Alar base reduction scars - What can I do to fix this issue?

Question

I had an alar base reduction surgery done almost two years ago and I truly dislike the scars I’m left with. The scar on the right is not too bad however the scar on the left nostril is very obvious. It is not a scar on discoloration but more of a depressed scar. What can I do to fix this issue?

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

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question and photograph.  After two years you can try some conservative measures at improvement but most likely you will require a surgical scar revision to help improve the imbalance in tissue edges.  Talk to your original surgeon or seek out others for a second opinion. Best wishes.

Dallas Buchanan, MD · Answer

Thank you for your picture and questions. Sorry to hear that you are not happy with the outcome from surgery. The first thing you should do is go back to your surgeon to discuss your concerns. Scar placement with this procedure is very important to disguise the scars. There may be options for revision or there may be other options to make the scars less prominent, but you need to discuss those options after an exam.Best of luck!Dallas R. Buchanan, MD, FACSOwner & Board-Certified Plastic SurgeonVIVIFY plastic surgery

Alar base reduction scars - What can I do to fix this issue?

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Alar base reduction scars - What can I do to fix this issue?

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