817.861.0505
Scar revision treatment is used to improve the appearance of scars that result from injury, burns, and previous surgeries. During the procedure, the scar is made smaller and less noticeable through a variety of scar minimization techniques.
Scar revision surgery may be the right choice if you have a scar that bothers you because of its appearance, it causes you pain, or because it limits the movement of a joint. Types of scars treatable with scar revision include:
It is also critical that individuals who wish to receive scar revision treatment are emotionally stable, and that they understand that it is impossible to achieve a preinjury appearance.
Scar revision surgery basically replaces one scar for a smaller, less noticeable and less painful scar. Individuals who receive scar revision surgery may undergo any one of a number of approaches including fusiform excision, shave excision, tissue expansion, or skin grafting. The preliminary steps of these procedures follow other surgical procedure, including cleansing of the area and the administration of anesthesia.
Fusiform excision is often used on scars that are elevated like hypertrophic or keloids. In this procedure, an incision is made around the scar in an elliptical pattern. The scar is then removed, and the skin edges are sutured. Shave excision, on the other hand, involves shaving the scar down until it is parallel with the surrounding skin.
Non-surgical techniques include laser therapy, chemical peels and dermabrasion. During your first consultation, you and your plastic surgeon will decide on a treatment approach that best meets your needs.
Individuals who are treated for small scars can expect relatively little aftercare. You will be given instructions on how to care for the bandages or compression bandages applied at the end of a treatment procedure, as well as directions on how to keep the area clean. For those who receive skin grafting or tissue expansion, aftercare may involve a number of days away from work and other activities.
If you have a troublesome scar, or would like to learn more about the many approaches to scar revision, please email our Arlington plastic surgery office or give us a call at 817-861-0505 to set up an appointment. With 25 years of experience in plastic surgery, Dr. Ward is interested in assisting his patients by recommending only the best treatment to meet their needs and aesthetic goals. Our office is located at the USMD Hospital in Arlington, a convenient location for residents in the Mid-Cities area.
© James W. Ward M.D. 2009-2011 Login