Most people are self-conscious about facial scars. When the skin is healing from an injury, whether the result of an accident, surgery, a burn, or acne, scarring will occur wherever multiple layers of the skin have been affected. You may also experience diminished functioning of the eyes, mouth, or nose due to scarring. Once a scar forms, it is permanent but Dr. Honrado may be able to make it less visible or relocate it surgically.

Different types of scars respond to different techniques. Timing of surgery is another important choice. Depending on the kind of inury, Dr. Honrado may recommend waiting for a certain time period before attempting to revise a scar. This interval allows the body enough time to heal fully.

Making The Decision For Scar Treatment
Whether the surgery is desired for functional or cosmetic reasons, Dr. Honrado will examine the scar in order to decide upon the proper treatment and inform you of outcomes that can be expected from facial scar revision surgery.

Different scars require different treatments. For example, keloid scars are a result of the overproduction of collagen after a wound has healed. These scars generally appear as growths in the scar site. Hypertrophic scars, unlike keloids, do not grow out of the boundaries of the scar area, but because of their thick, raised texture, can be unsightly. In addition, severe burns that destroy large sections of skin cause the skin to heal in a puckered way. As the skin heals, muscles and tendons may be affected in this "contracting" movement.

Some facial scars are unattractive simply because of where they appear on the face, while others affect facial expressions. All surgical possibilities will be discussed with you by Dr. Honrado in the initial consultation along with risks involved for each type of scarring.

Because scars are highly individualistic and the patient's attitude toward scars is so personal, maximum improvement in facial scars may require more than one procedure, and more than one technique may be employed.

Understanding The Surgery
When a scar is of the contracture type, the scar usually has to be removed completely. Skin flaps, composed of adjacent healthy, unscarred skin, are then lifted and moved to form a new incision line. If a flap is not possible, a skin graft may be used, which involves taking a section of skin tissue from one area and attaching it to another. Time must be allowed following surgery for new blood vessels and soft tissue to form. A Z-plasty is a method to move a scar from one area to another, usually into a natural fold or crease in the skin to minimize its visibility. While Z-plasty does not remove all signs of a scar, it does make it less noticeable.

Dermabrasion and laser resurfacing are other methods that Dr. Honrado may use to make scars less prominent by removing part of the upper layers of skin. The scar will remain, but it will usually be smoother and less visible.

Keloid or hypertropic scars are often treated first with injections of steroids to reduce size. If this is not satisfactory, the scars can be removed surgically, and the incisions closed with fine stitches, often resulting in less prominent scars.

What To Expect After The Surgery
You can expect to feel some discomfort after facial scar revision surgery. Some swelling, bruising and redness are generally unavoidable. It is important for you to follow your Dr. Honrado’s after care recommendations, which usually means keeping the area moist and away from ultraviolet light exposure. Though the sutures will be removed within days after the surgery, your skin needs time to heal. Limiting your activity after surgery, keeping your head elevated when lying down, and using cold compresses to reduce swelling is advisable.

It is important to remember that scar tissues require a year or more to fully heal and achieve maximum improved appearance. However, further revisions and manipulations may be necessary.