Scars can form from injuries or trauma, acne scarring, and incisions related to previous surgeries. Sometimes they heal in a way that is noticeable or displeasing to the patient. They can also cause pain, impair function by limiting mobility, or create significant disfigurement. Dr. Thompson has extensive training in concealing scars with proper surgical technique, reorientation, laser treatments and skin resurfacing at his Denver, CO practice.
What is Scar Revision?
When a cut or scrape heals, new cells begin to form in the injured area. These cells eventually become a thick layer of connective tissues called granulation. Over time, these granulations form into a scab, which then becomes covered by a thin layer of scarred flesh. Scarring occurs when the body tries to protect itself from further injury.
Some scars aren’t so bad, but some are really ugly. If you want to get rid of them, there are ways to make them look better.
Scar revision surgery is a procedure performed to improve scars and the outer layers of the skin after surgical procedures. Surface scars form when skin cells die off and are replaced with scar tissue. This process happens naturally over time and on all skin types, but sometimes the scarring becomes too noticeable. This surgery is used to reduce the visibility of scars and restore the appearance of normal skin.
Candidates for Scar Removal Surgery
Scar Revision is an extremely personal procedure and you should do so for yourself, not to satisfy some other person’s desire or to attempt to meet any sort of ideal appearance. Common reasons for having the procedure include:
- You’re bothered by any scars on your body.
- You are in good physical health
- You’re not a smoker
- You’re optimistic and realistic about your scar revision surgery.
- You don’t have any active acne or other skin conditions in the affected region
To determine if a patient is a good candidate for scar revision, Dr. Thompson recommends a private consultation. During this evaluation, the patient’s specific questions, concerns, and treatment goals will be reviewed in detail. A complete physical exam will be performed, including a comprehensive facial analysis.
What Does Scar Removal Involve?
During scar repair surgery, the surgeon will remove dead skin cells from the area where the scar is located. The surgeon then uses sutures or staples to close the wound. After the incision heals, the doctor can use lasers to improve the appearance.
How does scar revision work?
The process of scar revision involves removing scars and replacing them with healthy skin. This procedure is performed by plastic surgeons who specialize in cosmetic surgery. There are two types of scar revision treatments: surgical and non-surgical. Surgical scar revision requires cutting open the area where the scar is located, removing the deeper scar tissue, and sewing the wound closed. Nonsurgical scar revision uses lasers, radio frequency devices, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and other methods to reduce the appearance of scars.
Recovery from Scar Revision Surgery
After the procedure, patients must wear compression garments until the incisions heal. Patients should avoid strenuous activities for at least six weeks after the procedure. Afterward, they should exercise regularly to prevent muscle atrophy.
During the first few days after surgery, you might feel some pain and redness at the site of the procedure. You might also notice some changes in skin texture and color. These effects usually last from one week to two months. After that time, the wound begins to heal and the skin becomes smoother and softer. As the new skin grows, it gradually fades away.
Your final result from your scar revision procedure will last a long time, but it may require several months before you see any visible changes. It could even be a year before your scars completely disappear.
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- Christina Young
Frequently Asked Questions about Scar Revision
Surgical scar repair is usually recommended when there is significant damage to the underlying tissues, such as keloids (large raised areas of scar tissue), hypertrophic scars (raised, thickened scars), or deep wounds. However, nonsurgical scar repair (such as laser scar treatments) may be used instead of surgery if the patient prefers this option.
After having plastic surgery, patients usually experience swelling, bruising, and discomfort. These side effects are normal and typically resolve within two weeks. Some patients may feel soreness or tenderness for several months following the procedure.
There are two main types of scars: hypertrophic and keloid. Hypertrophic scars are raised bumps caused by inflammation, while keloids are larger, thicker, and harder to treat. Both types of scars can be treated with scar revision surgery, which involves cutting down the scar tissue and replacing it with healthy skin.
While both types of scars can be successfully treated with scar revision surgery in Denver, each type requires different techniques. Keloid scars tend to grow faster and require more aggressive treatment methods. Hypertrophic scars usually heal slower and respond better to less invasive treatments.
If you live near Denver, CO, Thompson Facial Plastics offers Scar Revision among its services, and is conveniently located at 3150 E. 3rd Ave Ste. 200 Denver, CO 80206
Scars occur when the dermis (the deep, thick layer of connective tissues beneath the epidermis) is injured. When the injury heals, the body produces new collagen fibers to repair the damage. A new fibrous capsule surrounds the area where the injury occurred. The new fibrous capsule may be white, yellow, brown, red, blue, black, pink or any color. The appearance of scars depends upon how much the dermis was involved in the injury. The deeper the injury, the darker the color of the scars.
If you have health insurance, there’ll be a good possibility that your plan won’t cover any part of a scar revision surgery if the reason for the procedure is purely cosmetic. However, if the reason for the surgery is because of an injury, then it’s possible your insurance might cover some of the costs.
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