Scar Revision

Scars may not be physically harmful, but they can still have a significant impact on your life. For many, they can be reminders of traumatic experiences. For others, they can hurt confidence in your appearance. With scar revision by Dr. Gabbay, you can reduce the appearance of most scars through a straightforward procedure.

Before & Afters

What Is Scar Revision?

Scars are the natural results of the body healing after an injury, illness, or surgery. While many may hardly be visible, others can be severe and have a large impact on your appearance. The size, shape, and color of scars can vary significantly, but they almost always differ from the rest of your skin. Scar revision aims to lessen that difference and create a smoother look overall.

Though some scars may naturally diminish over time, many remain quite visible. Their presence can affect your quality of life in a variety of ways, but revision can help fix that. With the use of advanced medical techniques, Dr. Gabbay provides scar removal surgery that can help correct a variety of scar types, including keloid scars.

Whether your scars are from an injury or surgery, this procedure can deliver significant improvements in their appearance. These dramatic enhancements have helped benefit many of our patients and boosted their confidence.

If the path be beautiful, let us not ask where it leads.

- Anatole France

The Procedure

Scar removal is often performed as a simple office-based or outpatient procedure. So you can go home the very same day, and recovery is generally quick. While your initial postoperative improvement will be dramatic, it may take months or even over a year to see the final results.

Scar revision procedures are meant to minimize the appearance of the scar. The result should blend naturally into your surrounding skin tone and texture. The general scar repair procedure involves the following steps:

Step 1—Anesthesia: Medications will be administered for your comfort during the surgical procedures and may involve local anesthesia, intravenous (IV) sedation, or general anesthesia. The type depends on your needs and procedure complexity.
Step 2—Surface/Topical/Injectable Treatments: Some scars can be treated with one or more less-invasive techniques. You will know ahead of time which option will be for you.
Step 3—Surgery: For particularly deep scars, Dr. Gabbay may elect to incorporate surgical techniques. These can be used on their own or with other techniques.

Surgical methods include:

Excision techniques
Tissue expansion procedures
Skin grafting techniques

Some of the surface treatments we provide include:

Topical Treatments: Gels, tapes, or external compression can aid in wound closure and healing. They also can prevent your skin from producing irregular pigmentation and discoloration.
Injectable Treatments: Injectables are often used to fill depressed or concave scars. The results may last anywhere from three months to several years. Injectable treatments must be repeated periodically to maintain the beneficial results.
Surface Treatments: This approach is most often used to soften surface irregularities and reduce uneven pigmentation.

Surface treatments include:

Dermabrasion
Laser/light therapy
Chemical peels
Skin bleaching agents

Remember, your treatment plan will be completely tailored to your needs. Dr. Gabbay has complete training and years of experience in each of the above techniques. So you can count on seeing only optimal results from your scar removal treatment.

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Can We Remove Keloid Scars?

When collagen levels exceed the tissue needs, scars can form as raised, red lumps on the skin’s surface. These are called Keloid scars. Keloid scars continue to expand beyond the original size and shape of the wound. Though different from other types, we can still create improvements for Keloid scars thanks to Dr. Gabbay’s extensive training and experience.

Is Scar Removal Right for Me?

There is no way to completely remove a scar from the surface of the skin; therefore, expectations of scar revision surgery must be realistic. The goal is to improve the appearance of the scar, either by disguising it, relocating it, or minimizing its prominence. A patient’s skin color, age, and the type of scarring are all important factors for determining the outcome of successful scar repair surgery.

It is a highly individualized procedure and may be a good option for you if:

The appearance of a scar bothers you anywhere on your body
You are physically and mentally healthy
You do not smoke
You have no underlying health conditions that could affect the outcome
You have a positive outlook and realistic goals

There are different types of scar disfigurements that can be corrected during scar revision surgery, including:

Discoloration and Surface Irregularities
Hypertrophic Scars
Keloid Scars
Contractures

During your initial consultation at Gabbay Plastic Surgery, Dr. Gabbay will examine your wound and discuss the possible methods of treating your scar, the risks and benefits involved, and the possible outcomes. After assessing your scar, Dr. Gabbay will create a customized treatment plan utilizing the optimal techniques to ensure the success and safety of your procedure.

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Recovering from Your Procedure

If you had a surgical scar revision procedure, bandages or dressings will be applied to keep the treatment site clean. For non-surgical treatment, you won’t need much. In either case, we provide complete instructions that will include:

How to care for yourself after your procedure
Medications to apply or take orally to aid in healing and reduce the risk of infection
When to follow-up with Dr. Gabbay

Following all of the instructions is key to the success of your surgery. And it is important that any surgical incisions are not strained or stressed while healing.

The initial healing phase after your surgical revision may include some swelling, discoloration, or discomfort. This may take 1-2 weeks to subside. You should avoid any activity that places undue stress on the incision area. And you may use cold compresses to reduce swelling.

When Will I See Results Scar Removal?

The time in which you will see results can vary significantly. It typically depends on the type, degree, and location of the scar. But also following the instructions will ensure a quicker recovery! Your results are on their way, so rushing things will only be counterproductive.

The healing process will continue for several weeks. So as the new scar heals, it will slowly fade and become less and less visible. To see best results, we recommend:

Avoiding direct sun exposure for several months
Using sunblock or wound dressing when in the sun
Avoiding any other harm to the treated area
As you continue to heal and the days pass, you will see continued improvements in your scars.

Schedule Your Consultation

The first step to scar removal is to schedule a consultation. At Gabbay Plastic Surgery, we are proud to provide our patients with high-quality scar revision for a wide range of scar types. Call us today at (310) 205-9500 to learn more and get started on reaching your goals!

At Gabbay Plastic Surgery, we are proud to provide our patients with the skilled care they need. Call us today at (310) 205-9500 to schedule your consultation!