Trauma to the eyelids and bony orbits often require surgical repair by an oculoplastic specialist for an optimal functional and aesthetic result.
What is an orbital fracture?
Orbital trauma often results from car accidents, a fall, a fight or sports injuries where there is a direct impact to the eye or orbital bones. The most common type of orbital fractures around the eye is a blowout or orbital floor fracture, which results from direct impact, causing the floor of the orbit to collapse. This may cause double vision, inability to look up or down and a sunken appearance of the eye over time. Restoring the bony orbit around the eyes is essential for eye positioning and vision. For facial fractures, patients usually undergo a CT scan to evaluate the bony structures and typically an orbital or facial implant, and plating is performed often in the same day procedure.
What can happen with orbital trauma in children?
Children often present after injury with a normal appearing eye after orbital trauma but can demonstrate nausea, inactive behavior, or are unable to look up. This can be a concern for a green-stick fracture whereby an eyelid muscle is entrapped in the fracture site and requires immediate repair. Dr. Amato and Dr. Somogyi have experience in reconstruction of complex orbitofacial trauma and fractures.
Ready to book your procedure?
If you are ready to take the next step, or simply want more information about a procedure, please contact our team! Dr. Amato and Dr. Somogyi look forward to speaking with you soon!
What about eyelid injuries?
Scar tissue can result from injury or surgery, which may be unsightly or deforming to the eyelid. Scarring can cause poor function and closure of the eyelid, notching of the eyelid margin, drooping eyelids, misdirected lashes, and ultimately irritation to the eye or affect vision. Repair of facial injuries or eyelid lacerations is essential to avoid unnecessary problems with healing and the best cosmetic result. It is necessary to have an eyelid specialist evaluate, and property repair the many intricate layers and structures of the eyelid for the best cosmetic and functional result. Tear duct injuries can commonly result with lower eyelid lacerations, in which a specialist should reconstruct the duct for proper function of the tear drain to avoid tearing. Scar revision can be addressed surgically to improve these problems. Eyelid & Facial Plastic Surgery Associates have repaired hundreds of patients of all ages with orbital-facial traumas for the past 18 years.
Facial Scar Treatment Frequently Asked Questions | Dr. Malena Amato
Scars are your body’s way of healing damage to the layer of connective tissue below the epidermis. The body responds to close the wound by creating fibrous bands of collagen. These fibers differ from normal skin by being stronger and with a different texture to the skin around them.
With time, scars may smoothen and even become pale and easily to conceal with cosmetics. However, scars caused by burns, injuries, surgery, or other trauma may be raised, discolored, pitted, or sunken, and much more challenging to hide.
Your scar treatment will depend on how deep the scar is and whether it interferes with the way the skin or muscles around it function. To explore your options when it comes to scar treatment, you may have many questions to which you need answers.
If your scars are becoming a source of embarrassment affecting your quality of life, you can learn more about the scar treatment options offered by our experienced, board-certified facial cosmetic surgeons, Dr. Malena Amato and Dr. Marie Somogyi, in Austin, TX, by contacting them online.
When the layer of connective tissue below the epidermis experiences damage, the body responds to close the wound by creating fibrous bands of collagen.
Raised scars, known as keloid or hypertrophic scars, can form when the healing process creates too much collagen. Pitted scars can result from a loss of muscle tissue or fat below the skin due to injury.
With the normal shedding and re-growing of the dermis, superficial scars often disappear on their own. However, when a scar has grown deep into the dermis, normal cellular renewal doesn’t reach its layers. In these cases, scar revision therapies can play a role in completely rejuvenating badly damaged skin.
No. It’s now possible to treat most scars by using noninvasive therapies such as a steroid or 5Fu injection, topical steroids, or other treatments such as laser skin rejuvenation. However, deep scars may require surgery.
Scar tissue consists of collagen, the same tissue found in normal skin. However, it is different from healthy skin because the collagen fibers in scar tissue form into a “cross-stitch” pattern. In contrast, healthy collagen has an easily recognizable “woven” pattern.
The different kinds of scars are as follows.
- Hypertrophic scars: These appear when the body produces too much collagen in the form of red bumps covering the scarred area. Typically, these develop in form, shape, and size a month or two after the wound heals.
- Keloid scars: Not always forming from a wound, this type of hypertrophic scar may show as red bumps on the skin and often extend beyond the original wound site. They do not tend to diminish in size over time.
- Contracture scars: These scars, often seen with burns, tighten the skin, which can constrain someone’s ability to move. These scars may also extend deeper and affect muscles and nerves.
- Atrophic scars: Causing the skin to appear sunken, this type of scar is generally the result of losing fat or muscle from an area of the body. Acne scarring or surgical scars are examples of these.
- Stretch marks: These may be the result of rapid weight gain or loss, often due to pregnancy or childhood growth spurts. Stretch marks are also usually more of a cosmetic concern than a medical issue.
- Acne scars: Almost any type of acne can leave behind scars, and these can be shallow or deep.
If you have any concerns about treating your facial scars with a cosmetic scar revision, Dr. Malena Amato would be happy to answer any questions you might have. Contact her at Eyelid & Facial Plastic Surgery Associates in Austin, TX, and arrange a free consultation.
Not all wounds form scars, especially if they are only a simple knee scrape or scratch. On the other hand, a deeper wound, especially if it takes longer for your skin to heal, will be more likely to create scar tissue.
After an injury or surgical procedure, proper wound care is vital in preventing the formation of raised, uneven scars and darkened tissue. After sustaining a deep wound, it is essential to seek immediate medical attention and to make sure to have the injury closed quickly. Scar prevention measures tend to be more effective when a wound is still fresh.
During cosmetic surgery performed by Eyelid & Facial Plastic Surgery Associates, small incisions, laser, and endoscopic surgical methods minimize the risk of scarring. In the unlikely event that scarring does occur, she will provide scar revision treatment, which rejuvenates the skin and restores a smooth and blemish-free surface.
There are a variety of options you can consider when treating scars, some of which may be more effective than others.
- Topical solutions: These products, which are available both over-the-counter and by prescription, include creams, gels, or ointments, which may reduce scars caused by surgical incisions or other injuries and wounds. You can ask your doctor for recommendations. Should your scars be sensitive and cause itching, treatment options could include antihistamine creams or corticosteroids. You can use pressure dressings or silicone gel sheeting to prevent acne scars, as well as to treat existing scars.
- Surgery: Several options exist when it comes to this category. These may include skin grafts, as well as surgery to remove problematic scar tissue.
- Injections: Steroid injections can flatten protruding scars such as those found with hypertrophic scars or keloids. These injections can be helpful as a stand-alone treatment or in combination with other therapies.
- Laser surgery: During laser scar revision, applying a Co2 laser to the bands of collagen can encourage the healing of the scar from within the dermis. This treatment stimulates the skin to regenerate itself. Over time following treatment, healthy skin cells gradually replace damaged cells, and the distribution of the collagen evens out. The Co2 fractional laser Amato uses is a specialized medical laser that’s ideal for cosmetic treatments, including scar revision.
- Surgical scar revision: Generally, this is a solution to remove the abnormal scar type called a keloid, or to address fat or muscle loss due to injury. Typically, this creates a pitted scar. To perform surgical scar revision, Dr. Amato typically makes an incision around the scar and then follows this by closing the incision with layers of self-dissolving sutures. The sutures provide structural support for healing tissues and keep the layers of fat, muscle, and skin appropriately aligned so the wound closes correctly.
- Skin grafting: Sometimes, covering unusually large or deep scars might require a skin graft. Typically only needed after severe injury or Mohs skin cancer surgery, skin grafting involves the removal of skin from a donor site of the patient and the transplantation of that skin over the disfigured area.
- Exfoliation, chemical peels or dermabrasion: It’s often possible to remove a scarred layer of skin and lighten the appearance of a scar. However, during your consultation with Dr. Amato, you’ll be able to discuss whether this type of procedure can help your particular situation.
- Fillers: While not permanent, fillers can introduce normal collagen into an atrophic scar. You may need to repeat the procedure every few months to maintain your desired results.
For your cosmetic scar revision or complex reconstructive surgery, Dr. Malena Amato and Dr. Marie Somogyi can help you restore your confidence and quality of life. Learn more about the excellent scar revision techniques we offer by contacting us at Eyelid & Facial Plastic Surgery Associates in Austin, TX, or by calling 512-501-1010 to arrange a free consultation. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about scar treatment.