Definition: A surgical procedure designed to remove skin imperfections by abrading (wearing away) the skin’s surface mechanically with a sandpaper, rotating abrasive drums, or wire brushes. Its purpose is to smooth the skin by removing or lessening small scars (especially acne scars), moles, tattoos, or fine lines. The procedure requires anesthesia (either local, general, or IV sedation, depending on the depth of the procedure) and considerable downtime for the patient following the procedure. Microdermabrasion is a much less invasive form of dermabrasion which requires no downtime or anesthesia.
Pronunciation: DERM-uh-bray-zhun
Examples: Today's option for resurfacing the skin include laser peels, chemical peels, and dermabrasion.
