SCAR REVISIONS
Scar Revision makes scars less visible – restores normal function – achieves a natural, more pleasing appearance…
Scars form while the skin is trying to recover from an accident, burn, acne, surgery or some other trauma. This involves multiple layers of the skin and once a scar forms – it is permanent. Facial scars, in particular - are usually disfiguring and - as with contracture scarring – often diminish normal function. No matter where a scar is located it affects people in one way or another either functionally or emotionally – many times both. Scar revision involves a variety of surgical or non-surgical procedures to improve or reduce the appearance of scars, restore function and to correct skin changes and disfigurement.
How You Could Benefit From Scar Revision:
- Scar Revision improves or reduces the appearance of scars
- Scar Revision restores function & correct form for disfigurement
- Scar Revision uses either surgical or non-surgical procedures
- Scar Revision treats hypertropic, keloid & contracture scars
- Scar Revision improves & enhances physical appearance & self-confidence
MOST COMMONLY TREATED SCARS:
HYPERTROPHIC – These scars occur within the boundaries of the incision or a wound. Hypertropic scars are typically thick, red and are raised in appearance.
KELOIDS – Keloid Scars generally grow beyond the boundaries of an incision or wound and are more common among dark-skinned people. They are similar in appearance to Hypertropic Scars. Keloids usually grow on the earlobe, shoulder or over the breastbone.
CONTRACTURE SCARS – are the most severe form of scarring. Contractures are typical of burn patients, usually occur result after loss of skin over a large area and cause the edges of the skin to “pull together.” This “pulling” affects the adjacent muscles and tendons and restricts normal movement.
SCAR REVISION PROCEDURES:
Steroid Applications and Injections – Used to reduce itching and/or pain and flatten and reduce the redness of hypertropic and keloid scars. Steroids are applied or injected into the scar to break down the skin’s collagen. Both Hypertropic and Keloid scars are resultant from collagen that continues to produce after the wound has healed.
Silicone Gel Sheets – help flatten hypertropic scars. These clear sheets are place on the scar and worn 24 hours a day.
Z-Plasty and Related Tissue-Rearrangement Techniques – are used to reorient scars. This is achieved by cutting the skin around the scar into small triangular flaps following a Z-shape. The flaps are then repositioned to follow natural liens and creases of the skin making the scar less noticeable and relieving pressure of contracture scars.
Dermabrasion – smoothes out surface irregularities by removing the top layers of the skin. This works well for deep lines or scars.
Vascular Lesion – works by shrinking the blood vessels that feed the scar, thus improving coloration of scars.
Tissue Expansion – employs a saline filled balloon that is inserted under a patch of healthy skin near a scar – to stretch the skin. This may take several weeks and the balloon is then removed. The scar is surgically removed and the stretched skin is pulled over the previously scarred area.
Skin Grafts – involve using skin from a healthy body area and transplanting it to the injured area. Grafts are not always cosmetically pleasing – but they are safe and effective and restore function to a severely scarred area.
Dermal Filler Injections – are used to fill in sunken scars. Collagen is a naturally occurring substance in our body that acts as a scaffolding to support the skin. Collagen injections are derived from natural animal protein – are safe and effective and used in millions of treatments worldwide.
Laser Skin Resurfacing – reduces uneven scar surfaces by removing the top layer of skin – allowing new skin growth.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Who Is A Good Candidate For Scar Revision?
Anyone suffering with a scar or scars, who desires Scar Revision, could be an ideal candidate for Dr. White’s scar revision treatments. You should be in otherwise good general health and capable of realistic expectations.
Can Scars Be Removed Completely?
NO. Scars are permanent and even though they can be reduced and made to look better, while also restoring function, they will not go away entirely. The treatments Dr. White employs are safe and the most effective available today. His extensive experience combined with his advanced – refined techniques enables Dr. White to achieve wonderful results for his patients.
How Is The Right Procedure Chosen For Scar Revision?
Dr. White’s extensive experience and knowledge enables him to diagnosis correctly and determine the correct treatment for each patient. A combination of treatments is sometimes necessary for complete and optimum results.
If Surgical Scar Revision Is Required – Is There Downtime?
The downtime varies with each patient, and Dr. White will be able to give you a time frame during your consultation with him. Because he uses advanced – refined techniques, his patients typically are up and about in 1-2 days. Activity will be restricted, however.
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Choosing A Facial Plastic Surgeon:
Choosing a surgeon is serious business and should require certain factors in order for you to trust and place your confidence in this surgeon; is he qualified to perform the procedure you need/want safely and effectively, does he have excellent training, a proven track record, and is he specialized in the areas of concern? Dr. White is in a special league of surgeons who have been trained in Ivy league schools and who have many extra years of training and experience through “fellowships” – which involve extra years of rigorous training/experience. He is specialized in procedures of the head and neck – and he teaches other surgeons – the life-changing techniques that he uses for his own patients.
Dr. Matthew White is a cosmetic & reconstructive facial plastic surgeon –you can trust him to use safe, effective, proven – minimally invasive techniques – to achieve the outcomes you want & deserve. |
