Is There Any Way to Get Rid of a Scar from Rhinoplasty? (photo)

Question

I had rhinoplasty done a year ago via columella incision but my doctor did a terrible job at stitching and I was left with a large scar that's very visible. Is there anything I can do to get rid of the scar? Any effective laser treatments or re-cutting to re-stitch the area? Anything that can be done. What are my options? Thank you

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

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

Must if the time a scar from open rhinoplasty heals very well. Yours has healed poorly probably from  misalignment if the edges. A scar revision is the best approach to improve it.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

There are several ways to improve the look of the nose, but the scar would best be improved with a scar revision and precise approximation of tissue.  Find a plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of rhinoplasties and rhinoplasty revisions each year.  Then look at the plastic surgeon's website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can deliver the results.

	Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Ronald Schuster, MD · Answer

I can see your concern. I think that a simple scar revision should work. The scar is simply uneven and re-doing it should work. I do not think that laser will work.

Stephen P. Smith, Jr., MD · Answer

I’m sorry you had a bad experience. At 12 months, the scar is mature and there are several options that are available to you. The first would be a scar excision with careful meticulous closure. I always break up incisions in the columella in a non-linear fashion so that the scar looks more inconspicuous once it has healed. Since a scar already exists, breaking it up is no longer an option and a simple meticulous scar excision with careful closure would be the best option.Also, you specifically ask about laser treatments and there are 2 options available to you. I have extensive experience using both a fractionated CO2 laser as well as a VBeam Pulse-Dye Laser for many issues including scars which range from traumatic scars to acne scars. We have had great results treating scars using a combination of these technologies. I would suggest you consult with someone who has these technologies at their disposable and who also does scar revisions so that you can get a comprehensive recommendation. In simple terms, the CO2 laser is a resurfacing laser that would help smoothen out the scar line which appears to be depressed. The VBeam PDL is a laser that targets the color red. As you can see your scar is red and PDL treatments may help lighten the color and make it less noticeable. Ultimately, a combination of treatments may be the solution. The best way to get a comprehensive assessment would be to consult with a surgeon who does rhinoplasty and has both lasers at their disposition. Good luck.

Is There Any Way to Get Rid of a Scar from Rhinoplasty? (photo)

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