Whether they’re formed by accident or from surgery, scars can be mysterious and unpredictable in the way they develop or persist on the skin. The way a scar develops depends as much on how your body heals as it does on the original injury or the surgeon’s skills. Many variables can affect a scar’s severity, such as the size and depth of a wound, the nature of blood supply to the area, the direction of the scar, and the thickness and color of your own skin.
It is a personal matter, of course, as to how much the appearance of a scar bothers you. While no scar can be eliminated completely, a procedure for scar revision at our Los Angeles area practice with Dr. Steven Svehlak or Dr. Daniel Yamini can often improve a scar’s appearance.
If you’re considering a scar revision procedure, a consultation with our double board-certified surgeons will answer your questions and give you a basic understanding of the most common types of scars, the scar revision procedures used to treat them, and the results you can realistically expect. The revision of C-section scars, for example, is often performed as part of a Mommy Makeover package.
If you are looking to improve the appearance of a scar, contact our Los Angeles‐area clinic or by calling (310) 858-9100 to set up a consultation for scar revision with one of our double board-certified surgeons.
Why Do Scars Stick Around?
Obvious, disfiguring, or unsightly scarring may occur as a result of a wound healing poorly. But even one that has healed relatively well can form a noticeable scar due to the extent of damage that may have occurred.
Scars can be raised or sunken relative to the skin around it, or can stand out due to a harsh-looking difference in color or texture from the healthier, surrounding tissue. The shape, size, and area of the scar may also make it negatively stand out.
What Does a Scar Revision Process Entail?
The purpose of scar revision treatments or procedures is to minimize the appearance of a scar so that it looks more uniform with the tone and texture of the surrounding skin. The extent of improvement that can be attained with a scar revision procedure depends on the above aspects – and so do the methods your surgeon may recommend.
While just a single technique could provide significant results for some individuals, your surgeon may recommend a combination of scar revision methods in order to maximize what you can achieve.
Some scar revision methods include:
- Topical treatments such as tapes, compressions, or gels, can accelerate the healing process, help close up the wound, and improve normal pigmentation during healing
- Injectable treatments, such as fillers, can help fill concavities in a scar, either short‐ or long‐term
- Injectable medications, such as Kenalog and/or 5‐FU, can help soften and lighten thick hypertrophic and keloid scars
- Surface treatments such as lasers, dermabrasions, peels, or bleaches can reduce irregular pigmentation and texture, primarily by encouraging production of healthier, fresher‐looking skin tissue
- Incisions can be made for deeper, older scars to give the skin a second chance to heal better, while advanced techniques in closing these incisions (such as different forms of layered closure, Z‐plasty, W‐plasty, etc.) can reposition a scar to a less conspicuous position, or improve flexibility of tissue to combat a hindrance in movement in certain areas
To explore your options for scar revision, contact Sunset Cosmetic Surgery or by phone at (310) 858-9100.
