Scar Revision
Lessening a scar's appearance

Many factors affect the severity of scarring - your skin's thickness and color, the size and depth of the injury, the blood supply to the area. In the same way, many factors influence a person's reaction to scarring—the location of the scar, how extensive it is, whether it impairs your body's movements.

If you have a scar that makes you self-conscious or that impedes your movements, scar revision may help. Scar revision is a surgical means of lessening a scar’s appearance and restoring function. There are three major procedures:

Z-plasty
Skin grafting
Flap surgery

Many scars also can be treated with steroid applications or injections, instead of, or in combination with, surgery.

Before you decide on scar revision, keep in mind that many scars become less visible with time. You may want to wait as long as a year before pursuing a solution. Be aware also that no scar can be erased completely.

What does scar revision involve?

• Z-plasty. The doctor removes your old scar and makes new incisions on each side, forming triangular flaps of skin. The flaps are then moved to form a different angle, creating a 'Z' pattern. Z-plasty is usually an outpatient procedure, with the stitches removed a few days later.
• Skin grafting. The doctor uses skin from a healthy part of your body to cover the damaged area. New blood vessels and scar tissue then form.
• Flap surgery. The doctor transfers skin, as well as the underlying fat, blood vessels and sometimes muscle, from a healthy part of your body to the damaged area

Skin grafting and flap surgery are more serious, complex procedures, usually requiring a hospital stay. If this is the case, Plastic Surgery Associates will perform the surgery at a local hospital where our surgeons have privileges.