Posted July 14, 2015 in Beautiful Skin Complexion, Body Cosmetic Surgery, Cancer, health and wellness, Injectables, Medical and Surgical, Skin Resurfacing, SkinCancer - Malanoma
3 minute read
I have special compassion for my Scar Revision clients, as many of them are suffering with scars that remind them of an accident, burn, surgery or past acne problem. Through specialized study and development of specifically honed skills, employing both surgical and non surgical options, I help my patients get the best possible results. With every Scar Revision, I strive to make the scars less visible for a more pleasing appearance, as well as to restore function to the affected area.
Here’s an overview of the most common Scar Revisions I perform:
- Hypertropic scars are raised and often red tinted. They stay within the boundary of the original wound or acne zone. These are commonly the result of acne and can diminish over time.
- Keloid scars are slightly more raised than hypertropic scars and can be rubbery, firm and sometimes itchy. They often look inflamed and extend beyond the boundary of the original wound. Certain skin types are more prone to this type of scarring, including people with dark skin tones.
- Contracture scars are severe, occurring as the result of a loss of skin over a large area, such as from a burn. This can affect muscles and tendons to restrict normal movement.
Some other scarring patterns are:
- Ice pick scarring is the most common type of acne scar. They are designated by narrow pitted indentations.
- Boxcar scars’ defined, angular edges in a box shape look very similar to indentations of chicken pox or vaccination scars. These occur most commonly on the temples or cheeks.
- Rolling scars create a shallow, wide indentation that looks like the rippling of waves in the skin.
METHODS FOR MAKING SCARS BETTER… While it’s important to note that scars cannot be removed completely, they can be reduced and made to look noticeably better. If they are raised or depressed, discolored or they cause contour irregularities, don’t worry, there are a variety of options to help improve the skin’s appearance and function.
Based on the type of scarring… during your consultation…we discuss the options and expected results in depth. These are some of the methods we’ve had great success with:
- Non Surgical
- Dermabrasion gently removes the top layers of the skin to smooth out surface irregularities.
- Dermal Fillers, such as Hyaluronic Acid, fill in sunken scars.
- Silicone Gel Sheets are clear coverings that help flatten hypertropic scars over time.
- Steroid Applications and Injections alleviate the itching or pain of keloid scarring. They are applied or injected into the scar to break down the skin’s collagen that has continued to produce even after the wound has healed.
- Vascular Lesion Treatment addresses the discoloration of scars by shrinking the blood vessels connected to it.
- Surgical
- Skin Grafts are intended for severely scarred areas. It involves taking healthy skin from another part of the body to transplant to the injured area.
- Tissue Expansion stretches a patch of skin by inserting a saline filled balloon near a scar so that the stretched healthy skin is pulled over to cover the previously scarred area.
- Z-Plasty and Related Tissue Rearrangement Techniques reorient scars to follow natural lines and creases of the skin. This makes them less noticeable and relieves pulling or pressure of contracture scars.
My compassionate staff and I look forward to the opportunity to help you feel better about how your skin looks and feels. Visit www.davinciplastic.com to schedule a consultation.
Steven Davison M.D.
Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon
