Scar Revision
Wound healing can be unpredictable and may result in scarring that’s painful or unattractive. Scar revision is a reconstructive surgery procedure designed to improve the appearance of unsightly scars caused by previous surgery or injury and alleviate itching and irritation caused by abnormal scars.
“Dr. Wittpenn is a phenomenal plastic surgeon.”
Who Is a Candidate for Scar Revision?
Male and female patients of nearly any age may seek scar revision surgery if they’re prone to abnormal scars and find that non-surgical alternative treatments such as steroid injections don’t work. Types of abnormal scars include:
- Keloid scars – Raised, discolored, itchy scars that grow outside wound boundaries and are common in patients with dark or ethnic skin tones
- Hypertrophic scars – Thick, red scars that stay within wound boundaries
Scar revision is also ideal for patients wishing to minimize or improve the appearance of poor surgical scars or large scars that occurred as a result of an accident or trauma, especially on the face.
How is Scar Revision Performed?
Typically, scar revision can be performed under local anesthesia with sedation and involves a surgical procedure called a Z-plasty because it produces a thin, “Z”-shaped scar. A Z-plasty can correct contracture (debilitating skin shrinkage that occurs as a result of scarring) and diminish the appearance of large or irregular scars, especially on the face, by hiding them in natural skin creases and folds.
Scar revision may also involve more serious flap surgery or skin grafting, which involves may involve moving only skin, or a combination of skin, muscle, fat and blood vessels from a healthy body area to the scarred body area. This may require IV sedation with local anesthesia or general anesthesia and result in a lengthier recovery period or the need for multiple, staged scar revision surgeries.
Contact New Horizons Plastic Surgery
Contact New Horizons Plastic Surgery at (936) 564-3744 to schedule a consultation or get more information about scar revision surgery to correct unattractive or abnormal scarring. Dr. Gregory Wittpenn is a board-certified plastic surgeon who proudly treats Nacogdoches scar revision patients, as well as patients from Tyler, Longview, Lufkin, Huntsville and Shreveport.