Facial scars

Can scars be removed?

It is impossible to completely remove scars. The main aim is to minimize the scars, change their shape and bring it in a condition of less visible.

When the scar restoration can be done?

You have to wait until the wound is healed for 6 – 12 months according to the type of wound in order to intervene in scar. If there is any, you have to wait the treatment of infection, the passage of edema and tension. In some cases, it is intervened more quickly to correct scars.

In what ways are scars recovered?

It is intervened with different surgical methods. In some procedures, it is performed under local anesthesia just in that region.

1. Removing scar and stitching: Wide and unpleasant scars or some scars side by side (such as razor cuts in arm to harm himself/ herself), the skin is removed in ellipse shape in the form of a single piece and the open wound is stitched in layers and with subcuticular stitch known among the people as “aesthetic stitch”. Sometimes, interventions for 2 -3 sessions are needed in wide scars. Firstly, scar is in the form of a thin line. In the first 3 months, it can be in red color. It gets thin and becomes colorless, pale over time. The scar is expanded over time in active regions. The latest form of the scar can vary depending on the factors such as the color of skin, quality of skin and wound tension.  
2. W- plasty: The removal of scar is in the form of a sinuous zig – zag line, not a straight line. When the edges of wound are brought together, there is a scar in the shape of constant “W”. As these scars are not in the form of straight line, they are seen in harmony with surrounding healthy tissue.
3. Z-plasty: After the removal of scar tissue, “Z” shape cut is performed together with intervening scar tissue executing small cuts in healthy tissue. Then, tissues called flaps stemming from the top and bottom of the letter Z are cross replaced and stitched. The tension in wound is reduced with Z- plasty and as the flat wound is in harmony with surrounding tissue, it is felt less. Z – plasty can be performed both separately and also for wound tension and length. Z – plasty is widely used in the procedures such as opening contractures after burn to open and relieve skin wounds showing the tension and assembly of regions such as finger, the back of knee, the front of elbow.
4. Skin grafting: The transplantation of skin is performed from other parts of the body after the removal of scar tissue in some wide and convex scars. It is used to close open wounds. The disadvantages of this method can be remanining of scar in other part of the body, the placed skin graft being in other tone different from surrounding tissue and the risk of skin tissue shrinkage.
5. Tissue expansion: The balloon with outer silicone is placed under the healthy skin tissue next to this region due to partial baldness in scalp and scars after severe burn. The balloon is placed and inflated with physiological solution at regular intervals after a recovery period of 1 -2 weeks. So, any width of quality skin tissue is guaranteed. Then, these silicones and scar skin tissue are removed, the high quality surrounding tissue is brought and the scar region is closed. Instructions for the 2nd operation and inflation terms are the negative characteristics of this method. If the healthy skin tissue is of quality, the result will be successful.
6. Flap surgery: It is used in open wound, non-healing wounds and contracture. In fact, methods such as W- plasty, Z – plasty and tissue expansions are also flap surgery. Flaps obtained from surrounding and distant tissues can be used for different purposes. The main purpose is its being more functional rather than cosmetic.
7. Dermabrasion: It is intended for buffing away the upper layer of the skin mechanically. It is performed under local anesthesia. Fresh, smooth skin is formed. There may be redness in the skin in the process of recovery. It can be performed in several sessions. You need to protect from the sun to avoid color differences.
8. Microdermabrasion: It is performed with high-pressure device spraying aluminum oxide microcrystals. It provides a controlled exfoliation. There is no need for anesthesia and redness in the skin. It is performed in 6 – 8 sessions with an interval of 1 week.
9. Restoration of scar with laser: It is performed by using different lasers. It cannot benefit in some types of scars. Every laser cannot be used in every scar.
10. Chemical peeling: It is chemical peeling of skin with the solutions such as fruit acids, TCA, phenol.
11. Fillers: When some collapsed and minor wounds are filled using different fillers and they are at the same level with surrounding tissue, then scar is less visible. For this purpose, the patients own fat tissue or other different fillers can be used.