A brief description about scar removal cosmetic surgery

Scar revision surgery will attempt to minimize a scar. So that it is less conspicuous and blends in with the surrounding skin tone and texture.

Scars are visible signs that remain after a wound has healed. They are the unavoidable results of injury or surgery, and their development can be unpredictable. Poor healing may contribute to scars that are obvious, unsightly or disfiguring. Even a wound that heals well can result in a scar that affects your appearance. Scars may be noticeable due to their size, shape or location. They can also be raised or depressed, and may differ in color or texture from the surrounding healthy tissue.

Know more about scar removal cosmetic surgery by Pritish Kumar article below:

Scar and its types

Scar revision is plastic surgery performed to improve the condition or appearance of a scar anywhere on your body. The different types of scars include:

Discoloration or surface irregularities and other more subtle scars can be cosmetically improved by surgery or other treatments recommended by your plastic surgeon. These types of scars do not impair function or cause physical discomfort and include acne scars as well as scars resulting from minor injury and prior surgical incisions.

Hypertropic scars are thick clusters of scar tissue that develop directly at a wound site. They are often raised, red and/or uncomfortable and may become wider over time. They can be hyperpigmented (darker in color) or hypopigmented (lighter in color).

Keloids are larger than hypertropic scars. They can be painful or itchy, and may also pucker. They extend beyond the edges of an original wound or incision. Keloids can occur anywhere on your body. But they develop more commonly where there is little underlying fatty tissue, such as on the face, neck, ears, chest or shoulders.

Contractures are scars that restrict movement due to skin and underlying tissue that pull together during healing. They can occur when there is a large amount of tissue loss, such as after a burn. Contractures also can form where a wound crosses a joint, restricting movement of the fingers, elbows, knees or neck.

The type of scar you have will determine the appropriate techniques your plastic surgeon will use to improve your scar.

Procedures step by step

Step 1 – Anesthesia

Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedures. The choices include local anesthesia, intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.

Step 2 – The treatment

Topical treatments, such as gels, tapes or external compression. These  can help in wound closure and healing, or to reduce the ability of skin to produce irregular pigment. These products may be used to treat existing surface scars and discoloration .

Injectable treatments may also be used. Dermal filler can be used to fill depressed or concave scars. Depending on the injectable substance used and your particular scar conditions, results may last from three months to several years. Therapy must be repeated to maintain results.

Surface treatments are most often used for cosmetic improvement of scars. These methods can soften surface irregularities and reduce uneven pigmentation. These treatment options include:

• Dermabrasion is a mechanical polishing of the skin.
• Laser or light therapy causes changes to the surface of the skin that allow new, healthy skin to form at the scar site.
• Chemical peel solutions penetrate the skin’s surface to soften irregularities in texture and color.
• Skin bleaching agents are medications applied topically to lighten the skin.

Step 3 – incision

Sometimes for deeper scars an incision is needed to surgically remove the old scar.

Step 4 – Closing the incisions

Some scars require layered closure. Layered closure is often used where excision extends to tissue below the skin surface or in areas with a high degree of movement. Advanced techniques in scar revision include complex flap closures and W-plasty or Z-plasty techniques..Pharmaceutical tissue substitutes may be used if ample healthy tissue is not present for closure of a scar excision. This is more likely with revision of severe burn scars.

Recovery

Progress and healing

The initial healing phase of a surgical scar revision may include localized swelling, discoloration or discomfort and may take 1 to 2 weeks. Healing will continue for several weeks and as the new scar heals it will slowly refine and fade. With dermabrasion, chemical peel or laser resurfacing, you will experience similar conditions at the treated area. In addition to overall sensitivity.

 

The results will be long-lasting

The final results of your scar revision surgery will be long-lasting, however it may take several months for your final results to become apparent and in some cases it may take a year for the new scar to fully heal and fade.

 

The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although good results are expected, there are no guarantees; and in some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure and another surgery may be necessary.

 

Tissue expansion can be a substitute for skin grafts. In this procedure, an inflatable balloon called a tissue expander is placed under the skin near the scar site. Over time, the balloon is slowly filled with sterile solution to expand the area of healthy skin. Once the skin has been stretched sufficiently, the expander and the scar is removed and the stretched skin is moved to replace the scar tissue. This process can involve multiple surgical stages or procedures in order to achieve the final results.

Reference

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/reconstructive-procedures/scar-revision/