Alan Steppe
Facial scarring can have a negative impact on your self-esteem, which can make it difficult to have meaningful social interactions. Whether the scar is from trauma, surgery, burns, or a skin condition, the effects will usually remain consistent. For many patients who have facial scarring, the focus becomes taking steps to reduce the appearance of the scars. This may involve finding a reputable plastic surgeon to determine what option is most suitable for the type of scarring the person has.
What causes facial scarring?
Facial scarring occurs when the skin heals after an injury. It can lead to fibrous tissue that varies in color, size, and texture. Various factors, such as the depth of the wound and the person’s skin type, can impact what, if any scarring, will occur. Dr. Joel Aronowitz and other plastic surgeons take the severity of the scarring into account when they’re determining what options are possible.
What options are available for facial scarring?
Facial scarring can be challenging to treat, partially because it’s not really possible to hide the face from the public, so it negatively affects a person’s overall body image. Plastic surgeons, such as Joel Aronowitz MD, have to tailor their approach to the patient’s needs and situation. Some of the options that are available to address facial scarring include:
● Scar revision surgery: This surgery can improve the appearance of the scar by making it less conspicuous. It may look more blended and the edges of the scar may be altered some to fit more with the natural lines of the face.
● Laser therapy: Advanced laser therapy can address pigmented tissues so the collagen is stimulated. This can improve the skin’s texture, reduce redness, and decease the thickness of the scarred area.
● Injectable treatments: Corticosteroid injections and dermal fillers can sometimes help keloid or raised scars. Fillers can also help to fill in andsmooth out depressed scars. Injectable steroids can reduce swelling and redness. These effects may be temporary or long-term.
● Skin grafts and flaps: Skin grafts and flaps are commonly used when there’s significant scarring from burns or tissue loss. In this procedure, healthy skin from another area of the body is transplanted onto the scarred area. This can reshape the area and restore a more natural appearance to the face.
What’s the long-term outlook for facial scarring?
While it’s often possible to make facial scarring less noticeable, it’s not possible to completely remove the scars. A skilled plastic surgeon focuses on finding a customized plan that achieves the most aesthetically pleasing result possible. This can help to improve a patient’s self-esteem and mental health, which is often a top priority for the patient.
