Scar Revision

Doctor Arons offers a number of treatments for scar revisions based on the type and degree of scarring. Options range from simple topical treatments to minimally invasive procedures, to surgical revision with advanced techniques in wound closure. In general, scar revision is performed to create a less prominent scar that is more consistent with surrounding skin tone and texture. Before deciding on the best course of action, Doctor Arons believes it is important for his patients to understand that all scars – whether the result of injury or surgery – are permanent.

Scars are visible signs that remain after a wound – whether the result of surgery or injury – has healed. It takes at least one year for a scar to reach its final appearance. The final appearance of the scar is the result of many various factors, most of which cannot be controlled by either the patient or the physician. Usually it is the innate wound healing properties of a particular individual patient that determine the final appearance of a scar. Some scars are amenable to plastic surgical revision, while others are not.

Certainly, every scar revision procedure involves substituting one scar for another. No scar can ever be permanently eliminated or rendered invisible. The development of scars can be unpredictable. Poor healing may contribute to scars that are obvious, unsightly, or disfiguring. Even a wound that heals well can result in a scar that significantly impairs appearance. Scars may be raised or recessed, different in color or texture from surrounding healthy tissue, or particularly noticeable due to their size, shape, or location. Scars are “hypertrophic” when they are thickened and raised, while a “keloid” scar is one, which outgrows the borders of the original scar.