Many people who come to the clinic for surgical procedures are worried about scarring. Unfortunately, most invasive procedures will leave a scar, as this is the natural method for the body to heal itself. Every attempt is made in all procedures to keep scar tissue to a minimum. It helps to understand exactly what a scar is and know what to expect after surgery.
Scar tissue is formed during the naturally occurring healing process of a cut or abrasion. If the dermal layer, the living layer, of skin is damaged, the body knits itself together using fibrin in blood. Over time, this fibrin is replaced by scar tissue. A scar is the end result of a wound that is completely healed.
Most surgical procedures result in some amount of scarring. Depending on the type of procedure, and the skill of the doctor, scarring can be greatly reduced. Often incisions are made in areas where scarring will be less obvious, inside natural folds of the skin for example.
If the scarring is particular bad due to an accident or injury, there are some ways to hide or minimize the appearance of the scar tissue.
- Topical ointment such as vitamin E and cocoa butter claim to reduce scarring especially stretch marks. Often, these creams are not as effective as the manufacturer claims.
- Laser skin resurfacing can reduce scars by removing surface and subsurface layers of the scar tissue.
- Filler injections such as Restylane can help with scars where the underlying tissue is missing, causing a pitting scar. Acne scars are a good example of this type of scar tissue.
- Derm- and microdermabrasion can be used to smooth the surface of the skin, and any scar tissue nearby, leaving the new skin surface more even. Dermabrasions reach deeper skin layers than microdermabrasion, which is only good for correcting superficial scarring.
- Surgery to remove scar tissue may be used in extreme cases. Great care must be used as surgery may actually lead to more scarring.
When consulting with Dr. Barber, please address any concerns about scar tissue, and find out where incisions are made in your procedure. It is an important factor when making a decision about cosmetic surgery.
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