Expert scar revision and repair

Many people have some type of scar(s) on their face or body. A scar is the result of our body’s natural way of healing to replace lost or damaged skin. Your body’s healing process involves the building of tissue (collagen) to repair the wound or injury.

Scars can come in all sizes and are typically a result of accidents, injury, inflammation of tissue, surgical incision, acne, and from burns. For some of these types of scars, they will fortunately fade over time. However, in other cases this results in a very noticeable and unwanted scar on the face and body.

Ideally, scars are ‘favorable,’ in other words healing has been ideal and the scar is flat, narrow, faint color and non-symptomatic. However, with an ‘unfavorable’ scar which may be raised, or depressed, or wide, red, or pigmented and sometimes tender, it may need treatment. Sometimes a traumatic scar’s linear direction is at odds with the natural expression lines of the face.

Scar revision is the procedure designed to try to help improve an ‘unfavorable’ scar into more of a ‘favorable’ type.

A consultation for scar treatments helps identify the best options for each individual patient with a troublesome scar. Many patients who consult with Dr. Donn R. Chatham at Chatham Facial Plastic Surgery with offices in Louisville, Kentucky (KY) and New Albany, Indiana (IN) do not like the appearance of their scar(s) and desire to have a less noticeable scar resulting in more attractive skin and increased peace of mind.

As a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Donn Chatham can address your concerns with a scar revision procedure.

What Are The Different Types Of Scars?

There are many scar types. A minor wound like a cut or surgical incision will ideally heal to initially form a red, raised line that over time becomes a fine white line.

Some examples of scar types include the following:

• Atrophic scars are often depressed and may form following damage to tissues below the surface, as often happens during acne.
• Keloids form when excessive wound healing continues beyond the norm and often form beyond the limits of the original wound.
• Contractures place excessive restrictive tension on skin and can create a functional problem. 
• Stretch Marks develop when the skin stretches or shrinks quickly leaving a thinner epidermis and dermis 
• Hypertrophic scars are thicker and raised and red in appearance.

Here are visual examples of some of the ‘unfavorable’ scars we commonly treat: 

How Are Scars Treated?

During your medical consultation, Dr. Donn Chatham will recommend an appropriate scar revision treatment after he examines the scars. The treatment options range from the following:

• Surgery (for more significant reconstruction of the skin)
• Laser and light therapy (for unwanted color)
• Chemical peels (for larger area of skin irregularity)
• Advanced dermal fillers (for depressions)
• Small skin grafts (for deeper ‘ice pick’ acne scars)
• Dermabrasion (sanding) (for some acne scars)
• Injection of steroids (to soften & shrink)

Because there are so many scar types and treatment options, the best treatment plans can only be decided following an actual consultation with a plastic surgeon like Dr. Chatham.

Why A Facial Plastic Surgeon?

Scar revision requires specialized surgical expertise and should be performed by a qualified and experienced surgeon. As a facial plastic surgeon. Dr. Donn Chatham, Medical Director of Chatham Facial Surgery, and a double board-certified surgeon, will do his best to provide a safe comfortable procedure and optimal results.