Facial Scar Surgery

The body forms scar tissue to help seal open wounds. While according to the Mayo Clinic this scar formation plays a natural role in healing, people scar in different and sometimes unpredictable ways, often leading to varying degrees of disfigurement. While facial scar surgery can do much to improve a scarred person's quality of life, anyone considering surgery should evaluate all the available options and techniques with the surgeon to get a firm idea of what to expect.

Reasons

• People may want facial scars removed for either cosmetic or functional reasons, according to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Disfiguring scars from acne or an injury can have a serious impact on self-confidence and self-image. Some scars can limit facial expressions or cause difficulties in using the nose, mouth or eyes. Even though facial scar surgery cannot eradicate a scar completely, it can still produce dramatic improvements in both looks and facial function.

Types

• Different types of scars create different challenges for the surgeon. Raised, lumpy scars from an overabundance of collagen may shrink in response to steroid injections so that surgery becomes unnecessary, while contracture scars usually require traditional surgical removal. Acne scars or other small facial scars may respond to a localized surgery such as dermabrasion or laser surgery.

Procedures

• To correct a contracture scar, the surgeon must remove the scarred area entirely, drawing the the edges of the healthy skin together with sutures. In some cases, a skin graft from another part of the body must fit into the gap between the edges. A less extreme procedure called a Z-plasty relocates the scar from an exposed area of the face to an area that hides it somewhat, such as a natural skin fold. Dermabrasion strips away the top layer of the skin, smoothing the scar's surface, while laser surgery performs a similar task using bursts of high-energy light.

Recovery

• Patients should expect a certain amount of pain, bruising and swelling, as well as reddish discoloration of the skin, following the surgery. The doctor will remove any sutures used in the procedure after a few days, after which the patient must avoid certain activities or take other self-care measures in accordance with the doctor's instructions. Patients should also check with the doctor before taking any kind of medication during this period. Even after the doctor lifts these restrictions, facial scar surgery may take up to a year to present a completely healthy appearance.

Considerations

• Patients should get all the facts before deciding for or against scar removal surgery, including information about the medical facility, options as to which procedure to use, anesthesia issues and the expense involved. Some corrective procedures may require more than one surgery to achieve the best final result. The patient and the doctor must agree completely on what procedure to use and whether the goal includes functional correction as well as cosmetic correction.