Scar Revision

Scarring is a natural part of the healing process that occurs when a wound closes following accidents, surgery or disease. However, some lesions may affect the appearance of skin, and sometimes function and facial movement can be affected by the severity of scarring. Besides, scars can be disfiguring and aesthetically unpleasant. Severe stress reactions and loss of self esteem can result from having a very visible scar. Many people who consider scar revision can be strongly affected by the appearance of a scar. Face scars can often be improved through a well-planned surgery. While no scar can be removed completely, plastic surgery can often improve the appearance of the scar.

Scars are areas of fibrous tissue that replace normal skin after injury. However, scar tissue is not identical to the tissue that it replaces. Hypertrophic and keloid scars are two types of abnormal scars that can appear after dermal injury. In these cases, tissue structure, margins of the original wound, or color of the skin may vary. For those patients who would like to lessen the appearance of this type of scars, scar revision surgery and treatments may help. The facial plastic surgeon can often improve the appearance of a scar, making it less obvious or relocating it through the injection or application of certain steroid medications or through surgical procedures. The way a scar revision develops depends on the position of the scar, the size and depth of the wound, the thickness and color of the skin, and the direction of the scar.

All surgical possibilities will be discussed in the initial consultation along with risks involved for each type of scarring. Most facial scar revision procedures are performed under local anesthesia, or in difficult areas, you may undergo your procedure with general anesthesia, or light sleep sedation.

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*	What is facial plastic surgery?
*	The specialist in facial plastic surgery l
*	Anesthesia
*	Ambulatory plastic surgery
*	Post-surgical care
*	Potencial risks from facial plastic surgery
*	Costs

What you must know about scar revision:

1	No scar can be “erased” permanently. Scars cannot be removed completely. In most cases it is possible to make them less visible.
2	During surgery the incisions are closed with fine stitches, often resulting in less prominent scars.
3	The facial plastic surgeon may use local tissue to hide the scars within natural wrinkles, providing an aesthetically pleasing result.
4	In certain cases a Z-shaped incision may help decrease the amount of contractures of the surrounding skin. By relocating the scar, the edges of the scar can look more like the normal lines and creases of the skin.
5	Every cut or injury to the skin, whether they are caused by trauma, disease, or by surgery, heals to form a scar.
6	Your own body’s healing mechanism is the ultimate determining factor in scar development.
7	A scar usually takes 6 to 18 months to fully mature.
8	Early in the scar revision process, scars have a satisfactory appearance. Then scars are red because when the body starts to heal, it produces an over abundance of healing tissue and new cells. Over time scars will become paler and flatter.
9	Some people who experience diminished functioning of the eyes, mouth, or nose due to scarring, may consider an early treatment.
10	There are some techniques to smooth a scar, remove the abnormal color of the scar, or flatten a scar, before undergoing surgery.
11	All scars improve on their own to some degree. It is important to wait before initiating treatment since a scar that looks poor a month or so after injury may continue to greatly improve in appearance for many months.
12	You must have realistic expectations about the outcome of your surgery. It is important to know that scars cannot be completely removed. Scar revision surgery can only improve the way the scar looks, rather than removing it entirely.
13	Some patients may need more than one surgical procedure if their scar revisions require a series of operations at different stages of the healing process.