handsome young man with clear skin

Scar Revision

Any time skin is cut through its full thickness, a scar will form. All scars are permanent in the sense that they cannot ever be erased. They can, however, be improved. Every scar goes through what is a maturation process. In adults, a scar takes about one year to fully mature. One can expect a surgical scar to generally look its worse approximately 6 weeks to 3 months following the surgery. This is during the most active healing period when the body is forming collagen to heal the wound.

It is generally best to consider cosmetic scar revision no less than 1 year, at which point the scar is considered mature.

During scar maturation, optimal healing may be supported with silicone sheets or gels and by protecting the scar with sunscreen. Unfavorable scars from surgery can be avoided with precise technique and the wound closed with the lowest amount of tension. A prime example of this is an Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) scar. The key to having an optimal tummy tuck scar is placing it in the right location and closing it in so the skin is under the least amount of tension possible. Achieving this outcome requires that the procedure being performed in a skilled manner.

acne scarsAcne Scars

surgical scarSurgical Scars

keloid scarKeloid Scars

Surgical Scar Revision

Refers to the excision of an existing scar followed by reconstruction of the wound through re-approximation of the tissue, possibly with flap reconstruction or skin manipulation, performed to alter the direction of a scar. Scar revision surgery may be employed to improve keloid scars, acne scars, burn scars, hypertrophic scars, depressed or retracted scars, facial scars, as well as scars caused by injury or previous surgery.

If the scar requires an excision, stitches are used for closure and are left in for approximately one week. If the mole is superficial, it may be shaved, and no stitch will be required. Once the sutures are removed and any scab comes off, the underling area is usually a pink or reddish color, which may take several weeks to blend in with the surrounding skin. The area should be kept clean and protected from the sun with a high SPF.

Non-Surgical Scar Treatments:

  • Laser resurfacing
  • Steroid injection
  • Dermal fillers
  • Micro-needling
  • Silicone therapy
location image

Contact Us

Contact Us
By submitting this form you agree to the

By submitting this form you consent to receive phone calls, text messages and emails from 740 Park Plastic Surgery. It is not a condition of purchasing any goods or services. You can opt out at any time, message/data rates may apply, and opting-in includes acceptance of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Communications through our website or via email are not encrypted and are not necessarily secure. Use of the internet or email is for your convenience only, and by using them, you assume the risk of unauthorized use.

Dr. Stafford Broumand has reviewed and approved this content.