Every time the skin is cut, be it from an accident or as a planned incision for surgery, it heals with a scar. For various reasons scars may become very obvious or unsightly. Scar revision is a common plastic surgery procedure, where these scars can be hidden or improved. The procedure is also sometimes called ‘scar removal’ or ‘scar reduction’.

Specialist plastic surgeons are highly trained to minimise the visibility of scars and make existing scars less visible. This is one of Dr Safvat’s areas of expertise. However, no one can promise to operate and cut the skin without getting a scar or make a scar disappear altogether.

To simplify the picture there are 4 common types of bad scars:

Keloid Scars

People often call all bad scars Keloids. In fact, individuals who get keloid scars have a genetic predisposition to this. They usually get keloids wherever they are cut. This is more common in the darker skin individual, but can happen even in people with paler skins. Keloid scars are not limited to the site of injury and can spread beyond the limits of the cut. They can also occur any time after the injury, and often do not reduce or fade further without treatment. . Also certain areas of the body are more prone to Keloid scarring for example earlobes, middle of the chest and shoulders. Keloids are also very difficult to treat and have a high recurrence rate.

Hypertrophic Scar

Hypertrophic scars occur when somewhere along the healing process something delays the healing and causes a raised and thicker scar. For example, this can be infection, excess tension on the wound, severe friction or loss of significant tissue, etc… It is limited to the site of injury and does not spread beyond the wound. Individuals with hypertrophic scar usually heal normally and have normal scar elsewhere. Hypertrophic scars will eventually settle, become slightly less raised and more pale, provided the aggravating event is resolved. Most people mistake hypertrophic scars with Keloids. Hypertrophic scars respond well to treatment.

Poorly Executed Scars

Poorly executed scars are closed either under too much tension, or put in directions or at sites, that are more obvious. Plastic surgeons are highly trained to put scars in natural skin creases or shadow lines, and close wounds in layers and without tension. The location and orientation of a scar have a significant impact on how noticeable a scar is.

Traumatic Scars

Traumatic scars are not uniform. Some are clean lacerations from a sharp object. Others have variable amount of shearing or crushing component to them. By and large, the former will heal better and the latter will result in a poorer scar. Scars take up to a year to mature and can be improved in this time. This can be done by sun protection, scar massage and applying silicone to the scar. It is also imperative to stop smoking as it impairs all wound healing and causes poorer scarring.