Scar Revision

A consultation is an essential first step in the scar revision process. Since scars can vary in shape, size, thickness, and color, and can be located anywhere on the body, a thorough evaluation, with one of our expert cosmetic surgeons at Emory Aesthetic Center, is necessary for planning your treatment. Our surgeons will be able to recommend a course of treatment, which may include a combination of techniques. This treatment plan will be customized to you and your unique needs.

Your consultation is also a chance to get to know our providers and staff, ask questions, and refine your goals for the procedure. Be sure to address any concerns you have about the procedure during your consultation, and our surgeons will be happy to provide you with answers.

Only you and a qualified cosmetic surgeon can determine your individual candidacy for scar revision procedures. Candidates should be healthy and have scarring that is either unsightly, physically uncomfortable, or causes psychological discomfort and self-consciousness. Scar revision is such a custom procedure that it can be difficult to predict the results of each treatment. Patients will need to be realistic and strive for improvement over perfection. Scar revision is not an instantaneous solution, and candidates should be prepared to be patient and give the treatment time to work, which can be a lengthy process. However, good candidates can see significant improvement in scarring, which can have an immensely positive impact on overall quality of life.

Some scar revision procedures can be performed under local anesthetic and are relatively non-invasive. Surgical scar revision will vary depending on the size of the scar, but revision techniques may include repositioning the scar, removing bulk, or simply refining the incision to produce a smaller scar. Dissolving or traditional sutures will be used.

Laser treatments and dermabrasion may require some kind of anesthesia as well, depending on how in-depth the procedure will need to be. During laser treatments, precise beams of light are used to resurface and smooth the skin. Dermabrasion involves essentially sanding down the skin to erase irregularities, such as acne scar depressions. Treatments such as steroid injections and topical treatments are usually used before or after more aggressive types of revision treatments.

Depending on the revision type, patients may need to devote several days to recovery. Scars will usually look worse before they look better, and the color will begin to fade once initial healing is complete. This process takes several months. During initial recovery, painkillers can be used to control any discomfort, and patients should take care to follow any instructions and activity limitations provided by their surgeon.