What is the best way to lighten or remove my scar that I’ve had for over 5 years? (Photo)

Question

When I was 12 I got a burn from a flat iron on my neck. Because I was careless and young I didn’t protect my neck from the sun which made my scar worse and darken over time leading to hyperpigmentation. I’m wondering if there is any treatment to heal my scar and make it lighter or dissolve.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Plastic surgery scars require attention after surgery so that they remain cosmetically-appealing and barely noticeable. In our office, we use a protocol for scars that minimizes their activity in the 6-8 weeks after surgery. If you have late plastic surgery scars, you may also require laser and RF therapy to help reduce the longterm effects of the scarring. Keloids, hypertrophic scars, widened scars, red scars, and hyperpigmented scars all require scar modulation with topical creams followed by lasers and RF therapy. Topical skincare should be directed to a specific need, whether for pigmentation or hypertrophy and our office can guide you through the process to obtain the correct Plato’s Scar cream or Melarase cream for hypertrophy and discoloration. In terms of lasers, we would employ the vbeam laser for redness, Venus Viva RF, PRP microneedling, chemical peels, and Morpheus 8, fractional erbium, or fractional co2. All of these have their individual benefits. Most of all, we recommend you visit a solid plastic surgeon who understands surgical scar revision, laser therapy, and RF therapy for scars. 
 
Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Jeff Rapaport, MD · Answer

It's hard to determine whether your scar is significantly raised.. The hyperpigmentation can be treated with bleaching creams,chemical peels,laser and Tranexemic acid. If it's raised, intralesional injection,  silicone tape and laser can be added.
Find a scar expert. 
Jeff Rapaport MD FAAD 
Realself Hall of Fame

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