Scars and Plastic Surgery
When a cosmetic procedure requires that an incision is made so that something
can be put in (implants) or taken out (liposuction, face lift, breast reduction, tummy
tuck), there will be a scar.
A scar is fibrous tissue that forms at the site of a wound or incision.
Scars go through three distinct phases of healing.
In the third and final phase, called maturation, the scar is becoming more like
surrounding tissue and more like the final result that you'll see.
A rule of thumb is that most scars heal to their best appearance after a year.
- Scar tissue is inferior to the tissue it replaces
- Scars don't include sweat glands and hair follicles (although regular tissue may be folded into the scar tissue)
- Scars are more sensitive to UV rays than regular skin.
Re-modeling is the process during the maturation phase where a raised, red
and angry scar becomes flat, fades, and matches color of the surrounding tissue more
closely. Re-modeling usually takes place six months to a year after the skin is injured.
Most scars will ultimately resolve as flat, pale areas that correspond pretty much
to the exact dimensions as the original wound.
Most people show just a moderate difference between
scars and surrounding skin once a year or two has passed.
That's most, not all people.
Factors That Influence How Scars Heal
Nutrition, heredity, race and smoking are factors that can determine how
someone heals and what their final scar looks like.
What can you do to help scars heal to their best potential?
First, choose a board-certified plastic surgeon. Cosmetic
procedures can be performed by MDs who have no training in surgery. A board certified plastic surgeon has been trained and tested in
techniques to minimize scars.
With a board certified plastic surgeon, you get the specific,
advanced medical training and the aesthetic knowledge. It is as close as
you can get to a guarantee of a less visible scar.
Be honest about your skin and your genes. Heredity, what you eat,
and smoking can affect scarring.
...Most
scars will resolve as flat, pale areas
not much different from
surrounding skin within a year's time....
Heredity
If you're like most people, by the time you are old enough to investigate
plastic surgery, you already know how you scar. A plastic surgeon might give you
better results, but they can't change the basic genetic stuff.
Some people form keloids (thickened, overgrown scar tissue) in response to
a wound or cut. African-Americans and others with darker skin are up to 15x more
likely to form a keloid. If you have suffered from keloids in the past, your plastic
surgeon will not be able to guarantee you won't encounter them again.
Keloids shouldn't be confused with a hypertrophic scar, one that is red and
raised but doesn't extend beyond the cut or wound. Again, if you have scarring issues,
you probably know this before you come to the plastic surgeon's office.
Nutrition
Proper nutrition also helps scars to heal. There's no special food to eat, no special combination. A balanced diet that's rich in vitamins and nutrients will do.
Smoking
Smoking is a big no-no because it causes the blood to deliver oxygen less efficiently, depriving scar areas of the oxygen that promotes healing.
More Healing Tips
Do the easy stuff to aid healing. Get plenty
of rest, use ice compresses, protect from the sun and wear sunglasses, and limit
alcohol consumption.
