option for those not looking for a fast track help all solution. In order for this treatment to work you have to do several sessions, each one potentially making your acne worse and your skin increasingly more irritated. I was able to do about 3 sessions due to financial reasons and at first i did not see any huge results in my overall skin complexion, texture, and acne breakouts. During my second sessions my skin was the most sensitive was bright red after treatment. I was unable to even touch my face after a few days but the redness and swelling went down about 2 days into it. On my third session (my last treatment) i noticed a slight change of the look and feel of my skin. My skin was able to tolerate the session and was less red and irritated after. Having said all that, if i had done all the treatments suggested by the doctor than i may have seen a significant change in my skin. I give this treatment 3 stars because i do believe that it does work and have witnessed it on other people, just not myself. It is worth a try if you are looking for a last resort treatment option besides Accutane.
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
February 15, 2018
If you are scared about this, you should be
My mom always did microdermabrasion more for aging stuff. I guess I just always saw her and thought it wouldn't be that bad. I have super bad scaring from years of acne, which until recently was as bad as ever. Pitted scars that even tons of makeup won't cover up and then the surface scars that I am really aware of as well. So first of all, the dr put me on retina-a for about 2 weeks leading up to the procedure but didn't tell me not to go in the sun, which I did and my skin turned BRIGHT red. like crazy tomato red. I called the dr and they said oops should have told you not to go in the sun and the procedure was put off for another week to let me poor burned skin heal a little. Which was a total bummer to my psyche. So aside from that, the procedure went ok, aside from being given a local which I am never a fan of. And did I mention that what this procedure is is like rubbing sand paper all over your skin? It isn't pretty. And is super scary to see happening. For that reason alone, I don't think I would do it again. Afterwards, my skin got inflamed and ultimately got a skin infection which caused me to go on antibiotics, two rounds, because one round couldn't heal it. So amazingly painful, I can't even put it into words. Healing from the procedure took about a year. I guess the pitted scars were better but still totally visible to me. And my acne was even worse than it had been before. The dr wanted to put me on accutane which has always been my big fat no. When I told them this, they told me that one of their clients had good success with a company called Ninja Skincare. Pretty desperate cause I hadn't heard of them before so I put it off for a while but right near Christmas, I was feeling pretty terrible about myself and called them. So super professional, gave me a cool consultation which wasn't pushy at all which is super important to me. Told me what they would suggest and let it be. Took me another 2 weeks to make the order. Now I have been on it for about 5 weeks and I can't believe how clear my skin is. My dark scaring that was left over from the dermabrasion are fading and I swear it is because of this product not because of the dermabrasion because the dermabrasion was nearly 14 months ago. I would recommend people to think twice about doing this. I read somewhere the best thing to do for acne scars is to not get them. Sounds simple but I sure wish I had been more aggressive in my teen years and found my perfect solution like I have now'and I would never have had to do this awful experience to myself.
This Was Helpful

1 user(s) found this helpful

Report
January 16, 2007

Pros:

dermabrasion does not work. i have had 6 treatments and looks great when you get it done but i still have cratersin by sking from acne and scars.i is expensive and the before and after photos that they show you are fake.

instead of all these treatments the best is to go see your doctor and ask for anti biotics which help acne disappear 100% with regards to scars they will disappear over time and regards to craters in your skin its sad to know it will stay forever one advise try not to pick scars
This Was Helpful

1 user(s) found this helpful

Report
May 13, 2018
Lasers vs dermabrasion (what to expect)
I had dermabrasion 1994 and lasers 2006, 2014. Dermabrasion requires a very skilled surgeon. Think about it: it is a rotating wire brush so you want a good doc who can vary depth in areas. I was put to sleep before procedure. You wake up with a face that looks like strawberry jello because of the bacitracin ointment to help with healing and minimize scaring. Healing takes time but any procedure going deep takes time. From what I remember: you look hideous and sitting up you have to hold a paper towel under your chin because you drip. That bloody goo also gets on your pillowcase. I remembered all I wanted to do was sleep. I did not want to look in the mirror. But then with cystic acne it was the same. Constant application with bacitracin until the wet scabbing finished. I think I could cover with makeup after 2 weeks because I have never had more than 2 weeks vacation. I think I did dermabrasion over the TG holidays to add days off to vacation time. When my caregiver brought me home. I scared her three year old - you will look that bad. Very visible difference in skin surface. Worth it if your scarring is deeper in some areas. Lasers - I went deep with anesthesia. You wake up with a very bad sunburn, your face feels tight and looks reddish brown. Prior to procedure docs want you to prep with a regimen to include retin A which helps skin cell turnover to help you heal faster after. My regimen was Obaji which also helped bleach skin discoloration. After procedure you use a prescribed lidocaine ointment (BioKool) to help with pain and a moisturizer which you gently put on really thick while the burned skin crusts under the moisturizer. After three days you can shower and use a water-vinegar mix to clean and disinfect from a spray bottle, then the moisturizer again. The gentle shower pressure helps remove dead skin. You will start itching. You will see what looks like whiteheads: LEAVE THEM ALONE. Keep your hands off your face unless you are applying something. Entire process before you can use makeup and sunscreen to cover redness takes about 10 days. I saw more of a difference with dermabrasion because not all areas are treated equally as with lasers. The laser used the second time was the grid type which initially leaves a grid of "dots" on your face. This fades in a few days. I think this is the Fraxel laser. The ideas is to pull up the depressed areas when the "injured" lasered dots cause increased collagen production and pull up depressed-scarred areas around it. Recommended surgeon in Dallas is George Toledo. One plastic surgeon said the docs who invest in those laser machines encourage their use because they paid for them. Dermabrasion requires a skilled doc and is much messier with the bloody goo. If you are going to go through with either procedure might as well go deep and use anesthesia make it worth the time off and the money. Good luck.

Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.