I want to have scar revision done on my face. Would it be best to consult a reconstructive surgeon, or a plastic surgeon?

Many plastic surgeons perform reconstructive work, and vice versa. Consult several surgeons to guage their experience with your particular situation. Grigoriy Mashkevich, MDNew York Facial Plastic Surgeon

Our treatments use combination therapy to improve the epidermis and dermis for most deep scars. The options available for acne scars depend on the character of your scars, in terms of topography and contour. We see atrophic and hypertrophic acne scars, as well as scars that have hypo and hyperpigmentation. We begin each scar evaluation with an assessment of scar quality and subtype. Our main concern is rebuilding collagen and that is why we use a HIDEF protocol that includes combination therapy. Morpheus 8, scar subcision, fibrous release, fractional laser, CO2 laser, Thulium laser, PDL Vbeam laser, and fractional resurfacing can be used in addition to TCA Cross and chemical peels to further improve skin. Patients should start Melarase AM and Melarase PM for active hyperpigmentation. Always begin with a consultation to decide whether early subcision should be started.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Scars may result from trauma (injury), infection (e.g. chicken pocks), inflammation (acne) or prior surgery. Likewise there are certain conditions known for causing scars, such as untreated acne leading to pit scars, or surgical wounds leaving off-white line scars and stitch tracks, etc. Accordingly, there are quite a few methods for treating and improving scars, depending upon the specific type, whether it is elevated above the skin (as in the case of keloids and hypertrophic scars) or atrophic (depressed scars), such as those box scars,  rolling scars, or ice pick scars that may follow severe acne. Without a photo and some history it is impossible to really say what form of treatment(s) is appropriate in this case. Treatments run the gamut from surgical revision, punch-excision, chemical peels, radiowave treatments, subcision and fractional medical microneedling, each having its own purpose and expected outcomes. To determine what is best for you, consultation with a board certified aesthetic physician with extensive experience with each of these modalities is strongly urged.

I would recommend seeing a facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon for the scar revision on your face.  A surgeon in either of those specialties should be able to help you.

It is always a good idea to go to a plastic surgeon for scar revision especially on the face. Without more information it is difficult to say.

I wish you had provided a photo for better assessment because it depends on the type of scar that you have.  If it is a scar that a laser can improve then I would recommend a dermatologist.  If it is a scar that needs to be re-excised I would recommend a facial plastic surgeon.  Revising scars are very tricky so please find a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in scar revisions.

When I became board certified, our professional society was called the American Society of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons.  It has changed for simplicity's sake, to the American Society of Plastic Surgery but the specialty includes both aesthetic and reconstructive procedures.  There is no separate specialty called reconstructive surgery.  Many of us perform both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.  Scar revision is classically a cosmetic procedure unless the functionality of a structure is impaired.   Best wishes, Dr Kraft