What went wrong with my scar removal? 9 months post-op (Photo)

Question

I have a scar on my chin after a fall 5+ years ago. I did a scar removal surgery 9 months ago. I'm surprised by how wide and thick it still looks. I have suspicions that my post-op recovery went wrong (i.e. infection or something else). My doctor seems to be very cagey about it and I'm not sure whether to try again with another doctor. Did something go wrong with how I cared for my wound? Some ideas are improper suturing, infection, or too much hydrogen peroxide/bacitracin.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Keloid and hypertrophic scars usually go through a stage of active inflammation. This process can be modulated to prevent bad scarring. In my office, we specialize in scarring formed by keloids and hypertrophic scars. Our approach is combination therapy, known as HIDEf treatment, which incorporates lasers, laser assisted delivery of corticosteroids, vascular therapy, and resurfacing. This can help reduce inflammation and scarring alongside the application of scar gels including Plato’s Scar Serum and Melarase PM.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

Sorry that this has happened to you, but not the least surprised. I have been cautioning my readers for years that scar revision surgeries are not only relatively expensive and involve real downtime, but they also risk the development of stretch scars and tram track stitch marks, particularly when performed in areas such to static tension or dynamic muscular motion--the chin being one of those areas. For now, if there are any hypertrophic areas to the scar, these can be inralesionally injected with an anti-inflammatory agent to shrink and flatten them. Once this is done, the hypopigmentation and the stitch tracks can be treated by conventional professionally performed microneedling, to smooth surface textural irregularities, acoompanied the application of topical pigment promoters to diminish the stark hypopigmentation. Make sure to consult with an experienced, board certified cosmetic dermatologist and best of luck.

What went wrong with my scar removal? 9 months post-op (Photo)

Answers (2)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Scar Removal Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

What went wrong with my scar removal? 9 months post-op (Photo)

Answers (2)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Scar Removal Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.