Modern dermabrasion techniques: a personal appraisal.

Improvements in dermabrasion techniques have upgraded the therapeutic results for the removal of acne scars, sun-damaged skin, and related skin lesions in selected patients. To help patient compliance and therapeutic response, and to avoid pitfalls, extensive step-by-step predermabrasion evaluation and patient selection procedures are helpful. Standard checklists, operative techniques, and patient follow-up procedures have improved the results. Currently, the optimal dermabrasion procedure consists not only of an extensive facial planing, but the use of Loo punch or scalpel excision and the suturing of large cysts and scars during the procedure and the filling of valley-like depressions with liquid collagen or silicone after the procedure. These methods of extensive standard procedures and protocols, rigid patient selection, and pre-, during, and postdermabrasion follow-ups are presented so medical staffs can avoid common pitfalls.