Surgical Scar Reduction

Scars are the result of the skin repair consequential to wounds that might be related to surgery, disease, accidents or burn. The more the skin is damaged, the more time it would take to heal and the greater would be the peril of a visible scar. Having a noticeable scar can have an adverse impact on your life. Many people feel embarrassed because of the scars. They appear red initially and gradually fade away. Scars that are unsightly and hideous at three months might heal by six months or a year. However, one thing you should know is that once it is developed fully from thickness damage to the skin, it cannot be removed completely. The only thing that can be done is to make it less or almost very thin or invisible so that it can fade with the geometry of the face or surrounding skin crease.

Facial Scars

Nothing can be more worrying than having a facial scar. It is considered as a cosmetic problem, whether hypertrophic or not. There are many ways to make facial scars less visible. It can be cut out and closed with small stitches, leaving a less, thinner noticeable scar. If the scar lies across the lines of relaxation or the natural creases, the cosmetic surgeon might be able to reposition it for running parallel to these lines, where it would be less noticeable.

Some type of facial scars can be softened using a method called dermabrasion, controlled scraping of the top layers of the skin making use of a high-speed and handheld rotary wheel. Dermabrasion gives a smoother surface to the skin however it will not completely remove the scar. Z plasty is a surgical method for repositioning a scar so that it closely conforms to the natural creases and lines of the skin where it is less visible. Also, it helps in relieving the tension triggered by contracture. It requires a trained and experienced surgeon to perform Z Plasty.

Flaps, low-dose steroid injections and grafting can help in selected parts. Scars that are settled and not prominent can be concealed with cover-up makeup too.

Keloid Scar

Keloids are itchy, thick and puckered clusters of scar tissue that grow beyond the edges of the incision or wound. They are often dark or red than the surrounding skin. Keloids form when the body produces the tough fibrous protein called collagen followed by healing of a wound.

Although Keloids can occur on any body part however they are common on the shoulders and the earlobes and over the breast bone. They appear more in dark-skinned than fair-skinned people. The tendency to develop Keloids lessens as a person ages. They can be treated by administering a steroid medication directly into the scar tissue for reducing burning, itching, and redness. This can also shrink the scar.

If steroid is not effective then the scar tissue can be cut and closed with stitches. It is performed as an outpatient procedure and done under local anesthesia. You can resume work in a day or two. Stitches would be removed within a few days of the procedure. in some cases, skin grafting is done as well though the area from which the graft is taken might develop Keloid.

Irrespective of what the approach is for treating Keloid, they have a stubborn tendency to occur again, sometimes even much larger than they were previously. To discourage this possibility, the cosmetic surgeon might perform the scar removal along with the steroid injections, radiation therapy, or you might have to wear a pressure garment over the treated site for as long as twelve months. Despite this, the keloid might return and thus arising the requirement for additional procedures every few years.

Is scar removal for you?

Good health is the most basic requirement to undergo surgery. There are other requirements too and you should discuss them with your chosen cosmetic surgeon carefully. Expectations of the surgeon and the results of the surgery must be realistic. The main goal is to remove the scar appearance either by relocating it or disguising it. it can also minimize its prominence. Type of scarring, age, color and type of skin are all important factors in deciding whether or not you are the right candidate for scar removal surgery.

Whether the scar reduction surgery is performed for cosmetic or functional reasons, your selection of a facial cosmetic surgeon is of great importance. Your plastic surgeon would examine the scar for deciding the proper approach for the treatment and brief you about the results of the procedure.

Different types of scars require different treatment. For instance, severe burns that damage large skin parts cause the skin to heal in a puckered manner. As the skin starts to heal, tendons and muscles might get affected in the contracting movement. Irrespective of the type of scar, you can be assured to get the best results as we have on our panel some of the most renowned and experienced cosmetic surgeons who have expertise in performing Scar Reduction treatment.