Dermabrasion is a technique of resurfacing skin, using a high-speed rotary instrument with different abrasive end pieces used to remove the chosen layers of skin. This way, the epidermis regenerates from epidermal appendages in the deep dermis. The organized remodeling of the dermis brings out rejuvenated skin that is firmer and smoother than it was before.

Ancient Egypt physicians used sandpapering techniques that were similar to dermabrasion to treat scars. In 1905, Kromayer first reported controlled abrasion of the skin. His technique involved the use of rotating wheels and rasps, which differed little from tools used for present-day dermabrasion. He treated acne scars, keratoses, and areas of hyperpigmentation. Despite this early report of surgical planing, dermabrasion did not gain widespread popularity until the early 1950s.

The first to present a series of patients who underwent dermarasion was Abner Kurtin, a dermatologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. He used modified dental equipment in 1953. During this time, various abrasive end pieces were written. The people who coined the word dermabrasion were Blau and Rein. Contributing further to this field were Alt and Yarborough by advocating use of the diamond fraise and of wire-brush end pieces. As further refinement of ths procedure were the development of antiviral medications, dressings that were semipermeable. Tumescent anesthesia and cryoanesthesia have been used to refine further the procedure. Nowadays, cutaneous laser and of chemical peels are being used, however, dermabrasion is recommended to remain a useful tool for skin resurfacing.

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One issue that you need to remember is the surgeon. You need to check if he is really a licensed plastic surgeon. You need to check if he has a certificate from the board of Medical examiners and if he is affiliated to a national organization. This institution provides strict guidelines to its medical doctors. They usually oblige the doctors to have a certain level of training and seminars to become a member to their institution. Knowing that your doctor has relevant certificates goes some way to assure you that you can trust him in handing your life over to him during the surgery.

You need to research any plastic surgery issues and risks that the procedure itself involves. In recent studies, almost 5 percent of the people undergoing plastic or cosmetic surgery are experiencing difficulty or are having side effects from implants. These could be caused by infection or sub-standard surgery work which in the extreme can even lead to death. Never resort to cheaper but inadequately trained plastic surgeons. Complications could result if the surgeon is not very good or if the hospital or clinic is not adequately sanitized.

There are two types of plastic surgery: Reconstructive and cosmetic. Reconstructive surgery from the word reconstruction deals with repair. If one had an operation that resulted to a deformation, like that of a breast cancer patient who needs to have her mammary glands back, then that is where reconstructive surgery comes in. Cosmetic surgery is what we often call vanity operation, it is done to improve physical disposition. This type of surgery has two types: Surgical and non surgical. Surgical includes rhynoplasty (reshaping of the nose) breast reduction or enlargement, liposuction among others. Non surgical procedures includes dermabrassion (lightening of scars), laser peeling and other skin oriented operation meant for that flawless look.