Scar Removal Surgery

What Is a Scar?

A scar is really nature’s way of healing the skin after its been injured in some way. Most wounds—whether caused by an accident, surgery, or disease (such as acne)—are likely to leave some type of scar behind. Scars can take many forms. They can be sunken, raised, or flat. They can be paler or darker than the surrounding skin. A variety of factors, such as your age and skin type and the location of the skin injury, will determine the type of scar that forms.

What Causes a Scar?

A scar is created when the deep, thick, underlying layer of skin known as the dermis becomes damaged. To heal the wound, the skin produces new protein fibers, called collagen, which set to work to mend the damaged skin. But this collagen is not the same as the skin tissue that was there before the injury. So, although it does the work of healing and protecting the wounded area of skin, it can’t re-create the healthy normal skin that was once there. The skin of the scar will lack sweat glands and hair follicles, for example. And it will look and feel different.

Are Scars Painful?

They shouldn’t be. Sometimes, though, a scar may be located on a patch of skin susceptible to irritation from repeated physical movement or the rubbing of clothing. And during the wound-healing process, hypertrophic scars or keloids can itch and even hurt. If a scar causes significant pain, it may be infected. If you have a scar that is swollen and/or painful, be sure to seek advice and treatment from your physician. Standard treatment involves antibiotics.

Can Scars Be Removed?

Scars can’t be removed, but their appearance can be improved, and sometimes significantly so. Techniques for improving the appearance of scars include laser resurfacing, surgery, steroid injections, and dermabrasion. Topical medications may help encourage skin to heal, but they are ineffective at reducing the appearance of any resulting scar tissue.

When Should I See a Doctor?

You should, of course, see your doctor if a scar is causing pain or swelling. But you can also seek medical care for minimizing the appearance of an established scar. New technologies—particularly new laser devices—have made it safer and easier to reduce scar tissue. Deciding which treatment is right for you will depend on many factors. Be sure to seek care from a physician who specializes in the skin and who is skilled and experienced in treating scars.

 

Scar Removal: Healing the Skin's Healing Process

Scarring is part of the skin's natural healing process. Unfortunately, facial scarring can also be a source of embarrassment and low self-esteem. Today, new surgical procedures, skin resurfacing technologies, and other treatments are making it possible for facial scars and scar tissue to be successfully erased or minimized, greatly improving the skin's appearance. Severe scarring-that caused by burns and trauma, for example-often requires surgery. But for more superficial scarring-such as that caused by acne and chicken pox-a variety of more minimally invasive treatments are now available. Most such scars are the result of too much collagen protein left behind in the skin after an injury. Treatments include laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels, microdermabrasion and vibradermabrasion, and dermal fillers.

How Scar Treatment Works

All of the non-invasive treatments work, essentially, by removing part of the upper layers of your skin, either with pulses of light (lasers), rotating "skin-polishing" equipment (microdermabrasion and vibradermabrasion), or chemical solutions (chemical peels). As for dermal fillers, they're used to fill in and "lift" the skin depressions caused by scars. All these procedures can be done right in your doctor's office.

The Patient's Guide® to Scar Removal

Different types of scars respond to different types of treatments. And sometimes more than one procedure is needed. That's why it's important to have an informed discussion with your physician about your treatment options. You want to make sure you get the treatment that's best for your skin. We've created this website to help you have that informed discussion. The content here is edited and published by some of the leading cosmetic physicians in the world. As a Patient's Guide® website, we're committed to the highest standards of medical accuracy and review. We hope this information is helpful, and we look forward to your feedback. This site is not intended to diagnose, recommend, or substitute real medical advice from your doctor. Contact your physician prior to seeking any treatment for scarring. 
Scar treatment procedures -
No scar can be completely removed. They will always leave behind a trace, but a number of procedures can improve their appearance.

Surgery -

Surgery will never completely remove a scar but can be used to alter its location or shape to make it less noticeable. Surgery is at times necessary to remove a scar on skin near a joint where it restricts movement, but it will leave another scar.

Laser surgery & resurfacing -

The use of laser on scars is still on an experimental phase, as the safety or effectiveness has not yet been proven.

Steroid injections -

A course of steroid injections into the scar may help flatten and soften the appearance of keloid or hypertrophic scars.

Z-Plasty -

Z-plasty is a surgical technique used to relocate a scar so that it more closely matches to the natural creases of the skin, where it will be less noticeable. In this procedure, the old scar is removed and new incisions are made on each side, creating small triangular flaps of skin.

Skin grafting -

Grafting involves the transfer of skin from a healthy part of the body to cover the injured area. All grafts leave some scarring at the donor and recipient sites.

Make sure that your expectations from any surgery are realistic. You cannot expect that old scars will completely disappear; however, they will always turn flatter, paler and softer.

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What Is a Scar?

A scar is really nature’s way of healing the skin after its been injured in some way. Most wounds—whether caused by an accident, surgery, or disease (such as acne)—are likely to leave some type of scar behind. Scars can take many forms. They can be sunken, raised, or flat. They can be paler or darker than the surrounding skin. A variety of factors, such as your age and skin type and the location of the skin injury, will determine the type of scar that forms.

What Causes a Scar?

A scar is created when the deep, thick, underlying layer of skin known as the dermis becomes damaged. To heal the wound, the skin produces new protein fibers, called collagen, which set to work to mend the damaged skin. But this collagen is not the same as the skin tissue that was there before the injury. So, although it does the work of healing and protecting the wounded area of skin, it can’t re-create the healthy normal skin that was once there. The skin of the scar will lack sweat glands and hair follicles, for example. And it will look and feel different.

Are Scars Painful?

They shouldn’t be. Sometimes, though, a scar may be located on a patch of skin susceptible to irritation from repeated physical movement or the rubbing of clothing. And during the wound-healing process, hypertrophic scars or keloids can itch and even hurt. If a scar causes significant pain, it may be infected. If you have a scar that is swollen and/or painful, be sure to seek advice and treatment from your physician. Standard treatment involves antibiotics.

Can Scars Be Removed?

Scars can’t be removed, but their appearance can be improved, and sometimes significantly so. Techniques for improving the appearance of scars include laser resurfacing, surgery, steroid injections, and dermabrasion. Topical medications may help encourage skin to heal, but they are ineffective at reducing the appearance of any resulting scar tissue.

When Should I See a Doctor?

You should, of course, see your doctor if a scar is causing pain or swelling. But you can also seek medical care for minimizing the appearance of an established scar. New technologies—particularly new laser devices—have made it safer and easier to reduce scar tissue. Deciding which treatment is right for you will depend on many factors. Be sure to seek care from a physician who specializes in the skin and who is skilled and experienced in treating scars. 

Low-Cost Providers

These days it seems there are a number of cheap "laser surgeons" offering discount laser surgery. There are no “deals” in laser medicine. Unlike buying a car, or some other commodity, laser medicine is MEDICINE. Its critical to go to a qualified provider.