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All About Scar Revisions
Oct 1, 2021
Minor scars here and there around your body are usually no big deal. With time, they tend to fade and become less noticeable. But some scars can be terribly distracting, especially when they appear on your face or other exposed areas of skin. And some scars are itchy, painful, and even restrict movement.
If your scars are causing you grief, there are ways to minimize them dramatically. At Polavarapu Plastic Surgery in Fort Worth, Texas, Dr. Kiran Polavarapu expertly treats a wide range of scar types using advanced scar revision procedures.
While every scar is unique, and no scar can be eliminated completely, Dr. Polavarapu skillfully reduces the size and prominence of your scar tissue. Here are some of the treatments she uses.
Dermabrasion
Very minor scars that reside in the upper layer of skin tissue can often be reduced using dermabrasion. This technique involves controlled skin scraping to lift off the outer layers of skin and therefore the scar as well. Most scars run a bit deeper than dermabrasion can reach, so your scar won’t disappear completely, but it’ll be far less noticeable.
Steroid injections
If you have a thick, raised scar that grows beyond the edges of the original wound, it’s called a keloid scar, and it can be very tough and fibrous. Hypertrophic scars have similar characteristics, but they tend to stay within the bounds of the laceration or wound. Both types of scars can be softened considerably with an injection of a corticosteroid. The cortisone loosens the tissue and shrinks the scar.
Excision
Some simple scars can be reduced by excising the scar tissue and reclosing the wound. Although you’ll still have a scar, the new one will be much less prominent, since it’s controlled by Dr. Polavarapu and her skillful technique with tiny stitches.
Z-plasty
When a scar causes contractures that pull your skin and restrict function — often a result of a severe burn — you may be a good candidate for Z-plasty. Here, Dr. Polavarapu removes the old scar using a zig-zag incision. The new scar is less severe and relieves tension so you can move normally again.
Skin grafting
Scars that cover a lot of territory may require a skin graft. In this case, Dr. Polavarapu harvests a section of skin from another area on your body to use as a patch to cover your wound or old scar. Of course, this leaves you with a second scar at the donor site, but it’s typically in a less conspicuous place.
Akin to a simple skin graft, flap surgery takes a deeper section from the donor site, including blood vessels. This is a more complicated procedure that requires Dr. Polavarapu’s microvascular expertise to attach the blood vessels at the new site.
Do you need a scar revision?
Most scar revisions are considered strictly a cosmetic decision, but if your scar interferes with movement, it may be medically necessary. The best way to know for sure whether you need a scar revision or if your scar is a good candidate for one of these treatments is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Polavarapu.
She has many years of experience minimizing scars and drastically improving the look, feel, and function of scar tissue. After scar revision, you’ll still have a scar, but you can expect it to be smaller, softer, less noticeable, and possibly even hidden in natural skin folds.
To find out if your scar is treatable, make an appointment today by calling our office at 817-615-8576 or by booking online.
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