The appearance of scars varies greatly. They can range from thin, skin coloured concealed lines to red, lumpy scars. Many factors determine the appearance of a scar; skin tone, age, the site of the scar, the age of the scar, and how a wound or incision was repaired. Surgical procedures can be used to remove, change or hide scars. For some patients, general scar management advice is all that is needed; for others injection with steroids are used to improve 'lumpy' scars. If these are not applicable, advice for camouflage techniques is given.
You may wish to try and improve the look of your scar for cosmetic reasons. Scars, as a result of either routine surgical procedures or more often from trauma injuries, can be unsightly. They may be raised, red, and lumpy, and/or lie in a prominent position. Scars may also cause functional problems. At some sites on the body, scars may contract, pulling on surrounding skin and tissues, and in some cases restrict the movement of joints.
Not all scars can be improved or disguised with surgery and we will advise you if this is the case with your particular scar. Even with corrective surgery, a scar will always be present and all surgery carries a risk of wound healing problems, infection, bleeding and unsatisfactory result.
Lots of techniques are available to improve the appearance of scars. We can assess your scar and give you the best advice on treatment. If surgery is indicated it can usually be done under a local anaesthetic as a day case depending on size and site