Scar Revision and Treatment: Everything You Need to Know | Eyelid & Facial Plastic Surgery
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Scar Revision and Treatment: Everything You Need to Know

Scars are a natural part of the healing process. However, they can often be an unwelcome reminder of a previous injury or surgical procedure. Many people have scars removed for aesthetic reasons, but some might require treatment because they interfere with range of motion, such as scars on the elbows, knees, or fingers.

 

At Malena M. Amato MD Eyelid & Facial Plastic Surgery, Dr. Malena Amato treats all types of scars on her patients through a treatment called scar revision. Here’s everything you need to know about what scars are and available techniques to get rid of them.

 

Why Do We Scar?

When our skin experiences damage, the body responds by creating fibrous bands of collagen to close the wound. These fibers are thicker and stronger than regular skin, causing scars to have a different texture and appearance than the skin surrounding them. Sometimes, the change in skin is minimal, like a slightly different color, and is easy to conceal with cosmetics. In some cases, scars can become raised, pitted, or sunken. Raised scars are what we typically see when the body produces too much collagen during healing. Pitted or sunken scars result from fat or muscle tissue damage or loss due to injury.

Scar Revision Techniques by Dr. Amato

Scar revision treatment options depend entirely on how deep your scar is and whether it interferes with the surrounding skin or muscle function. Most scars respond well to non-invasive treatments like a topical steroid, dermal fillers, or laser skin rejuvenation, but deep scars may require surgical intervention. Let’s break down these treatments separately.

Laser Scar Revision

Laser scar revision is when Dr. Amato uses a Co2 laser device to treat the fibrous bands of collagen and stimulate healing with the dermis. It involves tiny beams of light entering the skin, creating thousands of microscopic punctures that extend into the tissue’s deep layers. Laser treatment prompts the skin to regenerate while leaving healthy tissue in place for support. New skin cells will gradually replace damaged cells in the weeks following the treatment, and collagen distribution will become increasingly balanced.

 

What Is Surgical Scar Revision?

Surgical scar revision is excellent for abnormal scars called keloids, which result from fat or muscle loss due to injury. Dr. Amato performs surgical scar revision by making an incision around the scar, then closing the incision with layers of self-dissolving sutures. These sutures provide the structural support necessary for the healing tissues, layers of fat, and muscle to align properly.

In some extreme cases, skin grafting a technique used to cover particularly large or deep scars. This approach requires removing skin from a secondary location, then transplanting it to cover the disfigured area.

Keep the Experience, Not the Scar, With Scar Revision in Austin, Texas

 

Some scars come with cool stories, while others are better off forgotten. Either way, if you don’t want these marks on your body any longer, don’t hesitate to schedule a scar revision consultation with Dr. Malena Amato in Austin, TX. To schedule your appointment, call (512) 501-1010 or contact us through our website.