Scar Removal · Dermatologist · Cosmetic, Laser Dermatology NYC

Scar Removal

Most people have scars somewhere on their bodies. Scars can be highly visible and painful or simply affect your quality of life if they’re in a prominent location. If you want to have a scar revised or removed, ask your dermatologist in New York if you’re a good candidate for this type of procedure. Only your dermatologist can determine whether you can successfully have your scar revised or removed. Scars come in several main types:

1. Discolorations or surface irregularities: These scars are the easiest for your NYC dermatologist to revise or remove.
2. Hypertrophic scars: These are clusters of thickened tissue that develop at the site of an injury. They’re often raised, red, and can be painful or itchy. They can also become larger over time.
3. Keloids: These scars can also be painful or itchy, but they can also cause your skin to pucker. They can grow larger than your original wound. They can appear anywhere, but they’re more commonly found where you have a little fatty tissue, like your chest, neck, shoulders, or ears.
4. Contractures: These scars restrict your movement due to the tightening and shrinking of the tissues underneath the scar. They can occur when you experience a lot of tissue loss, such as with a burn. Contractures can also form where a wound may have crossed a joint, causing restricted movement.
5. Stretch marks: These are different from other scars because they don’t form due to an injury. They occur when your skin is stretched quickly, such as with pregnancy, rapid weight gain, or rapid growth during puberty.

Knowing the type of scar you have helps your Manhattan dermatologist decide whether you qualify for a scar revision or removal. You can ask your doctor questions about your options. You can determine, with your dermatologist’s help, what type of treatment is possible for improving the appearance of your scar.

Scar Revision Candidates

Having a scar revised or removed is a very personal decision. You should not have it done to please anyone but yourself.  You especially shouldn’t have the treatment or procedure if you’re trying to live up to someone else’s idea of how you should look.

Your NYC dermatologist can perform the procedure to remove your scar, no matter how old or young you are. But there are other issues to consider:

• Your general overall health: The healthier you are, the better candidate you’ll be.
• Not a smoker: Smokers generally have less healthy skin than non-smokers.
• Realistic goals: Your goals and outlook toward the surgery must be positive and realistic.
• No other conditions: You don’t have any active skin conditions, such as acne, in the area to be treated.
• Scar location: Your scar is on a spot that bothers you, either cosmetically or physically.

Non-Surgical Scar Removal Procedures

A combination of techniques may be used to improve your outcome. There are topical treatments that can improve the healing process and keep your skin from making irregular pigment or too much collagen. These gels or creams speed the healing as well.

Your New York dermatologist may also use injections to fill pitted or concave scars. The results of this type of treatment are usually temporary, lasting for a few years, after which you need to repeat the procedure to keep up the improved appearance of your scar. Another injection that can help is a steroid-based substance that reduces the formation of collagen to alter the appearance and texture of raised and discolored scar tissue.

Other treatments that can soften bumpy skin and help scars look better can be used as well. For example:

• Skin bleaching, which chemically lightens your skin
• Chemical peels, which work below your skin’s surface to fix the texture and color
• Microneedling causes micro-trauma in the skin encouraging new collagen deposition
• Laser or Light therapy, which changes your skin’s surface to allow the growth of new healthy skin

Thinking about Surgery

Surgery isn’t always required, but sometimes an incision may be needed to remove a scar if it’s deep and involves many layers of skin. The success of your surgery depends upon your being honest and forthright during your consultation. You need to be ready to talk about any pre-existing conditions or risk factors that may affect your likelihood of a positive outcome. For example:

• Tell your dermatologist in New York City why you want the surgery
• Describe your expectations
• Talk about any medical issues, treatments, or drug allergies you have
• Be specific about all medications, supplements, and vitamins
• Be honest about your alcohol, tobacco, or drug use
• Give detailed information about previous surgeries

During the course of your consultation, your NYC dermatologist may also need to do a thorough exam of your scar. The doctor also needs to evaluate all the risk factors and health concerns to ensure your safety during surgery. You can discuss your options to arrive at a recommended treatment, and then you should learn about any possible risks and complications from your procedure.

Scar Removal Recovery

Depending on you, your scar location, the condition of your scar, and your dermatologist’s recommendation, you’re given local anesthesia, intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia. The severity and type of your scar determine how much improvement can be made in its appearance. Sometimes more than one procedure may be required to achieve the best result.

During the procedure, your dermatologist actually cuts out the scar and then closes the layers of skin to form a new scar.  There are several different techniques that your New York dermatologist may use to close your incision so that it heals almost invisibly. There are techniques to improve mobility in the affected area once the overgrowth of scar tissue has been removed.

After your surgery, you may have swelling, redness, and discomfort for up to two weeks. You’ll continue to heal, and your new scar slowly shrinks and fades. If you had dermabrasion, chemical peel, or laser treatment, you’d have additional skin sensitivity in the area as well. Follow all the instructions from your New York dermatologist. Sometimes, however, more than one procedure may be required to achieve the best outcome. Complete healing may take up to a year, but you’ll be pleased with how much the appearance of your scar has improved.

Important Reminder: This information is only intended to provide guidance, not definitive medical advice. Please consult dermatologist NYC about your specific condition. Only a trained, experienced board-certified dermatology doctor or pediatric dermatologist can determine an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.