Service
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion mechanically sands the surface layer of the skin. It is used to smooth scars — from acne, injuries, operations — for fine lines around the mouth and for tattoo removal.
What concerns does it address?
How is it done?
The surface layer of skin is removed with a rotating burr down to the depth of the scar. The wound heals like a graze: in the first days it is kept moist and covered, then new skin forms, which is red and sensitive to the sun for a few weeks.
What is it used for?
Scars from acne and injuries, the edges of scars after operations, lines around the mouth, tattoos, raised plaques on the nose (rhinophyma). The depth of the scar determines how much it can be smoothed — that is assessed at the examination.
When is the procedure not suitable?
Dermabrasion is not done on dark or tanned skin, because the risk of permanent colour changes is higher; it is planned in the cooler months, and the sun is avoided for months afterwards. It is not done during active acne, herpes or skin inflammation, nor within a year of taking isotretinoin (a medicine for acne). It is not done if you are prone to keloids.
General reasons for postponing a procedure (pregnancy, breastfeeding, inflammation, a clotting disorder, smoking): When is a procedure postponed?
Anaesthesia
Before a procedure under general or regional anaesthesia, you are seen by the anaesthetist, who works full time at the clinic; the same doctor is also present during the procedure. The anaesthetic assessment and the anaesthesia for larger operations are included in the price of the procedure. What happens before, during and after anaesthesia is described on the Anaesthesia page.
Risks
Expected — weeping and a crust in the first days, redness that lasts weeks, sensitivity to the sun for months.
Occasional — a change in skin colour (lighter or darker) in the treated area, acne breaking out again.
Expected, and rare but serious → Risks and complications: what is the course of healing, and what is a complication?
Price
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Dermabrasion of the face | €1,200–1,600 |
| Dermabrasion of a scar up to 10 cm | €500–600 |
| Dermabrasion of a scar over 10 cm | €600–700 |
| Dermabrasion of a tattoo | €300–600 |
Specialist and team
Specialty: plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.
When the procedure is done under sedation or general anaesthesia, the anaesthesia is led by a specialist in anaesthesiology, resuscitation and intensive care who works full time at the clinic.
In the operating theatre, the surgeon is assisted by head nurse Martina Šereg, with the help of nurses Kristina Jurešić and Mateja Tomorad, and in recovery the care assistant Mirjana Kovačić is with you. Martina also looks after preparation, scheduling and contact after the procedure.
Who will operate is decided at the examination, based on the findings and the type of procedure. You know the name of the surgeon before the procedure and meet them at the examination.
What happens at the examination?
The first examination lasts 30 to 45 minutes on average. The surgeon examines the area you are concerned about, asks about illnesses, medicines, allergies and previous operations, and talks with you about what you expect. If the procedure is appropriate and likely to help, you receive a plan: which procedure is proposed, under which anaesthesia, what recovery looks like and what is included in the price. If the procedure is not needed or would not give you what you expect, you will hear that at the examination too.
What if the result is not as agreed?
The result of a procedure is assessed at a follow-up visit, once the swelling has gone down and the scar has matured, not in the first weeks. If it differs from what was agreed at the examination, the same surgeon carries out the correction.
→ Poliklinika Barbel's correction policy
In the same visit
- Facelift — tightening the face and neck — lines of the upper lip are treated in the same recovery as a facelift.
- Lip fat transfer — fatty tissue supports the smoothed skin from within.
Frequently asked questions
Can I go out in the sun? The new skin is sensitive to the sun for months and needs protection. That is why the procedure is planned outside the summer.
Can a scar be removed completely? No — dermabrasion smooths the surface and softens the edge of the scar, it does not remove it.
What does healing look like? In the first days the skin is open and weeps, like a graze, and is covered with ointments and a dressing; new skin covers the surface in seven to ten days. Then it is pink to red — for most people two to three months, for some longer. Make-up from about the tenth day.
What about skin colour? The treated skin can temporarily be darker or lighter than the surrounding skin; the sun intensifies that, so protection is essential for at least three months, and it is best if the first summer is spent in the shade.
How much does the result depend on care after the procedure? The larger the procedure, the more it depends on it, but it always does. Healing takes weeks and months and happens almost entirely at home, so the instructions you receive when you go home, about the wound, physical activity and the scar, are part of the procedure, not a recommendation.
Medical review: doctors of Poliklinika Barbel · October 2026.