Understanding Your Scars and How They Can Be Treated

Getting scars when you were little were once deemed as a right of passage— a symbol that you attempted to do something cool and now have proof to show it. However, there are some scars that you get as you get older that are less than flattering and that you will likely want to get rid of. Depending on the type of scar you have and how severe it is, will help dictate what kind of treatment you can get from The Plastic Surgery Group of Rochester. Read on to learn more.

Types of Scars
Whether you have a scar from some sort of accident like an automobile accident, acne scars that came along with you into adulthood, or a scar from something like a C-section delivery, scars can be flat out embarrassing. Luckily, there are different types of treatment options to aid in the removal of your scar(s). But first it is important to understand what type of scar you have.

• Keloid Scars: These types of scars tend to be itchy and darker in appearance. Typically they appear as thick masses of scar tissue that grow around the actual wound itself.
• Hypertrophic Scars: These scars are typically thick, red, and are raised above your body’s natural skin level.
• Contractures: These types of scars typically occur when the skin is burned or a large amount of the skin is lost due to an accident or injury. When a large amount of the skin is lost at once, the skin pulls itself together through a process called contraction which results in constricted movement.

Treatment
Depending on the type of scar you have there are treatment options including steroid injections, Z-Plasty, skin grafting, and flap surgery.
If you have a nasty scar or scars that cause you to feel self-conscious and embarrassed then you may want to consider having them removed. To learn more about scar removal and revision or to schedule an appointment, contact The Plastic Surgery Group of Rochester.