What Types of Scars Can Be Repaired?
Most types of scars can be improved, and some scars will look as though they’ve disappeared after having scar revision surgery. Whether or not a scar will be completely hidden or erased depends on how old the scar is, how large it is, whether the nearby skin has been damaged, your age, your overall health and many other considerations. Types of scars that we can treat include:
- Burns
- Surgical Scars
- Scars From Injuries
- Keloid Scars
- Contracture Scars
If you have any type of scar that you would like to have repaired, it’s best to schedule an appointment for a consultation so one of our surgeons can talk to you about what results you might expect.
How Do I Know if I’m a Good Candidate for Scar Revision?
There are a few considerations that you should keep in mind if you are planning to have scar revision. One is your overall health: If you are generally healthy, then you might be a good candidate. Another is whether you smoke; smokers tend not to heal as well, and this type of surgery has the best results for those who don’t smoke. Consider whether you have a realistic view of what your skin will look like after the procedure. Remember that it’s quite likely that you will still see some evidence of scarring, but that the appearance of the area will be improved. Also, better results are achieved if the surrounding skin is in good condition.
What Are Some of the Scar Revision Procedures?
Your surgeon will talk to you about the various types of procedures that might be appropriate for your individual case. Not every procedure is going to work well for every skin type, scar and patient. Some of the procedures that might be available to you include:
- Steroid treatment: The drug can be injected to the scar or applied to the skin itself.
- Dermabrasion: This procedure removes the top layer of skin and smooths out the scar.
- Vascular laser: A laser shrinks blood vessels around the scar and improves its appearance.
- Tissue expansion: The tissue around your scar is expanded and eventually removed.
- Skin grafts: Skin from another area of your body is used to replace damaged tissue.
- Collagen injections: Collagen is injected into a scar that is sunken below the surface of the skin.
What’s the Next Step?
Contact your plastic surgeon to schedule a consultation! One of our doctors can look at your scar and talk to you about your treatment options, as well as what kind of results to expect.