What Is Scar Revision?

If you have a scar that pulls on your skin, restricts your activities, or is simply unpleasing to look at, a dermatologist can perform a procedure to alter its condition for the better. This procedure is called scar revision and it can reduce the size and depth of the scar, even out the texture, and reduce pain, itching, skin tugging, and its overall appearance.

Who Can Benefit From A Scar Revision?

People who have scars left from wound healing, surgery recovery, acne, inflammation, etc. can benefits from scar revision. Scar revision becomes essential if the scar affects the appearance to a significant extent, restricts normal movement, or is itchy.

How Is Scar Revision Done?

Scar revision is an umbrella term for a few procedures that are used to minimize scar tissue. The nature of the procedure depends on the nature of the scar – size, shape, depth, and location. For example:

• Injections: For raised scars like keloids and hypertrophic scars, stereos injections are a common treatment. These injections help reduce inflammation and inhibit the production of new collagen, which, in turn, softens and flatens the scar tissue. However, it doesn’t show miraculous results in just one dose. Usually, a series of doses are advised to see visible changes.
• Pressure Therapy: This is a non-invasive treatment for scars in which pressure dressings or silicone gel sheets are applied to the scarred area. The pressure helps to flatten and soften the scar by promoting collagen remodeling and reducing scar thickness and redness. This treatment is most effective for severe hypertrophic scars and keloids. Once the condition of the scar is a bit better, other treatment methods like steroid injections can be used.
• Laser Therapy: It is a non-invasive treatment that uses laser light to target and break down scar tissue. This stimulates the production of new collagen, which can help to improve the texture and color of the scar. Laser therapy is often used for raised scars, such as keloids and hypertrophic scars. However, multiple sessions may be needed to see visible results.
• Microneedling: This treatment is best for small scars like acne scars and depressed scars. In this procedure, the doctor delivers multiple needle pricks on the scar to boost collagen production and make the skin look smoother.
• Cryotherapy: This procedure uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and kill scar tissue. This gives the skin a chance to develop new, healthy tissue, dissolving the appearance of the scar. However, there are some chances of scarring with this procedure. So, it is recommended for small, raised scars like acne scars only.
• Surgery: Surgery is usually done for scars that healed poorly in the past. It could be from an old wound or an open surgery that was closed using old techniques. In this procedure, the derma surgeon will remove the old scar tissue and rejoin the skin with fine precision using modern techniques so that when it heals, it appears much better. However, it will not eliminate the scar completely, but will only make it significantly smaller.
• Skin Grafting: Skin grafting is a plastic surgery procedure, chiefly done when there is loss of skin at the wound site or if the scar is limiting your movement. In this procedure, healthy skin is taken from one part of the body (donor site) and transplanted where it is required (recipient site). However, even after healing, some scarring will still be visible in the recipient as well as the donor site.