Botched punch excision scar removal - is there anything else I can do? (photo)

Question

I gpt a punch excision done and I'm extremely unhappy. It looks worse that before. I have an appointment with the only surgeon in my area who will even consider fixing it. I just want them to be cut out together and leave one scar instead of these two. They look odd being separate and so close together. Question is, is it really that unfixable? Will I look like a baby vampire bit my cheek for the rest of my life? I'm trying to be positive but it's really harping on me.

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

So sorry for your distress. As any reader who follows my posts would know, I gave up doing punch excisions many years ago, precisely because very often, particularly in areas subject to muscular tension or movement, such as the cheeks, they often result in unsightly stretch scars (and not uncommonly tram track stitch marks, too boot).  The kind of larger surgery you contemplate runs the risk of resulting in an even longer, linear surgical scar that may ultimately stretch and leave stitch tracks. Subcision, to elevate and smooth each of the depressions, is a simple technique for elevating and smoothing all kinds of depressed scars (including those post surgery, as in this case) that has a nearly three decade track record for safety and efficacy in all skin types. Hope this helps. Best of luck.

Botched punch excision scar removal - is there anything else I can do? (photo)

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