Scar Revision Surgery

Published on: October 11, 2013

One of the most rewarding plastic surgery procedures any plastic surgeon can perform is scar revision surgery. A patient with a facial scar, the scar can have an immense impact of the person’s self esteem, confidence and can cause psychological and emotional impacts beyond the visible scar.

Often facial scars are the result of as a result of a trauma, a burn, acne, an infection or previous surgery. In addition to being unsightly and unattractive, facial scaring can also impact the normal facial structures including the lips, brow, nose and eyes. A qualified plastic surgeon may be able to use a number of surgical techniques to reduce wide or depressed scars, hypertrophic scars and keloids.

During an initial consultation with a plastic surgeon, the physician will be able to make a determination if the patient is a candidate for facial surgery. As every facial scar is different, the physician will look at the patient’s age, skin type, the placement, the nature of the scar and the time that has elapsed since the initial scaring event. Timing is important, as most scars should be revised within 9-12 months of the scaring event to get the best results.

Depending upon the findings of the exam, the surgeon will have a number of surgical techniques available including dermabrasion, laser therapy, W-Plasty, Z-Plasty, direct excision and geometric broken line closure. One of the things that the surgeon will also discuss with the patient is to set realistic goals for the revision surgery and to allow up 12 months for the revised scar to heal.

Posted on behalf of Benjamin Stong MD, Kalos Facial Plastic Surgery, LLC

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