Scar Revision

Scar Revision
A scar is your body’s natural response to injury of the skin. For many people a scar fades or is not particularly noticeable, but in some cases the the scar can become red and raised. More extreme forms of scarring are known as ‘hypertrophic’ and ‘keloid’ scarring. Such scars are not only unsightly but can also be painful, itchy and cause functional impairment.

Scar revision refers to a variety of techniques which can help to improve the appearance or symptoms of scars. Every scar must be treated as a unique entity, with a tailor-made treatment plan. For some scars, a combination of treatments may be required to get the best result.

Am I A Good Candidate For Scar Revision?

The best candidates for scar revision are patients;

  • Who understand the final result may not be visible until a number of months have passed
  • Who understand a combination or number of treatments may be required to get the best result
  • Who have realistic expectations of the results and willing to follow all pre-op and post-op instructions
  • Who are generally healthy and do not have a medical condition that could impede healing
  • Who do not smoke

What Scar Revision Surgery Won’t Do

It is important to understand scars are permanent and that scar revision will not completely remove the scar but improve its appearance.

Surgical removal of a scar remains one of the most effective and immediate treatments for scarring. By excising the scar and carefully closing the new wound with plastic surgery techniques, the scar can be significantly improved. In some cases, the surgery may be more complex involving skin grafts, tissue expansion, flap surgery (in which an adjacent flap of healthy skin is lifted and moved over the scarred area), injection of the scar with nanofat.

Non-surgical treatments can also be used to improve scars and include steroid injection, silicone gel, laser treatment and radiotherapy. For some patients, a combination of treatments may be the best approach for minimizing the appearance of the scar as much as possible.

Mr Karri may perform your scar revision at The Karri Clinic or in a private hospital. Depending on the technique, local anaesthetic and sedation or general anaesthetic may be used.

The Results You Can Expect

You will notice an improvement in your scar immediately, but the final results can take much longer to become visible. Scars continue to mature and improve for up to two years following surgery. During this time Mr Karri will instruct you as to the proper care of your scar so as to minimize its appearance. Scars are initially very sensitive to sunlight and can tan darker than the surrounding skin, so it is important to wear sunscreen over your new scar for the first six to nine months.

The possible complications of scar revision will largely depend the particular technique used. Mr Karri will discuss all risks and benefits of your scar revision procedure prior to starting your treatment .

In general, possible risks include;

Poor healing

Infection

Bleeding