Conference turris::womannotes-v1

I have seen articles of this in magazines, but understand that
    it is a very painful process and yes, expensive.  I would
    be interested to hear of someone having this done on their
    face.
    
    

    I also heard this is very painful and you won't be allowed in the
    sunshine for 3 months (the healing process).  A friend of mine is
    getting it done and he began treatment in the wintertime (less apt
    to go out-of-doors).  He is a temporary at Digital and although
    cosmetic, he wants it done any way no matter what the cost.
    
    The only way I can see that this situation could be medical is if
    your appearance affects the quality of your work (i.e., modeling,
    customer service, sales).  A good doctor (a friend of the family
    type) can let John Hancock know that there are medical implications
    if you don't have it done.  But, that would have to be a real good
    doctor (or con-artist).
    
    Let me know what you decide.  I could use a "little" bit of this
    treatment myself but haven't got the guts.  I would also like to
    undergo rhinoplasty but that too would be cosmetic unless my doctor
    says I have a deviated septum or something.
    
    Good luck

    What is dermabrasion (rubbing the skin, but why)?
    
    Liz

    
      My wife had it done on a scar she got from an injury in an auto
    accident.  John Hancock covered it because it resulted from a traumatic
    injury.  BTW she said that it wasn't particularly painful, about
    like a bad sunburn.
    

    Dermabrasion is the removal of a couple of layers of skin that is
    scarred from accidents or acne.  The methods I have assisted on
    were utilizing a acid solution that burns off the layers required.
    another was to use something like a wood plane, only its a skin
    plane(like a cheese grater, with a very very fine blade) that removes
    skin a layer at a time.  One thing to consider are the persons past
    scarring.  Obviously either one of these techniques can leave scarring.
    Black people have a tendancy to develope scarring called keloid,
    its a raised lighter skin.  Fair skinned people don't often get
    that kind of scarring, but the new skin is sometimes of a lighter
    shade and shiney.  It has been a few years since I have worked in
    the operating room so some new techniques have been discovered that
    do not scar as much, but I don't know what they are.  As for the
    pain the two previous methods mentioned are *extremely* painful
    especially on an area of the body that is sensitive. There are alot
    of nerve endings on the surface of the face.  I don't intend to
    discourage, I just think that anyone considering this should check
    out some things very closely.
    do you scar easy?
    do you heal quickly?
    what methods are available and what is the doctor using?
    how often has this doctor performed this procedure?
    any previous patients you could talk to?
    
    good luck, don't be discouraged just be sure of what you want and
    how and who is going to do it..
    
    vivian
    

    
    
    Re:salemia
    
    			GO FOR IT!
    If it's what you want, do it. 
    
    vivian
    

    Before anyone thinks I am being an egotist, I am a firm believer
    that doing things to make yourself happy, just for yourself is very
    important and doing for others....
    
    vivian
    

    I have considered having dermabrasion done but, #1 It's expensive
    and #2 It's rather frightening.  If anyone knows someone who had
    this done and they wouldn't mind someone contacting them to ask
    a few questions please let me know.  Thanx
    

    Vivian, and others, have you heard of a treatment for the face where
    a natural protein substance is injected into the face that actually
    raises indentations and scars to the surface so that the face appears
    smoother?
    
    I read briefly about this, I know it ISN'T dermabrasion, but I forget
    the name.  Now, that's something to look into, right?
    
    Any ideas?

    I read about it in a mag, can't remember which one.  Its an injection
    of collegen.  It does appear the best of all the methods I have seen
    and heard of.  I vaguely remember that sometimes the procedure has
    to be repeated after a few years and it is effective for raising
    the damaged skin but I don't know about the effectiveness if the scars
    are raised.  The collegen would enable the skin to raise to the
    level of the other skin, but dermabrasion would be more effective
    if the scars are raised or of a different color(tatoo's)
    Just my observation.

    vivian

    I tried to have dermabrasion done, years ago when I was in college
    (probably 1973 or so), to get rid of the horrible birthmark I had
    across my nose and right eyelid (rememebr, I am allergic to makeup
    - half of my nose was bright red!).  However, the doctors were all
    afraid to do it because the birthmark was so close to my right eye.
    I eventually had it removed about 8 years ago by laser surgery (at
    Beth Israel Hospital in Boston - I was the first non-experimental
    patient! - and, sure enough, John Hancock wouldn't cover it (though
    some other patients did get them to pay for it, apparently by claiming
    that the birthmarks were psychologicially harmful).  It was worth
    it!!  I think it is cruel and inhuman of insurance companies to
    not cover cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of that sort!!  Not
    doing so forces a lot of people like me to go through life as freaks
    because of our appearance.  I was lucky in that I managed to afford
    to pay for the surgery myself, but most people are not working for
    DEC!  Still, it was the best use of money I have ever made.  It
    enabled me to lead a normal life, and make progress in my career
    and my social life.  Get the surgery done, if it is important to
    you, even if you have to take out a loan to do it!!
    
    /Charlotte