Hypertrophic Scar Revision Treatment
Dealing with scars can be a pain for just about anyone. While some scars may be barely visible and easily repaired though various process like laser resurfacing or even microdermabrasion, there are two types of scars that cannot. The hypertrophic and keloid scars are red thick and bulky scars that are raised and unsightly. These two are often confused and it is important to remember that a keloid occurs beyond the trauma point while a hypertrophic scar is simply a raised and stretched out scar.
It is important to remember that although a scar may not be visible, it does not mean its there, in other words, even if you go in to have a scar reversal procedure performed, the scar itself is still there, it is just not as visible. This is because the scar tissue is what the body created to rejoin the two sides of the skin that were traumatized. This trauma can from a surgery or any naturally occurring injury, but the scar tissue is basically the body’s glue for reattaching two pieces of soft tissue.
There are a number of possible treatments for the revision of hypertrophic scars which can include the injection of steroids into the scar tissue, a z-plasty as well as a flap or skin graft. Depending on the severity and location of the scar, the doctor may give you several treatment options. For smaller scars, you may want to take the steroid injections as they will help to make the scar less visible with the least mount of cost. The only downfall about steroid injections are the amount of time it takes fro them to work.
A z-plasty is a scar revision technique that is used when the scar is located over a jointed area of skin. The procedure itself is exactly as it sounds, the surgeon will make a z-shaped incision where the scar is located, and after removing the section of scar tissue, he or she will simply sew up the z-shaped incision and then dress the wound. Flap and skin graft revisions are done on larger scars that may be located on places like the arm, abdomen or even lower back and legs. It cannot be used at a place where there is a joint though as the skin graft can affect the flexibility of the skin as well as there being a better chance of another scar forming as a result of the stretching at the grafting point.
