What Results Can I Expect from Scar Revision Surgery?

I had a botched surgery that left me with horrible scars around my face and ears. Is scar revision surgery my only option for improving the scars? Are scar revisions usually successful surgeries?

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9 Doctor Answers | Asked by anon

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Scar revision

Many factors influence how your skin heals including how the initial injury happened, whether or not there was any infection, the amount of tension on the skin as it healed, and nutritional/genetic factors. Scar removal/revision is done in 2 fashions: Removal of the scar surgically Partial removal via dermabrasion/peels/lasers When you remove a scar surgically, you are simply trading in for a new scar. The obvious goal is to control as many of the factors which led to a... more

David Bogue, MD

6 reviews

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

There are many options to improve your scars

It always depends on what your scars look like. Options include: 1. excision and reexcision: straight closure, running w plasty, multiple z plasties, geometric closure. 2. skin resurfacing: including laser, dermabrasion, chemical peels 3. tissue expanders to recruit more skin 4. local flap surgery whereby skin and tissue are recruited to reline the areas of scars 5. free flap surgery where tissue from some other part of the body is transferred to the areas of the scars and connected with... more

Philip Young, MD

6 reviews

Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

Usually scars can be made better

You do not indicate what surgery you had but it sounds like it may have been face-lift surgery that caused your scars. In my experience poor face-lift scars can be improved after enough time has gone by to allow the skin to be lifted and re-attached without tension. This is basically a revision face-lift. Your case may be simpler than that but I would need to see photos to know. I hope this helps you.

Ivan Wayne, MD

13 reviews

Oklahoma City Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.oumedicine.com

Scar Revision Surgery

Poor scarring on the face is generally related to excessive wound tension, infection, poor technique, and/or exposure to nicotine in the perioperative period. Since blood supply to the face is exceptional, facial scars generally heal very nicely. Any revision surgery performed would have to be performed in a fashion that placed tension on deeper soft tissues (SMAS), and minimized tension on the skin. The ability to do this depends partially on the size and location of the scar. An... more

Fixing bad surgical scars

It sounds like you have bad scars that perhaps spread after a facelift procedure. Although there are many techniques depending on what the scars look like, if you have bad scars after a facelift, you probably have spread scars or displaced scars, or maybe a pixie ear deformity. These problems will need surgical revision to fix. A spread scar is not going to get narrower by lasering it or injecting steroids (which could make it worse). A scar that has migrated forward from the ear will... more

Scar revision surgery for scars can be helpful

However, every case is different and this is definitely a situation where you want a board certified plastic surgeon to look at you and examine you. There are numerous factors such as skin tension, skin color, age of the patient, how old the scar is, how old the patient is (this is one of those rare occasions where is actually better to be older!) etc. Sometimes, one cannot be sure that a scar revision will help and you just have to take a bit of a chance. It is important to realize that... more

Scar revision surgery

There are generally three outcomes when considering revising a scar. The scar could be better, worse, or the same. The type of scar (surgical, burn,etc.) and the location of the scar (face, abdomen,etc.)plays a role in whether your result will be favorable or not. Typically, raised, thickened scars (hypertrophic scars) can be surgically excised and reclosed under minimal tension to create a thinner, flat scar. These types or scars generally have better outcomes than keloids, which are... more

Scar revision can be great

Hello, The real question is how was your original injury managed. If there is a technical component to your problem, then improving the technique via scar revision can frequently improve the result. In the right circumstances, scar revision can work quite well, but you are trading one scar for another so there is some variability to the outcome. You need a proper examination by a qualified surgeon to figure your potential benefit here. Best Regards, John Di Saia... more

Facial Scars

Scar revisions can be very successful IF they are expertly evaluated and managed. This means : 1) Follow up with your surgeon; ask him/her their opinion on the scarring. Remember your "genes" play a significant role in your wound healing/scarring. But you can ask, "Why were scars placed in a particular area or region? Do you think my healing is completed (if not, what can be done to maximize healing potential (steroid injections, silicone sheeting, massage, sun-avoidance,... more