Scar Revision

How much a scar bothers you, either aesthetically, or functionally, can be very personal.  Scars are incisions or wounds that have healed, and the final appearance can be influenced by many factors, including: genetics, trauma or tissue injury, surgical technique for closure, infection, type and timing of suture removal, and scar management.   With respect to the process of healing and wound repair of the skin, this can be unpredictable and suboptimal in certain situations.  Poor healing and infections can lead to scars that are noticeable, unsightly and even disfiguring.  They can be particularly noticeable if the final result is raised and widened, or if they are a different colour and texture from the surrounding skin.

Scar Revision surgery focuses on addressing existing scars and modifying them so that the new appearance is less noticeable and more consistent with your surrounding skin.  This is done by utilizing advanced techniques in wound closure, as well as optimizing the conditions for the revised area as it heals and matures.  The goal is for a more aesthetically pleasing result that is well hidden and as unnoticeable as possible.

There are many factors that can lead to noticeable scars. These can include the location on the body, age when the scar was formed, infection of the area, injury to the wound as it was healing, exposure to sunlight, and minimal attention to the incision site during the healing process.  Your background genetics may also contributes to the final scar final appearance.

In general, scars form after normal tissue has been injured, either by accident, or carefully, through surgical incisions. Following this, the incision or wound site progresses through 3 phases of wound healing. By understanding the physiology behind scar formation, we can perform targeted interventions at each stage to optimize the outcome.

No scar can be removed completely, however, the appearance can often be greatly improved. Incisions can be incorporated into natural creases in conjunction with the relaxed skin tension line to help hide them as best as possible. This can also help minimize the tension on the scar as it matures, which is a key factor that influences the width of a scar.

Scar Revision is normally performed as an outpatient procedure under local anaesthetic in a minor surgery procedure room.  If the scars are large, or if the revision is combined with other procedures, the surgery may be performed under sedation or under a general anaesthetic in the operating room at one of the hospitals Dr. Ho operates at.  You will be able to go home after the procedure to relax and recover.  In general, most patients do well over the first day, and can return to work and regular activities that week if desired.  Dr. Ho will see you in the office to review all of the important information with you and ensure you are doing well.  The incisions continue to fade over the first year, and all of the important things you can do to help optimize your results are reviewed during your follow-up visits.

To take the next step, request a consultation with Dr. Ho, or call our office at 604.273.1034 to schedule an appointment. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you learn more about the options to achieve your goals.