Dermabrasion is a surgical procedure in which damaged skin is removed or “sanded” using a high-speed rotating brush. Also known as skin planing or skin-smoothing surgery, this procedure improves skin contour and gives it a smoother appearance. It is especially effective in treating deep facial scars and defects, including acne and chickenpox scars, removing tattoos, and treating age spots, deep wrinkles and precancerous changes caused by chronic sun damage.

The skin is the largest body organ. It protects the internal organs from exposure to temperature extremes, damage, bacteria and other external forces. Skin is composed of three layers: the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue. The epidermis contains no blood vessels and depends on the dermis to deliver nutrients and remove wastes.

During dermabrasion, the upper layer (epidermis) of a person’s skin is removed through a method of controlled scraping and a new layer of skin replaces the old layer during healing. Although dermabrasion can improve the appearance of a scar, it cannot eliminate the scar. Scars that are particularly deep or extensive may require multiple dermabrasion treatments.

Dermabrasion may be used in combination with other therapies, such as a facelift or chemical peel. Significant scars may be treated with a combination of dermabrasion, soft tissue fillers, scar revision and laser treatment.

A variation of dermabrasion called dermaplaning can also used to treat deep acne scars. In dermaplaning, a hand-held instrument called a dermatome – which resembles an electric razor and has an oscillating blade that moves back and forth – is used to “skim” off the surface layers of skin that surround craters and other defects.