Laser Scar Revision

plastic surgeon in Miami who specializes in scars

All you need to know about laser scar revision

Scar formation is a natural physiological occurrence that happens when cells and tissues get damaged or wounded. It is a healthy part of the body’s process to repair damages, close gaps, and eventually heal itself.

Although scars have good intentions, most people do not welcome them since they can become a permanent fixture in the body. It also takes different shapes, sizes, and visibility depending on the severity of the injury.

Most minute scars can completely fade away with time. However, there are some that can permanently alter one’s physical features, body function, and self-esteem. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to modify or minimize the appearance of scars—for example with laser scar removal in Miami.

How can scars affect your life?

A scar is a skin blemish caused by the formation of fibrous tissues in response to an injury, condition, wound, sore, or burn. Scar tissues can also form as a result of skin trauma, such as after an invasive surgical procedure.

Scars have different appearances depending on several factors, such as location and depth of the wound, genetic predisposition, hormonal influence, degree of tension, and underlying medical conditions.

Some of the most common types of scars include keloidal, hypertrophic, atrophic, boxcar, burn, contractures, and acne scars. Regardless of the type, these scars can cause long-term effects on one’s physical and psychological aspects, such as:

Physical pain and itchiness as nerve endings start to grow back.
Limited mobility when the scar tissues become tight over a particular body part.
Hinder the function of associated tissue or organ affected by the scar.
May develop into skin cancers or deformities.
Reduced self-confidence and self-esteem
Mental anguish

This is why scar repair or revision is an important component of one’s treatment plan to enhance a patient’s physiological function, as well as aesthetic appearance.

What is laser scar revision?

Laser treatment, or laser scar revision, can minimize the appearance of a scar, as well as other skin imperfections, such as warts, wrinkles, dark spots, and keloids. This procedure can also reduce the pain, itching, and skin tissue dysfunction a developing scar may cause.

Cosmetic surgeons and doctors perform laser scar treatment on different kinds of scar tissues, such as the following:

Surgical scars
Acne scars
Burns or scalding
Injury scars

Laser scar revision involves using photothermal or light energy to penetrate the skin layers and stimulate the growth of new cells. A laser treatment can either be ablative (removes the outer layer and heats the inner layer) or non-ablative (heats the underlying tissue without destroying the top surface).

Can scars be removed by laser?

A laser scar revision CANNOT completely remove permanent scar tissue on the skin. It can only help in reducing its appearance until such time that the scar almost becomes non-existent. Laser treatment can also prevent and halt scar tissue formation after an invasive surgical procedure.

Furthermore, the American Academy of Dermatology stated that some doctors might combine lasetherapypy with other treatment options to efficiently remove a scar.

How is laser scar removal in Miami performed?

Laser treatment for scars involves the use of different wavelengths of light and heat energy to target the intra- and extra-cellular structure of the skin.

As the laser penetrates the skin, it will remove the damaged outer layer of the skin while also stimulating skin cell production in the area. The ultimate goal is to help the skin remodel its tissues to allow the growth of new and uniformly-arranged cells.

Here's what you can expect before, during, and after laser scar removal in Miami:

A board-certified plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Zaydon, will first evaluate your medical history, current health condition, and scar type. They will then decide what kind of treatment is recommended and the type of laser technique to be used.
Weeks before the surgery, your doctor will provide you with some pre-operative guidelines that can help ensure the success of the procedure. This includes avoiding specific medications, glycolic acid products, cosmetic procedures, and staying out in the sun for extended periods.
You will lie comfortably in a chair and wear protective goggles during the whole procedure.
Your doctor will wipe the area clean and inject anesthesia to numb the area. They will then place wet gauze around the site to cover the healthy skin and avoid it from becoming damaged.
Your doctor will then pass the laser back and forth over the scar tissue. This will only last for a couple of minutes, so you’ll need multiple sessions to successfully reduce scar appearance.

Some steps may be different depending on the technique your plastic surgeon will use. It can either be a CO2 laser therapy or fractional laser therapy.

Plastic surgery for scars

What is the best laser for scar revision?

There are many types of laser treatment to minimize scar appearance and symptoms. But the two most common and efficient treatments available include the following:

Carbon dioxide (CO2) laser resurfacing - utilizes a specific wavelength that creates a heat injury in the skin to stimulate collagen formation. It is an ablative form of laser therapy that results in significant improvement after weeks.

Fractional laser therapy - a non-ablative form of laser therapy that causes minimal injury to the superficial skin layer since it targets the deeper tissues. Therefore, this type of laser scar revision often results in more scarring and increased recovery time than CO2 laser resurfacing.

If you don’t know which one is right for you, our highly-qualified and experienced plastic surgeon Dr. Zaydon can help evaluate your condition and create the right treatment plan and techniques for you.

Does laser scar revision hurt?

Patients won’t feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure due to the anesthetic used. Once done, your plastic surgeon will place a bandage on the scar tissue that you should keep for at least 24 hours. They will also instruct you on mandatory aftercare practices to ensure proper healing.

Once the anesthesia wears off, it’s normal to feel a little pain, discomfort, warmth, swelling, itching, redness, and scarring in the area. These are all normal and should improve after a week.

Recovery length may vary depending on the size and type of scar tissue. But on average, most patients see immediate results and completely heal after 5 to 21 days.

Get the best plastic surgery for scars at the Plastic Surgery Institute of Miami

Dr. Thomas J. Zaydon is one of the leading providers of reconstructive and cosmetic surgery in Miami. He provides high-quality surgical procedures to help patients achieve and experience the best version of themselves. Some of these plastic and treatment surgery include the following:

Dr. Zaydon is also a plastic surgery consultant who specializes in the medical-legal side of plastic surgery. This includes offering his services to become an expert witness or conduct independent medical exams and peer reviews.

The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.

[elementor-template id="1074"][elementor-template id="1356"]
Plastic Surgery for Burns Poster

[elementor-template id="540"]