Hideous scars from accidents, surgeries or past injuries can become less noticeable with a scar revision procedure. This surgical operation can make the scar smaller and less visible to the eye. Dr. Schneider of Artisan Plastic Surgery, offers expert scar revision procedures in Joliet.
When Should You Undergo Scar Revision?
Scar revision in Joliet is best for individuals who suffered from injuries that caused:
- Distinct scars that distort the appearance, particularly the face
- Poorly treated wounds from injuries
- Closures of wounds
- Substantial regional tissue loss
Aside from these, scar revision is advised for scars that are located on anatomic regions; those which are susceptible to skin wrinkling and traumatic scarring.
Scar revision is used to treat 3 kinds of scars: Hypertrophic, Contractures and Keloid scars
Hypertrophic scars refer to scars which protrude from the skin. They do not go beyond the injury’s boundaries and they tend to decrease in size over time. On the other hand scars that tend to restrict movement by pulling the skin edges together are known as Contracture scars. Finally, Keloid scars refer to the abnormal skin proliferation which spreads outside the wound’s boundaries.
Scar Revision in Joliet – How The Procedure Works
In the scar revision process, skin with a distinct pattern or shape is taken from the scar to diminish its original size. Two common techniques in scar revision are W-plasty and Z-plasty. These techniques can decrease the scar’s appearance by placing the scar along the natural skin creases and lines.
In performing scar revision through Z-plasty, Dr. Schneider performs an incision with a Z-shape. The Z’s middle line is positioned along the scar tissue. The Z’s other lines form flaps. These flaps are rotated to change the scar’s position by 90 degrees after re-positioning flaps are sewn in place. This procedure minimizes the scar’s visibility by breaking the scar lines into smaller units.
On the other hand, scar visibility can decrease through W-plasty as the straight line is turned into an irregular line. In W-plasty, there is no skin flap formation or re-positioning. Instead, several small incisions are created to replace the straight scar line with a zigzag pattern.
Besides W-plasty and Z-plasty, other scar revision procedures can also be done through flap surgery, laser skin surfacing and skin grafting.
What To Expect After Scar Revision in Joliet, IL
After undergoing the scar revision procedure, you should get a lot of rest and take medication for pain. Patients who have gone through the skin grafting procedure require regular visits to the hospital in order to monitor the graft sites.
For any inquiries about scar revision, you can reach Dr. Schneider of Artisan Plastic Surgery in Joliet, Illinois.
