Scar Revision

How much a scar bothers you, either aesthetically, or functionally, can be very personal.  Scars are areas where incisions or wounds have healed, and the final appearance can be influence by many factors.  They are the result of the natural biologic process of healing and wound repair of the skin and other tissues in the body.  Unfortunately, their development can be unpredictable and suboptimal in certain situations.  Poor healing and infections can lead to scars that are noticeable, unsightly and even disfiguring.  They can be particularly noticeable if the final result is raised and widened, and if they are a different colour and texture from the surrounding skin.

Scar Revision surgery focuses to address existing scars and modify them so that the new appearance is less noticeable and more consistent with your surrounding skin.  This is done by utilizing advanced techniques in wound closure, as well as optimizing the conditions for the revised area as it heals and matures.  The goal is for a more aesthetically pleasing result that is well hidden and as unnoticeable as possible.

Take a look at the photo gallery for some before and after examples to see how Scar Revision surgery can improve your existing scar appearance.  To take the next step, request a consultation with Dr. Seal, or call our office at (604) 569-2895 to schedule an appointment.  We look forward to hearing from you and helping you learn more about the options that exist for you on the road to achieving all of your functional and aesthetic goals.

Scar Revision Considerations

There are many factors that can lead to noticeable scars.  These can include the location on the body, age when the scar was formed, infection of the area, injury to the wound as it was healing, exposure to sunlight, and minimal attention to the incision site during the healing process.  On top of this, your background genetic influence and bodies contribution to scar formation will affect the final appearance.

In general, scars form after normal tissue has been injured, either by accident, or carefully, through surgical incisions.  Following this, the incision or wound site progresses through 3 phases of wound healing.  By understanding the physiology behind scar formation, focus can be held at each stage to optimize the outcome.

No scar can be removed completely, however, the appearance can often be greatly improved. Incisions can be incorporated into natural creases in conjunction with the relaxed skin tension line to help hide them as best as possible.  This can also help minimize the tension on the scar as it matures, which is a key factor that influences the width of a scar.

One of Dr. Seal’s goals for your Scar Revision is to make your incisions as unnoticeable as possible, and all of the important scar management modalities that you can do to help optimize your incision and results after the Scar Revision surgery are reviewed during your follow-up visits.

Scar Revision Photo Gallery

What to expect during recovery

Scar Revision is normally performed as an outpatient procedure under local anaesthetic in a minor surgery procedure room.  If the scars are large, or if the revision is combined with other procedures, the surgery may be performed under general anaesthetic in the operating room at one of the hospitals Dr. Seal operates at.  You will be able to go home after the procedure to relax and recover.  In general, most patients do well over the first day, and can return to work and regular activities that week if desired.  Dr. Seal will see you in the office to review all of the important information with you and ensure you are doing well.  The incisions continue to fade over the first year, and all of the important things you can do to help optimize your results are reviewed during your follow-up visits.

Map & Directions Direction Map

138 Davie Street

Vancouver, BC V6Z 2V4

604-569-2895

plasticsurgeryvancouver@gmail.com

Get Directions
Contact

    I agree to the Terms of Use