People who have been badly injured often need scar revision surgery because nonsurgical methods don’t provide long-term benefits for them. In many cases, scar revision surgery is an excellent option that can eliminate or reduce scar tissue.
Types of Scar Revision Surgeries
There are many types of scar revision surgeries. The one that works best for you will likely determine on the kind of injury you have sustained and how healthy you are. Common surgeries include
- Fusiform excision – typically used to reduce the size of scars by creating making incisions, closing skin gaps, and letting the skin heal.
- Shave excision – typically used to treat elevated scars.
- Skin grafting – this process involves taking skin from one part of the body and grafting it onto another to eliminate scar tissue.
- Local flap coverage – a process typically used to reduce the appearance of small scars.
The way that you get a scar could also affect which type of scar revision surgery will work best for you. Deep cuts often result in scars. Getting burned badly, however, can also result in small or large amounts of small tissue.
What Burn Rating Scales Mean
There are numerous scales used to rate burns. Most health professionals, however, use the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree system.
In this system:
- 1st degree burns only affect the outer-most layer of skin. They can hurt quite a bit, but they are not life threatening.
- 2nd degree burns have affected the dermis as well as the epidermis. Those that only burn the upper layers of the dermis are usually easy to treat. Those that reach the internal structure of the dermis are more difficult.
- 3rd degree burns can reach muscle and fat tissues. They usually require skin grafts to heal properly.
Scar revision surgery can help most people, but it’s important to find a doctor who fully understands the options and knows how to choose surgical techniques that match your injury.