What Is Scar Revision?
The Lubbock Plastic Surgery Institute offers scar revision surgery to treat cuts, burns, abrasions, and other scars that are still visible or physically unattractive after natural healing. There are different types of scar revision surgery (including laser surgery, injections, or skin grafts) and the type will depend on the severity of the scarring and the body’s response to the injury. While all scars are permanent, scar revision surgery may help conceal it and improve its overall appearance. Some scarring may naturally decrease over time so patients should wait for a year or more before deciding to undergo scar revision. The scar’s severity depends on the way the patient’s body heals itself, how it responds to injury, and how severe the injury was that caused the scar in the first place. Other variables, including the size and depth of the wound, the blood supply to the area, the thickness and color of the skin, and the direction of the scar can also affect severity. Anyone considering scar revision surgery should schedule a consultation with Dr. Schmid or Dr. Mooty at one of their West Texas offices, Lubbock or Midland, so the surgeon can examine the scar and determine which treatment or treatments are best for their situation.
Types of Scars
There are various methods available to treat unsightly scars, but it helps to first understand the different kinds of scars.
- Superficial scars are the most subtle type of scars. They do not cause any issue other than an unsightly appearance.
- Keloid scars are larger, painful scars, which are often discolored and tend to extend beyond the edges of a wound.
- A hypertropic scar does not extend beyond the wound, but it continues to become larger, thicker, and more painful over time.
- A contracture scar develops over a larger section of skin creating a tight feel and impairing one’s ability to move. A severe burn is an example of this.
How is Scar Revision Performed?
Scar revision treatment will be chosen based on the scar’s location, type, size and overall extent. There are various techniques to consider.
Shave Excision
For scars that are raised, a shave excision may be performed to remove the top of the scar and even-out the surface with the rest of the skin. This creates a smoother, flatter appearance. During the procedure, a surgical shaver is used to slowly shave off the raised portion of the scar. Sutures are not needed in most shave excision cases.
Scar Removal/Modification
This is also a technique used for raised scars. It can be accomplished a couple of different ways. First, is the elliptical removal pattern. This involves removing the scar as well as an edging (ellipse) of skin encompassing the scar so a clean enclosure can be made. The sutures may be placed on the inside or outside of the skin. Sometimes a scar exists because the incision was closed poorly. By reopening the scar and resuturing the skin in a different direction, the new scar can be minimized.
Skin Grafting/Tissue Expansion
Large scars may require a skin graft (skin taken from another area on the body) to close the wound once the scar has been removed. Carefully placed sutures will be used around the graft to close and blend the skin together for healing. If a skin graft will not be used, tissue expansion may be used instead. During this process, a tissue expander will be placed under the skin where the scar resides and filled with a sterile solution. Once the expansion process is complete, the surgeon will stretch and join the edges together and place sutures carefully into the tissue wall.
Injectable Treatments
Scars that are depressed or concave may benefit from a filler material known as injectable derma filler. There are a wide variety of fillers on the cosmetic surgery market that may be considered. Collagen is a common filler used for scar revision. During the procedure, the injectable material will be injected into the skin through a syringe. The surgeon may manipulate the outside of the skin to help shape the surface accordingly.
Surface Treatments
Some scars can be treated with a series of skin rejuvenation treatments, which can soften the surface of the skin, smooth out uneven scarring, reduce uneven pigmentation and lighten the skin where needed. Some scars may even become non-existent because of the skin removal mechanism. Skin surface treatments include laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels, dermabrasion and skin bleaching.
Scar Revision Reviews
Dr. Mooty did a phenomenal job on my son’s scar revision. My son and I were satisfied on how it came out. The staff in the office are amazing!!
Dr. Mooty did a phenomenal job on my son’s scar revision. My son and I were satisfied on how it came out. The staff in the office are amazing!!
My surgery was the 14th of June. But my experience from the consultation to pre-op appointment to surgery day has been awesome! Dr Schmid was the only Dr that does the side muscle repair as well the vertical muscle repair. My husband said wow when he saw my tummy right before my shower. Said I already had the hour glass figure going on lol. I love my belly button btw! Everything has a lot of healing to do but so far so great!Updated on 20 Jun 2018:So tomorrow will be my 1 week follow up. I'll let you know how that goes. I'm feeling great though and loving my belly button still. I tried the shower again but by myself (husband was with in hearing range) and I did good. Not enough energy to wash my hair but that's ok. Dry shampoo and up in a messy bun for now is fine. I'm not taking my meds around the clock anymore, just around bed time and when I first wake up. I'm still in bed a lot so maybe that's why. When I get up and try to do something either it's my back or my stomach muscles that start to burn. I hope to get my drains out tomorrow but I'm afraid just one will be removed. Just incase anyone is interested I was 148, 5'2. I have not weighed myself since surgery and I'm certain I'm still 5'2 ????. I will ask the Dr tomorrow how wide my muscle separation was cause I'm interested to know. He also did side muscle repair. Oh and how much skin and fat he took off.Updated on 20 Jun 2018:Updated on 22 Jun 2018:So my check up went great! I'm loving my belly button! Have I said that before? Lol I have always hated my belly button for as long as I could remember. It has always been large and after my kids and weight loss it was almost covered by extra skin and it was just not sexy. I really want to get a belly piercing now but I'm not sure I want to ruin the look lol. Decisions! So anyways they took out all my stitches and put new tape over my incision and took one drain out and that wasnt so bad. There was a pinch and small sharp pain (I think that was the stitch being removed and the tissue around it being irritated) but then a weird painless feeling as they pulled it out. But I felt loads better after! I did take a pain med 1 hour before my appointment per their instructionsUpdated on 12 Jul 2018:I saw Dr Schmid on Tuesday but today is my 4 weeks post-op. He took off all my steri strips that were on my inscision and said I could start putting on some Biocorneum scar treatment. He said everything was healing and looking like its supposed to. He said my swelling was at the most it should be and once it goes away I will look even better. I think I said that right lol! I can start light cardio but that's about it. I have minimal pain unless I'm un-intentionally using my ability muscles. Grab your legs if you are wanting to get up or lay back. It totally helps and takes all the pressure off your abs. I purchased a garment off Amazon and was super excited but it didnt fit and I'm sending it back. I followed their measurement instructions and it didnt work. But honestly I was afraid to really try hard to get it on cause i was afraid to do harm to my inscision. So I have on a pair of spanx that seem to be working but I'm still looking for a different garment with straps. Any suggestions? Just real quick I wanted to touch on my first post and the comment about not listening to the haters. The deal with that was that I had a friend of a friend that kept telling me stuff and second guessing my choice of Dr and nothing they were saying made much sense but it still made me over think things. So I did my own research and a lot of it. I always felt comfortable with dr Schmid and his staff and he answered all my questions with out making me feel like I'm bothering him. And my results speak for themselves!
TT w/ side and middle muscle repair and lipo of the flanks! - My surgery was the 14th of June. But my experience from the consultation to pre-op appointment to surgery day has been awesome! Dr Schmid was the only Dr that does the side muscle repair as well the vertical muscle repair. My husband said wow when he saw my tummy right before my shower. Said I already had the hour glass figure going on lol. I love my belly button btw! Everything has a lot of healing to do but so far so great!Updated on 20 Jun 2018:So tomorrow will be my 1 week follow up. I'll let you know how that goes. I'm feeling great though and loving my belly button still. I tried the shower again but by myself (husband was with in hearing range) and I did good. Not enough energy to wash my hair but that's ok. Dry shampoo and up in a messy bun for now is fine. I'm not taking my meds around the clock anymore, just around bed time and when I first wake up. I'm still in bed a lot so maybe that's why. When I get up and try to do something either it's my back or my stomach muscles that start to burn. I hope to get my drains out tomorrow but I'm afraid just one will be removed. Just incase anyone is interested I was 148, 5'2. I have not weighed myself since surgery and I'm certain I'm still 5'2 ????. I will ask the Dr tomorrow how wide my muscle separation was cause I'm interested to know. He also did side muscle repair. Oh and how much skin and fat he took off.Updated on 20 Jun 2018:Updated on 22 Jun 2018:So my check up went great! I'm loving my belly button! Have I said that before? Lol I have always hated my belly button for as long as I could remember. It has always been large and after my kids and weight loss it was almost covered by extra skin and it was just not sexy. I really want to get a belly piercing now but I'm not sure I want to ruin the look lol. Decisions! So anyways they took out all my stitches and put new tape over my incision and took one drain out and that wasnt so bad. There was a pinch and small sharp pain (I think that was the stitch being removed and the tissue around it being irritated) but then a weird painless feeling as they pulled it out. But I felt loads better after! I did take a pain med 1 hour before my appointment per their instructionsUpdated on 12 Jul 2018:I saw Dr Schmid on Tuesday but today is my 4 weeks post-op. He took off all my steri strips that were on my inscision and said I could start putting on some Biocorneum scar treatment. He said everything was healing and looking like its supposed to. He said my swelling was at the most it should be and once it goes away I will look even better. I think I said that right lol! I can start light cardio but that's about it. I have minimal pain unless I'm un-intentionally using my ability muscles. Grab your legs if you are wanting to get up or lay back. It totally helps and takes all the pressure off your abs. I purchased a garment off Amazon and was super excited but it didnt fit and I'm sending it back. I followed their measurement instructions and it didnt work. But honestly I was afraid to really try hard to get it on cause i was afraid to do harm to my inscision. So I have on a pair of spanx that seem to be working but I'm still looking for a different garment with straps. Any suggestions? Just real quick I wanted to touch on my first post and the comment about not listening to the haters. The deal with that was that I had a friend of a friend that kept telling me stuff and second guessing my choice of Dr and nothing they were saying made much sense but it still made me over think things. So I did my own research and a lot of it. I always felt comfortable with dr Schmid and his staff and he answered all my questions with out making me feel like I'm bothering him. And my results speak for themselves!
The scars are nearly invisible 1 month post op - I'm 5'4 and 130 lbs ish. Love my 415/450 cc HP natrelle gummy implants by Dr. Mooty. Nursed/pumped for 3 babies and left with deflated, saggy B cups "bags of skin" or fried egg boob. Now 34 DD or DDD. So sexy yet I can downplay them in work clothes so they aren't the first thing you see when you look at me. They can be the star of the show or a hidden asset and love that they're the perfect size for that. All my same tops still fit - size small. The scars are nearly invisible 1 month post op. Dr. Mooty and LPS far exceeded my expectations - wasn't sure how things were going to turn out but he is so skilled and I don't think I could be more happy with my results.
9
Total Reviews
4.9
Average Rating
What to Expect After Scar Revision
All scar revision procedures are performed in an accredited surgical facility. Some procedures will require general anesthesia, but most will only need local anesthesia. Following this procedure, patients will need to adhere to a daily scar treatment regime so the wound site and new scar can heal. It is important to protect this area of skin from sun exposure to avoid any further skin discoloration. While this treatment does not fully eliminate a scar, the visible imperfections are certainly minimized. Most patients feel more confident exposing the section of skin where the unsightly scar once resided.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does scar revision cost?
The cost of scar revision varies based on factors like the size and location of the scar, as well as the specific treatment plan. During your consultation, we'll discuss the cost based on your individual needs, ensuring you have a clear understanding of the investment.
Does scar revision completely eliminate the original scar?
Scar revision can't always fully remove the original scar, but it significantly improves its appearance. The goal is to make the scar less noticeable and blend more seamlessly with the surrounding skin. While results vary depending on the type of scar and the technique used, many patients see a marked improvement in the texture and visibility of the scar.
Is scar revision painful?
Most patients experience minimal discomfort during and after scar revision. Local anesthesia is used to numb the area during the procedure, so you should feel little to no pain at that time. Afterward, you may experience some swelling, bruising, or mild soreness, but this can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain relief. We'll walk you through the recovery process during your consultation, making sure you're well-informed and comfortable every step of the way.