FACIAL SCAR REVISION
A scar tissue is an area which is fibrous in characteristic that replaces normal skin after an injury.
Scars is the biological result from the process of wound repair in the skin, as well as in other parts of the body.
Thus, scarring is a natural phenomenon of the healing process after injury. Scar contains collagen from same tissue it replaces but differs in compositions.
In humans, Wounds due to disease, accident or surgery heal with varied degree of scarring which affected by genes, nutrition and external environment .
Different Types of scar tissue
Sometimes while wound healing, the scar tissue produces more or less of collagen than the required amount thus leading to variation in healing such as;
- Atrophic Scar – gives a sunken appearance due to decrease in collagen regeneration.
- Hypertrophic Scar – gives a raised appearance due increase in fibrous growth and decrease in tissue regeneration.
- Keloid Scar – results due to over growth of wound tissue and replaced by collagen.On examination, they are rubbery, firm, raised with red to brown in colour.Pain and itchiness can be associated with keloid.
- Acne Scar is totally different which has seven subtypes and has been discussed in separate page.
Kindly view in depth regarding acne scar treatment
Aim of scar revision surgery is to replace old noticeable scar with a less noticeable scar in given resources and greater safety.
Facial scars are different than those on the body as it is center of focus when we are in public life.
Face has been divided into various subunits such as forehead, eye, cheek, lip, ear, neck etc.
Apart from subunits, location of scar, movement of muscle of facial expressions million times a day, whether it lies in normal wrinkle lines or against it sets a course of treatment plan
A consultation and in depth analysis of scar is crucial before any treatment plan could be decided.
This true because no scar is similar as various factors such as location of scar, type of scar, skin type, stage of scar etc combine together as a factor before scar revision.
Scar revision is a complex procedure with numerous treatment options and success rate.
Each scar treatment is a custom made plan depending on individual’s facial scar.
Facial scars are treated in number of ways usually combined with multiple treatment modalities.
Do I require multiple treatment modalities for improving my scar?
The various surgical techniques for facial scar revision are designed to create the scar least noticeable as ever.
This can involve recreating the incision, moving skin around, lasers or perhaps moving the scar’s direction to make it less visible.
Sometimes more than one revision surgery could be needed.
What could work best for your specific scar will depend on its location and how it looks, your surgeon will evaluate you and discuss the options for revision surgery.
Big No, Facial scar are marked by injury are deep or up to bone most of the time.
Energy from these laser devices are way too low and useless in treating most of the scar only with laser.
Laser treatment can:
- Lasers helps in resurfacing of skin most of the time helpful only after surgery.
- Lasers prevent a raised scar from forming after surgery
- Reduce itch and pain.
- Reduces stiffness of a scar tissues .
- Scar revision surgery along with laser treatment can also make a scar less visible, but it cannot get rid of a scar. When you undergo laser scar treatment, you’re replacing one scar with another less-noticeable scar.
Scars tissues matures at certain rate and time.
After initial days of injury, it is advised to wait at least for 3 to 6 months for scar to attain maturity and its final position.
This helps in determining the type and extent of treatment needed for scar revision.
Yes, in most of cases appearance of scar improves by utilizing various options.
You can hope to feel comfortable after facial scar revision procedure.
Some swelling, bruising could be there. Most of swelling will subside in 2- 5 days.It is essential for you to follow your surgeons’s instructions.
Risk factors associated with facial scar revision could be infection, formation of hypertrophic, keloid scar or pigmentation (depends on individual’s body). All of them can be managed through intervention.
Surgical training especially in face and skill is a must factor before selecting your surgeon. Wrong diagnosis and mushrooming of illegal laser centers have given rise to complications and disappoint in treatment of facial scar.
Facial Plastic Surgeon or expert in Facial Cosmetic Surgery should be able to advise best course of treatment plan for you in available resources.
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