Surgical planing is a method of improving acne pits, pock marks, scars, sunlight kertoses, freckles, wrinkeles and other skin defects. The procedure is not painful and it is generally performed in the office under local anesthetic.

The face is then smoothed down painlessly with a motor-driven instrument and the process is repeated until all the involved areas have been completely treated. Thus, the entire face, or at least as much as is required, is planed in one session.

Following the procedure, the face is left bandaged and the patient is able to return home. A protective crust forms in a day or so and separates after approximately a week to ten days. Meanwhile, the new skin will have healed beneath it.

When an entire face is sanded, there is some discomfort and throbbing due to the tightness of the crust that forms. Analgesics are given and are to be taken as prescribed.

When an entire face is sanded, it may be difficult to chew as the crust above the mouth is very tight. Therefore, liquids or a soft diet will be taken the first few days. When large areas are planed, patients usually stay away from work during this period because of the appearane during healing.

A single planing may give an optimum result, although in cases of severe pitted scarring, two and sometimes more planings are necessary. If more than one planing is required, the second is usually done a few months after the first, or as long after as desired. There is no age limit for surgical planing. The newly formed skin, which is pink at first, gradually develops an essentially normal appearance. In most cases, the pinkness has largely faded by two months, but make-up or flesh-colored talcum powder can be used to cover this as soon as the crust is off. Therefore, most people can resume their normal occupation in ten days to two weeks after planing.

It is very important to protect the new skin from the sun for at least six months after planing in order to minimize the likelihood of a brownish pigmentation which may occur in some individuals. A-Fil cream (tinted), which can be purchased at a pharmacy without a prescription, helps to protect the skin from the sun and also makes the pinkness less noticeable. A history of unusual type scar formation from previous surgery, vaccination etc., may suggest the advisability of planing a small test area and then observing for several weeks before proceeding.

Arrange to have someone drive you home from the office, but do not plan to drive yourself because of the relaxing medication given. You will be ready to leave about two hours after arrival in the office. Men should shave closely a few hours prior to the planing.

Do not wear any garment that will have to be pulled over the head to remove. Women should shampoo hair one day prior to large facial abrasion. The hair cannot be shampooed for approximately one week following the abrasion. The protective crust will separate on its own. No attempt should be made to remove it. To do so, risks the chance of scarring.

Itching may occur during the healing process. Medication will be prescribed if this becomes intense.