Facial Plastic Surgery for Scars

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Learn More About Scar Removal

Scars can appear unsightly for several reasons.
They can be too wide or long, they could be in
the wrong direction, they may not have good
colour match; they may be elevated or depressed with adjacent tissue; or they may cause distortion of adjacent structures such as the lips. facial plastic surgery camouflages scars to make them as inconspicuous as possible by optimizing its appearance. Multiple techniques are available to make the scars less noticeable.

Learn More About Scar Revision

Surgery For Facial Scars

Scars occur whenever multiple layers of skin are affected by an injury resulting from an accident, surgery, a burn or acne. Scars are permanent once they've formed, but they can be made less visible and can even be surgically relocated.

Read the facial scar FAQs Contact us about scar revision

Most people are very self-conscious about scars located on the face. In addition, facial scars can affect the way that the eyes, mouth or nose function. Facial scar revision can improve a patient's appearance, self-confidence, and their level of facial functioning.

Are You A Good Candidate For Facial Scar Treatment?

Anyone considering facial scar treatment should be physically healthy, realistic in their expectations, and a have a good understanding of the procedure. Though scars cannot be completely removed, facial scar treatment can disguise, relocate, or minimize the prominence of a scar and thus improve its appearance.

There are several factors that must be considered when it comes to facial scar treatment, including the patient's skin color and type, age and the type of scarring. Different facial plastic surgery techniques are used for different types of scars. In addition, many surgeons recommend that scar revision only be performed after the body has had sufficient time to heal, which can be as much as a year after the injury.

Deciding To Undergo Scar Treatment

Once you've decided to undergo scar treatment in Toronto, it's essential that you find a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon. During a consultation, the surgeon will examine the scar and discuss the proper treatment. Remember that different scars will require different treatments. There are many different types of scars, including those resulting from severe burns, keloid scars, hypertrophic scars, and so on.

The surgeon should also discuss the expected outcome of your scar treatment as well as details of the surgery like the anesthesia, the facility, the risks, the costs, and so on. Some scars may require more than one procedure in order to achieve maximum improvement.

The Surgery

Contracture type scars are typically treated with surgery to remove the scar tissue. Once the scar tissue is removed, a skin flap made up of adjacent healthy, unscarred skin is then lifted, moved over and sutured into place. Skin grafts, or sections of skin taken from another area of the body, may be used in cases where a skin flap is not possible. A Z-plasty is another technique which moves a scar to another area, typically within a natural fold or crease in the skin. Though this technique will not remove all signs of the scar, it can make it less visible.

Rough or elevated scars can be made less prominent using dermabrasion and laser resurfacing. Though the scar will remain, these methods can make the scar appear smoother and less visible by removing the upper layers of skin with a laser light or abrading tool.

Steroid injections are often first used on keloid or hypertrophic scars to reduce their size. If more treatment is desired, the scar can be surgically removed, though a less prominent scar will result.

After Surgery

After facial scar revision surgery, most patients will experience some amount of discomfort. Swelling, bruising and redness also occur. Cold compresses can be used to reduce swelling. Patients will need to take it easy at first, and should keep the head elevated when lying down. Activities which place undue stress on the area of the incision should be avoided. The sutures will be removed within days after surgery. It can take a year or more for the maximum improved appearance to be realized as this is how long it takes for the scar tissues to fully heal.

Surgery performed purely for cosmetic purposes are typically not covered by insurance. However, insurance may offer some degree of coverage for surgeries performed to correct or improve scars resulting from injury. Be sure to check with your own insurance carrier regarding the degree and/or availability of coverage.

Facial plastic surgery can improve the appearance of your facial scar and improve your self-confidence in the process.

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