Scar Revision in Jacksonville, FL

What are the Different Surgical Techniques?

Scar revision treatment will be chosen based on the scar’s location, type, size, and overall extent. There are various techniques to consider.

• Shave Excision: For scars that are raised, a shave excision may be performed to remove the top of the scar. The surface can then be evened out with the rest of the skin. This creates a smoother, flatter appearance. During the procedure, a surgical shaver is used to slowly shave off the raised portion of the scar. Sutures are not needed in most shave excision cases.
  
• Injectable Treatments: Scars that are depressed or concave may benefit from a dermal filler. There are a wide variety of fillers on the cosmetic surgery market that may be considered. Collagen is also a common filler used for scar revision. During the procedure, the material will be injected into the skin through a syringe. The surgeon may also manipulate the outside of the skin to help shape the surface accordingly.
• Surface Treatments: Some scars can be treated with a series of skin rejuvenation treatments that can soften the surface of the skin, smooth out uneven scarring, reduce uneven pigmentation, and lighten the skin where needed. Some scars may even become non-existent because of the skin removal mechanism. Skin surface treatments include laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels, dermabrasion, and skin bleaching.
• Skin Grafting/Tissue Expansion: Large scars may require a skin graft (skin taken from another area on the body) to close the wound once the scar has been removed. Carefully placed sutures will be used around the graft to close and blend the skin together for healing. If a skin graft will not be used, tissue expansion may be used instead. During this process, a tissue expander will be placed under the skin where the scar resides and filled with a sterile solution. Once the expansion process is complete, the surgeon will stretch and join the edges together and place sutures carefully into the tissue wall.
  
• Scar Removal or Modification: This is also a technique used for raised scars. It can be accomplished a couple of different ways. First is the elliptical removal pattern. This involves removing the scar as well as an edging (ellipse) of skin encompassing the scar so a clean enclosure can be made. The sutures may be placed on the inside or outside of the skin. Sometimes a scar exists because the incision was closed poorly. By re-opening the scar and re-suturing the skin in a different direction, the new scar can be minimized.