SCAR REVISION
SCAR REVISION
Scar Revision is a surgical procedure to improve or reduce the appearance of scars. Some scars can be restored non-surgically with the use of fillers or skin resurfacing. Scar revision restores function and corrects skin changes that are caused by injury, burns, acne, or previous surgery.
Scars are formed during the healing process when the skin is trying to recover from an accident, burn, surgery or acne. Multiple layers of skin are usually affected. Once a scar forms it is permanent, has an unappealing appearance and can diminish function to the affected area. Scars of the face, eyes, mouth or nose All scars no matter the location can and typically do affect people in one way or another. Dr. Dahiya can perform scar revision surgery to make it less visible and restore function and a more pleasing appearance.
BENEFITS OF SCAR REVISION
- Improve or reduce the appearance of scars
- Restore function & correct form
- Treats hypertrophic, keloid & contracture scarring
- Employs surgical & non-surgical procedures
- Enhances physical appearance & self-confidence
SCAR REVISION PROCEDURES:
Based upon the type of scarring – Dr. Dahiya may use one of the following techniques for Scar Revision:
- Steroid Applications and Injections – can help to reduce itching and/or pain and flatten and reduce the redness of hypertrophic and keloid scars. Steroids are applied or injected into the scar to break down the skin’s collagen. Both Hypertrophic and Keloid scars are resultant from collagen that continues to produce after the wound has healed.
- Silicone Gel Sheets – help flatten hypertrophic scars. These clear sheets are placed on the scar and worn 24 hours a day.
- Z-Plasty and Related Tissue-Rearrangement Techniques – are used to reorient scars. This is achieved by cutting the skin around the scar into small triangular flaps following a Z-shape. The flaps are then repositioned to follow natural lines and creases of the skin making the scar less noticeable and relieving pressure of contracture scars.
- Dermabrasion – evens out surface irregularities by removing the top layers of the skin. This works well for deep lines or scars.
- Skin Grafts – involve using skin from a healthy body area and transplanting it to the injured area. Grafts are not always cosmetically pleasing – but they are safe, effective, and restore function to a severely scarred area.
- Dermal Fillers – are used to fill in sunken scars. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in our body that acts as a scaffolding to support the skin. Dermal fillers are safe and effective and used in millions of treatments worldwide.
WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR SCAR REVISION?
A good candidate for Scar Revision is anyone with raised or depressed scars, contour irregularities, poor lines of orientation, color mismatch, and scars produced by blunt trauma. You should be in otherwise good health and have realistic expectations.
MOST COMMONLY TREATED SCARS:
- Hypertrophic scars – occur within the boundaries of the incision or wound and are generally thick, red and raised in appearance.
- Keloid scars – are somewhat similar in appearance to hypertrophic scars– but keloids generally grow beyond the boundaries of the incision or wound. Found commonly on the earlobe, shoulder, and over the breastbone. Keloid scars are most common in dark-skinned people.
- Contracture scars- the most severe form of scarring and usually occur as the result of a loss of skin over a large area. Burn patients typically experience contracture scarring as the edges of the skin pull together affecting the adjacent muscles and tendons which in turn causes restriction of normal movement.
