Tissue grows over a wound to protect it and replace it with new skin. You develop a scar as the tissue settles. Nature reminds you of past injuries by scars.

“Some people don’t mind badges of history, but others want to destroy it. scar revision procedures aim to improve or minimize the appearance of the scar. This can help you feel less self-conscious about it.”

scar revision surgery can help restore function to an area where scar tissue has grown up and is not used as much.

It is best to talk to a doctor about your options. You have many options when it comes to changing your scar appearance.

Minimally invasive procedures

If you want to see if minimally-invagant procedures can improve the appearance of your scar, your doctor might suggest you start with one. Options include:

  • Corticosteroid injections. Corticosteroid injections into the scars are a common first-line treatment for certain kinds of scars, according to a small 2015 study, including hypertrophic and keloid scars.
  • Bleomycin injections. These injections are also considered a safe way to help improve the appearance of hypertrophic scars, although research suggests that people with darker skin may run the risk of developing hyperpigmentation at the site. Some 2019 research also suggests that injecting a keloid scar with bleomycin is safe and effective, although it’s pretty common for the scar to come back after treatment.
  • Laser treatment. Laser treatment is sometimes used to resurface some types of scars and make them smoother, flatter, and less noticeable. Multiple sessions may be required.
  • Other resurfacing procedures. Procedures like chemical peeling, microdermabrasion, and dermabrasion are sometimes used to address acne scars. These remove the top layer of skin, smoothing it out. According to the The American Academy of Dermatology is a group of doctors. (AAD), resurfacing usually works best on scars that are already flat.
  • Microneedling. Microneedling is sometimes used for acne and other scars. This entails rolling a device with small needles over the skin. The needles prick the skin and stimulate collagen growth to make the skin look smoother. A variation of the procedure, radiation microneedling, involves sending radiofrequency waves through the needle to enhance the process.
  • Cryosurgery. Cryosurgery is one option for some types of scars. Also known as cryotherapy, it involves swabbing or spraying liquid nitrogen on the scar to “freeze it off.” However, the AAD does not recommend it for people with darker skin.

Surgical revision with advanced techniques in wound closure

Your surgeon will use one of several possible techniques to revise the scar. They may use a skin graft or skin flap to close the wound. After making the appropriate incisions, your surgeon will close the wound with sutures.

In some complex cases, a surgeon may choose to suture together the tissue in layers. If they suture the tissue in layers, they will start with the tissue below the skin surface and work their way up. Multilayer repair can make it stronger, according to a 2014 review.

“You can start with injections or creams. If you don’t get the results you’re after, surgery may be the next step.”

If you have scars like this, you should speak with a doctor about what kind of surgery is best for you.

DisIt is a color.ation or surface irregularities

You might have scars from the surgery. You might have some scars that are taking too long to fade.

Hypertrophic scars

Hypertrophic scars tend to be wider or thicker raised scars at the site of a wound. They’re often red or pink, but they can vary in It is a color. and sometimes appear darker or lighter.

Keloid scars

A keloid scar is fibrous scar tissue. It forms a smooth, hard growth after a wound has healed.

Keloid scars tend to be larger and more raised than hypertrophic scars. They often grow beyond the borders of the original injury site. Keloid scars have a higher recurrence rate than hypertrophic scars, too.

Doctors often use injections to treat these scars, then cut them out. The process of cutting out a scar is called excision.

If the keloid recurs after excision, the last line of treatment is to cut it out again. This is followed by immediate radiation therapy to the scar.

Contractures

When a burn or other type of serious wound heals, fibrous tissue sometimes replaces the elastic tissue that was there before the injury. This inelastic tissue is known as a contracture.

A contracture feels stiff. It can affect the movement of the muscles and joints in the area.

Some dermatologists will suggest a cosmetic treatment like laser treatment, microneedling, or chemical peels for acne scars. If that doesn’t quite do the job, you could follow up with dermal fillers. However, minor surgery is also a treatment you might want to consider.

Depressed acne scars

A depressed scar is sunken into the skin. If you have a depressed scar, your doctor can remove it to make it flush with the rest of your skin. This can make the scar appear less noticeable.

Raised acne scars

“If you have raised your scars, you might want to consider a non surgical treatment. A doctor might recommend surgery if those don’t do the job.”

After removing the raised scar, your doctor may recommend additional treatments such as radiation therapy. People with lighter It is a color.ed skin can benefit from the procedure.

You can have an injury on any part of your body, so you can have a scar on any part. The type of plastic surgery that is most appropriate for your scar can be different.

Face

Your face is the most visible part of your body. Your doctor will talk to you about the procedures that are available for scars on your face. The type of scar on your face will affect a lot.

Your doctor may recommend starting out with a process like dermabrasion or laser resurfacing to smooth down a raised or rough scar. If you have a keloid or hypertrophic scar, they might suggest injections of medication to reduce the size. Then, they’ll move on to excision of the scar, according to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Neck

Your doctor may talk to you about scar revision surgery that will make your scar look less noticeable. A surgeon can work with the natural tension lines in your neck. The procedure will depend on the scar and size.

Trunk and limbs

You may be most concerned about function in other parts of your body. For example, if you have a contracture from a burn on your hand or leg, you may want to pursue a scar revision to ease some tension and restore some lost movement. According to a 2014 review, a procedure like a variation on a Z-plasty can lengthen the scar and improve the tension that tends to accompany this type of scar.

A scar revision surgery can be a lot of work. Your results may be different.

scar revision surgery can be risky because you may not get the results you want. A procedure that worked on one scar might not work on another.

You may want to consider other risks before you go under the knife. They include:

  • The anesthesia used for the process has a reaction.
  • There are bleeding, swelling, or skin disIt is a color.ation at the surgical site.
  • There is a deep vein thrombosis.
  • There is numbness at the surgical site.
  • “It doesn’t heal properly.”
  • It is an infectious disease
  • It is a pain.
  • There is a chance of additional revision surgeries.

Before you make a final decision, consider your budget and the cost of scar revision surgery. If you have insurance, you may not be able to pay for a scar revision surgery if it is for aesthetic purposes. If your injury is the result of a burn or accident, your insurance may cover some of the cost.

Discuss the estimated price with your doctor. The price can be different.

  • How much surgery will be done?
  • The surgery will be performed in a location that is convenient.
  • What kind of anesthesia will you need?

Some doctors suggest that a smaller scar revision might cost around $500. More extensive revisions may cost as much as $4,000 or more.

Your doctor will want to assess your scar before any revision procedure. They will look for a variety of characteristics.

  • It is a color.
  • It is called the contour.
  • thickness
  • The blood vessels are involved.

They will note the area where the scar is located and any tissue stiffness. Your doctor will discuss your options with you.

Once you decide upon a specific procedure, your doctor will discuss the actual surgery including the techniques. They will also give you some pre-op instructions to help you prepare. Typically, these will outline behaviors you may want to avoid before your surgery, such as smoking or drinking alcohol.

Before your surgeon begins the scar revision procedure, you will need to receive anesthesia. Depending on the procedure, you may only need local anesthesia and can be awake during the procedure. But sedated anesthesia or general anesthesia may be appropriate in other situations. Then the procedure can begin.

scar revision surgery can be done in several different ways, and one of them may be appropriate for you.

Scar excision

The surgeon will sew the edges together after removing the scar.

Skin graft

Sometimes a skin transplant is necessary in scar revision surgery. Your surgeon will remove the scarred area if that is the case. They will take a piece of skin from another part of the body to replace the removed skin. They will sew it into place. This procedure is used for burn scars.

Skin flap

This surgery is similar to a skin transplant. When the scar is excised, your surgeon will move a flap of skin from another area to replace it.

W-plasty

During this procedure, the surgeon repositions the scar so it falls more along the natural lines of your skin. According to a 2019 review, these lines are known as relaxed skin tension lines. The surgeon does this by creating tiny triangles along the margin of the scar.

The W-plasty is a fairly versatile procedure with minimal risk. It can be particularly useful when revising hypertrophic scars. The downsides: it may not be appropriate on scars in the eyelid area and can result in a longer scar, according to a 2019 review.

Z-plasty

With a Z-plasty, your surgeon moves or redirects the lines of the scar to make it less noticeable. The surgeon creates pointed flaps of skin, which can lessen the tension or pressure from skin tightness of some scars. Research from 2010 suggests that it can help break up a scar so it’s better camouflaged, or help a tight scar relax. According to a 2014 review, this procedure also has numerous variations.

The recovery process can be different depending on how extensive the surgery was. Your doctor will talk to you about how to take care of your surgical site. They may tell you to take it easy for a few days or weeks to avoid putting strain on the wound.

You may also notice some swelling or bruising around the site during the first 1 or 2 weeks after the surgery. You can use cold compresses to keep the swelling down. Let your doctor know if the swelling or disIt is a color.ation doesn’t eventually go away.

If your surgical site seems to be healing up, you should visit your doctor for any scheduled follow-up visits.

It is important to protect your scar or revision from the sun. A broad-spectrum sunscreen or protective clothing is needed.

It’s also important to be patient. Penn Cosmetic Surgery cautions that the healing time may be longer for a scar removal on your leg than for a scar removal on your face. And it may take months for you to fully realize the improvement to your scar’s appearance.

If you are a good candidate for scar revision surgery, you may be a good candidate.

  • are in good health
  • Do not smoke.
  • There are no active skin conditions in the affected areas.
  • Have realistic expectations for a scar revision procedure.

Also, make sure you know why you’re considering scar revision surgery. According to the The American Society of Plastic Surgeons., the key is that you’re doing it for yourself, not to please someone else.

A board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist is the best choice for a scar revision procedure. These physicians who have completed medical school and a residency program then pursued extra medical education in their specialty area and passed rigorous exams to demonstrate their mastery, are called the “Physicians who have completed medical school and a residency program then voluntarily pursued extra medical education in their specialty area and passed rigorous exams They must keep up their education.

Where to find a doctor or surgeon? You can use the search tools provided to find a plastic surgeon or dermatologist.

When you are looking for a doctor, you may want to ask them some questions to make sure they are a good fit. Those questions might include some.

  • What kind of training do you get?
  • What kind of scar revision procedures have you done?
  • Which scar revision procedures do you do the most?
  • “Do you think I’m a good candidate for scar revision surgery?”
  • What kind of procedure would you recommend?
  • What are the risks of the procedure you are suggesting?
  • How long will the procedure take, and what will the outcome be?
  • Can you show me photos of other patients who have undergone scar revision surgery?
  • How much will this surgery cost?
  • What should I do if I have a problem after surgery?
  • “How will you deal with a situation if you don’t like the results of the revision?”

You might want to bring along your medical history, including any previous surgeries you have had.

There are different sizes, shapes, and thickness of scars. Some are barely noticeable, while others are impossible to miss. Depending on the location and type of scar, your treatment options will be different. If you need a surgical procedure, you should consult your doctor first.