Scar Revision Surgery – Get Back Your Confidence
An injury scar can be a source of embarrassment and make you feel self-conscious. Luckily, scar revision surgery is an option for those who want to regain self-confidence and enjoy their lives again. This skin improvement surgery smooths out the scar tissue that resulted from any injury or operation. It is done by removing as much scarring as possible while still aiming to have natural-looking skin. This article will discuss scar revision surgery in detail, including how it works, the benefits, side effects, recovery time, cost, and more!
Why is scar removal essential?
An injury scar can be a source of embarrassment. Scar revision surgery helps remove scars visible on your face or body after an injury or operation. Doctors skilled in cosmetic surgery can perform scar surgery to remove any scar formation developed due to an injury or an operation. Its main goal is to leave the skin looking natural again.
What is scar revision surgery?
It is the process of treating the affected skin to reduce any scar tissue from causing you stress. Scar revision can be completed alone or in conjunction with another treatment. Scar removal surgeries are commonly performed on hypertrophic scars and keloid scarring, not burn scars. Skin treatments can also be performed to make the scar flat instead of raised.
What are the benefits of scar revision surgery?
The main benefit of scar revision surgery is that it improves the appearance of your scars. Scar revisions can also lessen any discomfort or itching that you may be experiencing with your original scarred tissue. They are often performed to prevent keloid scars and hypertrophic scarring from coming back or appearing. Plastic surgeons also use these procedures to avoid the appearance of stretch marks, which can occur after an operation or injury. These procedures work best if done early before your scars have had a chance to become raised or swollen.
What types of scars can be improved with surgery?
Scar revision surgery has been successful in removing scars from:
C-section/tummy tuck surgeries
Scar revisions can improve the noticeable scar line of a cesarean section or tummy tuck. They can only help the appearance of these scars. They are also commonly performed after pregnancy and after weight loss.
New scars
Scar revisions are commonly performed on incisions less than three years old. They are done on fresh scars, typically within six months of the original injury. These procedures cannot be performed on old scars that have become raised or have thickened skin surfaces. They can also be performed in areas where you have previously had surgery, including reconstruction surgery (facial scars), breast surgery, flap surgery, and more.
Shallow and short scars
Scar revision surgery is typically completed on lines up to 5cm in length and around 3mm in depth. If your scar is longer than 5cm or deeper than 3mm, this cosmetic surgery may not be for you. Scar revisions are not recommended if the scar has become thickened, lumpy, or hardened.
Tattoo marks
These scar treatments may also be performed on tattoos if you have stretched skin or a scar in your tattoo area where ink was added.
Limitations of scar revision surgery
- Scar revision surgery cannot treat burn scars.
- This surgery cannot be completed on varicose veins, spider veins, or port wine stains.
- Scar revisions cannot be done on over five-year-old scars.
- This surgery cannot improve your skin tone or texture; it can only reduce the appearance of scars.
- You can undergo scar revisions to reduce the size of scars, but the procedure will not make the marks disappear completely.
- It cannot improve acne or chickenpox scars.
- Scar revision surgery cannot improve your overall skin tone or texture.
Who is a good candidate for scar revision surgery?
You are likely a good candidate for scar revision surgery if you have scars that are still relatively new or if your old scars are causing some aesthetic concerns. Scar revisions can work on areas where you have previously had surgery, including facial reconstruction surgeries, breast surgeries, and more. Scar revisions are effective on fresh scars, typically within six months of the original injury.
How is the surgery performed, and what is the recovery like?
Scar revisions are performed using a local anesthetic, except for Fraxel Repair laser resurfacing, which uses topical anesthesia. Scar revision surgery is done in three steps:
1. Scar excision
Scar revision surgery begins with an incision over the scar and removing the entire spot from your skin. The surgical area will then be stitched together with dissolvable sutures and antibiotic ointment applied to the site.
2. Scar resurfacing/repairing
Scar revision surgery can be done by using lasers or skin grafting to repair the area of the scar. This surgical or invasive procedure is typically performed using a pulsed dye laser. However, you may also undergo this procedure using skin grafts if your scar is more profound than 3mm. Scar revision with Fraxel Repair uses topical anesthesia and no sutures. Scar revisions typically take around 2 to 4 hours, and you will likely need 1 -2 days off work.
3. Scar revision
Scar revisions can also be performed using a liposuction technique. However, this is not the most common choice. They may include any combination of steps 1-3 listed above to achieve optimal results. Scar revisions will take significantly longer than scar excisions, and your treatment plan will vary depending on the type of scar revision surgery you receive. These are typically finished within 2 to 3 hours, and you will likely need 1 -2 days off work. However, the time may vary depending on your unique needs, surgical revision, and the extent of your traumatic scars.
Scar revision surgery may also include stitches or skin graft procedures for added support. Grafting healthy skin for scar revisions is typically performed in multiple treatments over weeks or months. Scar revisions will take longer than scar excisions, and your treatment plan will vary depending on the type of scar surgery you receive.
What are the risks associated with surgical scar treatment, and how can they be minimized?
As an invasive procedure, scar revisions carry risks just like scar excisions, and your risk may vary depending on the method used to repair and remove scar tissue and the process of wound healing. You should know that this invasive procedure carries risks that can result in an infection, bleeding, or fluid collection under the skin.
Scar revisions may also cause a bad reaction to the anesthesia. Your scars may form thicker than they were before treatment, resulting in a more raised or bumpy appearance. Your spots may also become darker after treatment. Scar revisions may also take longer to heal than scar excisions.
Scar revisions may cause an unsightly scar, or the treated area may become darker; however, these risks are typically rare if your surgeon has experience. Ask your cosmetic surgeon about using other medical treatments, like steroid injections, during and after your surgery. Your risk of infection and other complications will depend on your unique healing process.
How much does scar revision surgery cost, and is it covered by insurance?
The surgery cost will vary depending on the type of surgery you receive, the method used to repair your scar, and your cosmetic surgeon’s fees. Scar revision surgery costs typically range from $2000 to $5000. Scar revisions are generally not covered under health insurance plans in the US if they are completed for cosmetic purposes. Your insurance may cover scar revisions if you have certain medical conditions causing your scarring. However, this is typically uncommon. Scar revisions are often performed in multiple treatments.
Your scars and how the surrounding skin looks cannot be erased or washed away. No matter how many scar treatments or surgical techniques you undergo, we cannot restore a normal skin appearance. But, the skin surface heals after any trauma. It has the power to change how you feel about your body, affect self-confidence and even keep some people from being able to live their lives fully. That means it’s worth exploring different treatments for scarring so that you can find a solution that feels right for you. If this article has sparked an interest in finding out more about scar revision surgery, please let us know! Talk to an experienced plastic surgeon who’s willing to help with all your questions on scars, solutions, and everything else related to these marks of life!
References:
What is scar revision?
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/reconstructive-procedures/scar-revision
Scar Revision
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/scar-revision
Scar revision
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002991.htm
Surgical Scar Revision: An Overview
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3996787/
What is Involved in Scar Revision?
https://www.scripps.org/news_items/4482-what-is-involved-in-scar-revision
