Scars are a natural mark left on the body after a wound or injury has healed.
Scars are the body’s natural repair mechanism and are essentially parenchymatous cells with collagen deposited in the wound area to allow healing and closure of the skin.
Scars can result from injury, trauma, infections, or burns that break the skin's continuity and require healing. The deeper the injury, the greater the chances of scar formation.
Anyone who has previously had a facial filler can opt for a dissolving procedure.
You may be a candidate for filler dissolution if you:
Subtle scars that are often superficial and do not cause any discomfort or impair body function. Scars due to acne, minor injury or surgical incisions are the most common examples of this type of scar.
These are clusters of thick scar tissue that develop at an injury or wound site. They are often raised or bumpy, red and uncomfortable. They may become wider with time and tend to be darker or lighter than your skin colour.
These scars are more extensive than hypertrophic scars and can be painful, itchy and may pucker. Keloids usually extend beyond the edges of an incision or wound and can occur anywhere in the body but usually form where there is very little fatty tissue under the skin like the face, neck, ear, shoulders or chest. Keloid treatment is generally performed surgically or with lasers.
These are scars that restrict your movement as they pull the skin and the underlying tissue during wound healing. This form of scar is usually found in case of burns. When contractures form over joints, they can restrict their movement, warranting treatment.
By far the most common scars that develop after acne has healed. They can be small or moderately larger in size, and their colour can range from faint spots to dark-brown scars on the face, chest, and arms. Treatment for acne scars often includes treating the root cause- acne.
Scar treatments are of three main types, depending upon the degree and type of your scar.
While some treatments can remove scars permanently, others are used to lighten or make your scars less visible when they are deeper and darker.
Here’s how some commonly used scar removal treatments work:
Several scar removal gels, creams and ointments are readily available at your nearest pharmacy or drugstore. These topical solutions help minimise minor scars and marks.
If you have an elevated or bumpy scar that rises above your skin, your dermatologist may give steroid injections to reduce its size. Dermal fillers or collagen injections may be administered in the case of deep scars.
This advanced procedure involves the Chemical Reconstruction of Scars (CROSS) using Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA). During this procedure, trichloroacetic acid is applied to the scars, which causes a white frost on the skin almost immediately. This frost forms a scab in two to three days and falls off within the next one week. You will need repeat treatments, and results are usually visible after a few weeks.
The laser is a minimally-invasive and effective alternative for scars that may require surgical removal. A high-intensity light is used to reduce the size and colour of the scar to make it as less visible as possible. Different lasers are available, and your dermatologist will choose the most suitable one for your scar.
This scar removal procedure uses a machine that mechanically peels the top layer of the skin and is an excellent option for raised scars.
Sometimes, when a scar is formed, it finds itself stuck to deeper tissues and cannot reach the skin's surface. The collagen formed in a scar is not as neatly laid as normal collagen. In such cases, a procedure called scar subcision is performed that releases the scar from the deeper tissues. Depressed acne scars are the most common type of scars that require this procedure.
Surgery is the most invasive of scar treatments. Your plastic surgeon will evaluate your scar and determine if you need surgery to reduce or remove your scar. This is a treatment of choice for keloids and burns scars.
A majority of injuries and wounds heal with scars. However, some scars fade and disappear with time due to the skin's constant renewal process.
But, if you have a scar affecting your facial or body aesthetics, making you conscious or affecting your self-confidence, you must see a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon about making it less visible.
In some people, scars tend to become itchy, tender, painful or tender and may require scar treatment. If you notice an abnormal growth near a scar, visit your dermatologist immediately.
People with keloid scars or a tendency to form one must see their doctor for scar treatment and learn how they can prevent scars in the future.
Your Dermatologist / plastic surgeon will advise certain dos and don’ts before your scar treatment appointment.
Your preparatory instructions will depend upon the type of scar you have, the treatment options chosen for you, and the number of sessions you require. Ask your doctor about how you can prepare for your appointment.
It is essential to have realistic expectations from your scar treatment procedures. You might need to undergo a few sessions of TCA CROSS, dermabrasion, or laser therapy to see some results.
When it comes to scar treatment, you must have the patience to wait to see evident results. You must always clarify with your surgeon how long a particular treatment will take to reduce your scars and give you your results.
When you visit our dermatologist or cosmetic surgeons for a scar treatment at Hortman Clinics, they will perform a thorough clinical evaluation and determine the most suitable option. Sometimes, a combination of treatments may be needed for effective results. Discuss expectations and any other concerns regarding your scar treatment procedure with your doctor.
While most people wish to undergo scar treatment right after an injury, one must not rush. Tending to your wound or injury and nursing your skin back to health is the most important thing to do. There are several topical scar treatment products that you can apply. Still, only after your wound or injury has healed completely and your dermatologist gives the go-ahead to use these products.
Different scar treatments work in varied ways. While topical products smoothen, hydrate and even out the area, lasers and surgery work at a deeper layer of the skin. The result of your scar treatment is subjective as it depends upon several factors like the type of scar, the treatment used, the experience and skill of the surgeon, the age of the scar and the area of the body where the scar is present.
Surgery is a good option for deeper scars and includes skin grafting, excision, dermabrasion, and laser surgery.
Though there are several treatment options for scar removal, the most suitable one for you depends on your scar type. For example, lighter and superficial scars can be treated using topical creams, whereas deeper, more severe scars like keloids require cryotherapy, laser resurfacing or surgery to get rid of them.
In a majority of cases, scars can be removed permanently. However, a lot depends upon the scar's characteristics, including its severity.
Depending on the type of your scar, your dermatologist or plastic surgeon will prescribe the most-suitable scar treatment option. Some preparatory measures that you may need to take before arriving for a scar removal surgery, laser or other treatments are:
If you are undergoing a laser scar removal treatment, quit smoking at least two weeks before your appointment date.
Scar revision is a specialised plastic surgery procedure that is performed in the following people:
Everything we do is tailored to your needs, this is why we take our time to take care of you and answer all your questions.
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