Scar types that may respond to revision:
- Keloid scars - an abnormal proliferation of scar tissue, and grow beyond the boundaries of the original wound
- Hypertrophic scars - raised scars that don't grow beyond boundaries of injury, and may reduce over time
- Contractures - scar tissue that pulls the edges of skin together, and may affect restrict movement
When to Consider Scar Revision
Candidates for scar revision in Tampa have experienced significant loss of regional tissue, injury that crosses aesthetically distinct areas of the face, unsatisfactory wound closure, and poor post-injury wound management. These are individuals with scars that are functionally or cosmetically undesirable, and meet some or all of the following characteristics:
- Are deeply traumatic
- Unfavorably cross anatomic regions
- Are constantly subjected to wrinkling of the skin
Your Scar Revision Procedure
Scar revision generally involves the removal of skin tissue in a shape or pattern that will aid in diminishing the size of the original scar. Partial or serial excisions, for example, are common treatments for scars too large to be excised in one sitting and that have insufficient available skin for a local skin flap closure. In this procedure, an ellipse is excised from the scar's center. The sides of wound are then undermined so that Dr. Albear can suture the site.
The Z-plasty and W-plasty are used to treat contractures and to minimize the visibility of scars by repositioning them along the natural lines and creases of your skin. In Z-plasty scar revision, Dr. Albear makes a Z-shaped incision with the middle line of the Z running along the scar tissue. The flaps of skin formed by the other lines of the Z are rotated and sewn into a new position that reorients the scar about 90 degrees, so that the appearance of the scar is minimized by breaking up the straight line of the scar into smaller units.
Like the Z-plasty, the W-plasty minimizes the visibility of a scar by turning a straight line into an irregular one, but does not involve the formation and repositioning of skin flaps. Dr. Albear makes a series of short incisions to form a zigzag pattern to replace the straight line of the scar.
Additional surgical techniques used in scar revision: flaps, grafts, fusiform and shave excisions, laser skin surfacing, dermabrasion.
What Happens After Scar Improvement Surgery?
Treatment following scar revision surgery varies; excision approaches like Z and W-plasty involve the use of pain medication, rest, and wound and bandage care. If Dr. Albear treats your scars with skin grafts or flaps, postoperative care will begin in the hospital, and sutures are removed 3-7 days after surgery. Patients receiving grafts are typically expected to return to the office at regular intervals so that the graft sites can be monitored.
Please contact Pasco County plastic surgeon Dr. Albear at his Wesley Chapel office, located in the New Tampa - Tampa Bay area, to learn more about the benefits, costs or possible side effects of scar revision in Tampa.
