After an accident or surgery, your body can form scars in the process of healing lost or damaged skin. If you do form a scar, you may not only dislike the way your scar(s) looks, but they can also be itchy, painful, thick, tight and limit your movement. If so, you may be a good candidate for a scar revision treatment. In addition to improving the scar’s appearance, revision treatment can minimize pain and help make the nearby skin softer and more elastic.
The level of improvement that can be achieved through scar revision is based on the severity of your scar, as well as the size, type and location. In some cases, you may only need a single technique to see significant improvement, but your facial plastic surgeon may recommend a combination of techniques to achieve the best outcome.
Non-Surgical Scar Revision
Non-surgical treatments can effectively minimize the appearance of scars. They work most effectively on minor scars, such as those resulting from acne. Dr. Garcia may recommend:
- Dermabrasion– Depending on the size of the treatment area, dermabrasion can take about 15 minutes to an hour. Following the procedure, the crusts will fall off in about one week, revealing new skin. It will take six to 12 months until you can see final results.
- Microneedling – Microneedling may be used for burn scars, acne scars and surgical scars. This treatment works best on depressed, not raised, scars due to its collagen-inducing efforts. A raised scar means you already have an excess of collagen in the area.
- Soft-tissue fillers – A soft-tissue filler injection appointment takes less than an hour and offers quick, long-lasting results.
- Chemical peels – Chemical peels improve the appearance of mild scarring by using a chemical solution to remove the outer layer of old skin. The new skin that replaces it is usually smoother and less irregular in appearance.
Surgical Scar Revision
Surgical scar revision involves making the scar as smooth and invisible as possible by either recreating the incision, moving the skin around or even moving the scar to a less noticeable area. Your facial plastic surgeon will determine the best plan of action based on where your scar is located and how it looks.
What to Expect After Scar Revision Surgery
Following scar revision surgery, you should expect to feel some discomfort, as well as some degree of swelling, redness and bruising during the early stage of healing. It is important that you follow your surgeon’s after-care instructions to achieve the best results, which will include decreased activity for a period of time. You should also keep your head elevated when lying down and use cold compresses to decrease swelling.
For more information on scar revision treatment or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Garcia at our convenient location in Jacksonville (Town Center), please contact us today.
