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Scars once formed cannot be totally removed no matter what step or healing method are tried. They may become lighter, may change color and texture but they will remain. This is a realistic view, which all patients must have when they go in for scar revision otherwise they will be disappointed. The scar is less conspicuous once it is revised but it cannot totally disappear.
There are many ways of revising hypertrophic scars. Hypertrophic scars are those that are formed on any wound and are different from other scars. These scars are red, rough and are within the limits of the wound. They generally become less in color and texture over time. It is not necessary to worry about them or to treat them for at least a year after they are formed. Hypertrophic scars are formed as a healing process of any wound, whether it is an injury, or a burn, a tattoo or even by acne. The body produces a protein called collagen and tries to heal the wound. However the body cannot duplicate the existing tissue and hence scars are different from the surrounding tissue. That is why they look and feel different. Some of them may even itch.
To lessen the impact of the scar, one can use gels or pressure clothes or bandages to flatten them. If they don’t produce any result some steroid injections injected directly into the scar may produce some effects. They may improve the appearance and the injections may have to be taken on a regular basis at intervals of a few months for them to be effective. If these techniques fail, then surgery is the option. A plastic surgeon may scrape the scar but a new scar tissue will be formed.
A total hypertrophic scar revision result will not make the scar disappear. After the scar revision it is very important to follow the surgeon‘s instructions. Even if the patient is up and about, even if he feels fine, he should follow the surgeon’s instructions. He has to make sure that the scar revision heals properly. The surgeon will advise the patient to resume his duties slowly and gently allowing the scar revision wound to heal. The degree of improvement depends on the size and direction of the scar, the nature and quality of the skin and how well the patient takes care of the wound after the operation. Even if the revised scar looks worse than the earlier one there is no need to panic, the final results of the surgery takes time and it may take as long as a year for the result to be apparent. |
