 Procedure - Scarring is the inevitable result of skin injury which can be due to trauma or prior surgery. Some people, often the elderly, scar excellently, whereas others, like teenagers, can have very poor scarring. Some parts of the body heal with very little scarring, such as the eyelids, while other parts heal with more obvious scars, like the upper back and shoulders. Dr. Brown has expertise in scarring and wound healing, and worked in a wound healing research laboratory for one year. If you have scars from previous injuries or surgeries, he will discuss with you options for scar revision therapy.
The scarring process - A normal scar takes 1-2 years to completely heal, or mature. It is usually red for the first 4-8 months, then it darkens slightly, and finally begins lightening after the first year. Scars are often initially raised, and then flatten with time. How a scar heals depends most of all on how your wound was closed from your previous surgery, but in addition, there are - other contributing factors include your genetics, and what happened to the scar after the surgery (e.g. infection, stress on the incision, etc). Abnormal scarring is quite common after trauma or surgery. Raised, red and unsightly scars are termed hypertrophic scars. Scars that grow outside the border of the original wound are termed keloid scars.
Is scar removal realistic? - The short answer is "no." Although a scar can be improved, sometimes significantly, it can never be completely removed. But in many cases, scars can be revised. Contact Dr. Brown for a consultation to determine the best method of treating your scar.
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