Facial Scar Treatment

When the skin is in the process of recovering from an injury, whether the result of an accident, surgery, a burn, or acne, scarring will occur wherever multiple layers of the skin have been affected. Once a scar forms, it is permanent but may be made less visible or relocated surgically.

With very few exceptions most people are self-conscious about facial scars. Some people may also experience diminished functioning of the eyes, mouth, or nose due to scarring. If you've wondered how facial scar revision could improve your appearance, your self-confidence, or your level of facial functioning, you need to know how scar revision works and what you can expect from this procedure. This pamphlet can address many of your and provide you the information to begin considering facial scar revision surgery.

Successful facial plastic surgery is a result of good rapport between patient and surgeon. Trust, based on realistic expectations and exacting medical expertise, develops in the consulting stages before surgery is performed. Your surgeon can answer specific questions about your specific needs.

The most basic requirement for all surgery is good health. Other requirements are more subtle and should be carefully considered in discussion with your surgeon. Expectations of the surgery and of the surgeon must be realistic. A person considering facial scar revision must understand that there is no way to remove scars completely. The goal is to improve the appearance of the scar either by disguising it, relocating it, or minimizing its prominence. Skin color and type, age, and the type of scarring, are all important factors that must be part of the discussion prior to surgery.

Different types of scars respond to different plastic surgery techniques. Timing of surgery is another important choice. Some surgeons advise against any scar revision in cases of injury for a period that might extend up to a year after the injury. This interval allows the body enough time to heal fully.

Whether the surgery is desired for functional or cosmetic reasons, your choice of a facial plastic surgeon is of paramount importance. Your surgeon will examine the scar in order to decide upon the proper treatment and inform you of outcomes that can be expected from facial scar revision surgery.

Different scars require different treatments. For example, severe burns that destroy large sections of skin cause the skin to heal in a puckered way. As the skin heals, muscles and tendons may be affected in this "contracting" movement. Keloid scars are a result of the skin's overproduction of collagen after a wound has healed. These scars generally appear as growths in the scar site. Hypertrophic scars, unlike keloids, do not grow out of the boundaries of the scar area, but because of their thick, raised texture, can be unsightly and may also restrict the natural movement of muscles and tendons.

Some facial scars are unattractive simply because of where they appear on the face, while others affect facial expressions. All surgical possibilities will be discussed in the initial consultation along with risks involved for each type of scarring. The agreement between you and your surgeon on how to proceed is a prerequisite for successful surgery. After you both decide to proceed with scar revision, your surgeon will inform you about the anesthesia, the surgical facility, any supportive surgery options, and costs.

Because scars are highly individualistic and the patient's attitude toward scars is so personal, maximum improvement in facial scars may require more than one procedure, and more than one technique may be employed.

When a scar is of the contracture type, surgery generally involves removing the scar tissue entirely. Skin flaps, composed of adjacent healthy, unscarred skin, are then lifted and moved to form a new incision line. Where a flap is not possible, a skin graft may be used. A graft involves taking a section of skin tissue from one area and attaching it to another, and time must be allowed following surgery for new blood vessels and soft tissue to form. Z-plasty is a method to move a scar from one area to another, usually into a natural fold or crease in the skin to minimize its visibility. While Z-plasty does not remove all signs of a scar, it does make it less noticeable.

Dermabrasion and laser resurfacing are methods a surgeon uses to make "rough or elevated" scars less prominent, by removing part of the upper layers of skin with an abrading tool or laser light. Clearly, the scar will remain, but it will be smoother and less visible.

Keloid or hypertropic scars are often treated first with injections of steroids to reduce size. If this is not satisfactory, the scars can be removed surgically, and the incisions closed with fine stitches, often resulting in less prominent scars.

You can expect to feel some discomfort after facial scar revision surgery. Some swelling, bruising and redness are generally unavoidable. It is important for you to follow your surgeon's after care recommendations to the letter. Though the sutures will be removed within days after the surgery, your skin needs time to heal. Surgeons generally insist on decreased activity after surgery and instruct the patient to keep the head elevated when lying down, to use cold compresses to reduce swelling, and to avoid any activity that places undue stress on the area of the incision. Depending on the surgery performed and the site of the scar, the facial plastic surgeon will explain the types of activities to avoid. No medication should be taken without first consulting the surgeon. It is important to remember that scar tissues require a year or more to fully heal and achieve maximum improved appearance.

Facial plastic surgery makes it possible to correct facial flaws that can undermine self-confidence. Changing how your scar looks can help change how you feel about yourself.

So you have a scar on your face and you’re wondering what to do. Will insurance cover it? If not, what will it cost?

Insurance does not generally cover surgery that is purely for cosmetic reasons. Surgery to correct or improve scars caused by injury may be reimbursable in whole or in part. It is the patient's responsibility to check with the insurance carrier for information on the degree of coverage.

If you have recently been involved in an accident or trauma that brought you to the Emergency Room within the past few months, the work of a Plastic Surgeon is often simply a continuation of the medical care directly connected to your injury. Surgeries during this time period are those most often covered by insurance.

If more than a few months have passed since your injury, there is a significant chance that your insurance company will not cover scar revision treatment. In these cases, you would be responsible for all treatment costs, just as with any cosmetic facial surgery. The good news is that there are many treatment options available.

The treatment plan may consist of minor in-office procedures under local anesthesia. If the procedure requires the safety and technology of an operating room setting, our out-of-pocket fees are very reasonable for the amount of time and skill required in these surgeries. Finally, financial options are also available. Keep in mind that this is your face, and the results can last a lifetime; the cost may be a wise investment in your personal appearance.

Do keep in mind that plastic surgery's aim will be to camouflage your scar as much as possible. Most often, this will require more than one technique being used. For example, if you have a depressed scar (as with acne pock scars), the first step is often to cut out the scar and close the wound using facial plastic surgery technique. A second step is to perform dermabrasion in the area approximately two months later. Additional procedures are sometimes necessary; it all depends on how much scarring you have and how much camouflage you want to achieve.

Facial Scar Treatment FAQ
What options are there to improve facial scarring?
How long is the recovery period?
How much does facial scar treatment cost?
What are the common risks of facial scar treatment?
How do I schedule a consultation?

What options are there to improve facial scarring?
The variety of surgical techniques available to correct facial scarring is extensive. Each patient must be evaluated on an individual basis, and the surgical plan always has to be tailored to the patient. To generalize, facial scar improvement often requires two procedures. The first surgery excises – cuts away – the scar and closes the skin using facial plastic techniques to leave a fine scar. Several weeks later, dermabrasion (skin sanding) is performed to help increase camouflage of facial scars.

Acne scars can be treated in a variety of manners. Sometimes in-office removal of deep pockmarks is performed first. This is followed by skin resurfacing using CO2 lasers and/or dermabrasion. Only a complete consultation can determine which combinations or individual procedures are right for you.
 
How long is the recovery period?
Patients usually recover from facial scar surgery relatively quickly. If you’re not self conscious about having stitches in the skin, you should be able to return to work three to four days after the operation. Stitches are removed one week following surgery. Most patients are surprised by how minor their post-operative discomfort is.

How much does facial scar treatment cost?
In-office scar treatments cost approximately $500-1,000. Procedures that require an operating room setting cost approximately $3000. Keep in mind that this is your face, and the results can last a lifetime; the cost may be a wise investment in your personal appearance.

What are the common risks of facial scar treatment?
Common risks include thick or widened scar, delayed healing of incisions, need for “touch up” surgery, and loss of skin at edges of reconstruction.

These risks are the most common, but they are not to be taken as a complete list of all possible risks. You should consult your physician to obtain a more complete list of risks and possible complications.

More about scars: Scar treatment after skin trauma, burn, injury or acne inflammation

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A home microdermabrasion cream with high quality micro-crystals, the same professionals use to breakdown hard, rough and old scar tissues, and allow for a deeper penetration of our exclusive all natural skin moisturizing and regeneration complex contained in the microdermabrasion cream. For ice-pick acne scars and for old and rough scars and actinic keratosis scales. Not for keloids.

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Body Cream for Scars and Stretch Marks - not for use on the face

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