Scar Revision: Smooth and Improve the Appearance of Scars

Scars are marks on the skin that result from normal healing of wounds caused by accidents, diseases, or surgeries. The more damage that occurs to the skin and the longer it takes to heal, the greater the chance of an obvious scar. Typically, a scar may appear red and somewhat thick at first. Then it slowly fades to light pink or white.

Examples of Scarring

• Scars may end up raised or depressed (below the skin surface) and darker/lighter than the skin around them.
• Too much inflammation (redness and swollenness) during healing may lead to hypertrophic scars or keloids.
  • Hypertrophic scars are large, raised scars that form from excess scar tissue.
  • Keloids are tough, irregular shaped raised scars that grow larger than the size of the initial wound. Keloids are more common in people with darker skin types.

Understanding Scar Revision

Scar revision treatments aim to reduce the visibility of scars, whether they are from surgery, injury, or acne. Scars may be treated with a variety of topical medications, surgically or with lasers. These treatments improve texture and tone, helping scars blend in with the surrounding skin.

Effective Scar Revision Treatments

• Fraxel Laser:

  • Resurfaces the skin and stimulates collagen to improve scar appearance.

• CO2 Laser:

  • Removes damaged skin layers to reduce scar visibility.

• PICO Laser:

  • Targets pigmentation within scars for a more even tone.

• VBeam Pulsed Dye Laser:

  • Reduces redness and improves the appearance of vascular scars.

• Microneedling:

  • Promotes collagen production to smooth out scars.

• Radio Frequency (RF):

  • Helps firm and smooth the skin, reducing scar appearance.