Scarring is permanent after any injury to the skin. Scars do improve with time. Typically, we like to wait a year after an injury or surgery to make any determination as to whether scar revision will be helpful.
There are some exceptions. Thick scars, called keloids or hypertrophic scars, should be treated early. These scars are raised above the skin surface and commonly are itchy or burn. Treatments include massage, silicone sheeting and steroid injections into the scar.
Treatments include massage, silicone sheeting and steroid injections into the scar.
The other exception is a depressed scar. This scar will always catch the shadowing from the overlying light and will always be noticeable. This is unlikely to improve and can be surgically revised or have fat or filler injected under the scar to correct the depressed nature of the scar.
Scar revisions can be as simple as re-excising and re-closing a bad scar. It may be more extensive and include changing the direction of a scar. Scar revisions also come in the form of laser resurfacing to help camouflage the scar.
At a consultation, we will examine the scar and determine the best technique and treatment for improvement.