Scar Revision Techniques

There are a multitude of methods that I and other plastic surgeons use to improve the appearance of scars.

While adherence to the principles of suturing, such as removing any diseased or damaged tissue prior to repair, achieving a tension free closure,  selecting the proper sutures, using a layered repair, and the timely removal of sutures will help yield a thin acceptable scar, there are several other methods which can render scars less visible.

The orientation of a scar is paramount.  In general scars should be oriented along existing creases.  Having the patient animate the surface where the scar will lie can reveal the ideal orientation in instances when creases are not visible.

If scars are adjacent to natural borders, such as the side of the nose or lip, the scar should be moved, if possible, so that it lies at that border.  A border or even a deep crease ( such as a frown line), is an excellent place to “hide” a scar.

Long straight scars are often more easily noticed then scars that are broken into many parts, with each section having a different orientation, even though the total length of a broken scar is always longer than the straight line form of the  scar.  When performing scar revision, conversion of a straight, long scar to a broken form is often considered, and accomplished with a variety of techniques.  The broken form can also orient portions of the scar into a more favorable location, rendering those segments less noticeable.   Of the different techniques used to achieve this goal, I prefer the “Broken Line Technique”. The “Broken Line Technique” redirects the scar every centimeter or so in a different direction.  The reorientation is entirely random, so that there is no resulting pattern.

To view examples of the “Broken Line Technique” and other forms of  Scar Revision please click “here”.

To schedule an appointment to discuss revising your scar please call us at 732-632-6090, or you can contact us and leave a message by clicking “here”.