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Punch Excision on Old Chicken Pox Scars Only Created New Scars

My surgeon used a dermal punch and closed each excision with 2 stitches. I am concerned that after six months the new scars are depressed and actually look very much like the scars that were excised, except that new scars also have lines running through them from the stitches. I was told that six months is too soon to be worrying, but I cant help it. I have been hoping that they may still fill in,but it doesn't seem likely, there hasn't been any improvement for 2 months. What is your advice?

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by Vicki99 in New York

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Chicken Pox Scars Respond Well To Simple Combination Treatments

In my experience, chicken pox scars are especially tightly bound down fibrous scars that often require a combination of treatments to successfully improve them. Treating these kinds of scars can be especially challenging when they are located in areas under tension, such as the forehead. If the scar is approximately the size of a pencil eraser and is located in one of these high tension areas, a punch-excision is likely to yield a scar that will ultimately stretch again to about the same... more

Scar Improvement Timeline

It really takes 6-12 months to get the final cosmetic result followng any type of surgery. I would follow up with the surgeon that performed the scar revision and ask how much improvement he/she is expecting. Sometimes another procedure, like dermabrasion, can improve the result after scar revision surgery.

Punch excision for scars

I also think it is a little early to judge final result and I would bet that you will continue to see improvement over the next 6-9 months as collagen healing continues. It may not be completely gone but typically after punch excisions, the outcome is much better than the original scar.

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Chicken pox scars

6 months is still a bit too short on the scar maturation timeline. I suggest waiting another few months and going back to see your original surgeon. Unfortunately, there are never any guarantees regarding scar revision. There very well might be a way of improving the scar but you just have to wait until the scar matures a bit more. Good luck!

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Scar Removal: Q&A

Punch Excision on Old Chicken Pox Scars Only Created New Scars