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Scars that we don't like, that are too wide, too thick, or in a prominent location can be very aggravating. They may have occurred following vaccination, injury, or surgery, but when we don't like them, we just want them to go away. Non-surgical treatments include waiting, injection with steroids, and long-term pressure to the scar itself.
If non-surgical solutions don't work, scar revision surgery can be considered. Before jumping on the operating room table however, there are some facts to consider:
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While you may make fine, thin, or soft scars in one area of your body, other areas may produce unsightly scars. The worst areas are the outer upper arm, the central chest, and occasionally the breasts, abdomen, jaw line, and ear lobes. The problem, in these cases, relates to the skin itself.
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In any area, if a wound heals under tension, the resulting scar is likely to spread and become wider than is ideal.
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If at the time of initial injury or repair, the deeper layers of the skin are not pulled together properly and the healing occurs at the skin surface level, the final scar is likely to be depressed and wide.
Scar revision surgery may be very helpful, but there are no guarantees! The best performed surgery may still leave you with a scar you don't like. So your outcome will likely be best if the following occurs:
- Scar revision surgery is performed under ideal conditions.
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All the layers of the skin can be repaired using the best plastic surgery techniques, instruments, and sutures.
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In areas where bad scars are most likely to occur, steroid injections can be placed during repair and long term pressure and taping can be started immediately.
- You, the patient, carefully adhere to all post operative instructions from your surgeon.
In summary: If you have an unsightly scar, revision surgery may help. Most revisions help to some extent, but all of the above facts need to be considered. If the first attempt does not help, there is a much reduced chance that second or third attempts will give you the result you want.
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