The scars in the face caused by accidents or surgical interventions can be improved by means of a careful and well planned surgery. The patient that goes to the plastic surgeon to correct a scar, is with security somebody that is affected with image or the function, and considers that has a problem to solve.
The facial plastic surgery contemplates the boarding of the scars like a form to "minimize" or to "camouflage" a cutaneous lesion, but not like a method to disappear it.
It is frequent the consultation to try to reform a wound that has healed improperly and that harms the aesthetic appearance. When a scar is the consequence of a lesion or laceration of the epithelial tissue, that is to say when it is accidental, the skin reacts stuffing the wound with fibrous tissue, reason for which a scar has a different texture to the skin (scar tissue), and it becomes evident. Other lesions affect something more than the image; they can limit the movement of the facial muscles and to affect the tissues in such a way that the surgery becomes imperious to recover the function.
Likewise, a scar as a result of a surgery can become a keloid scar or hypotrophic that can turn of a darker color that the rest of the skin, and that it generally presents edges or knots. The surgery is presented as a procedure to improve the appearance of these lesions, to rehabilitate or to correct a disfigurement. The medical facial surgeon puts all his zeal in making that the new scar is camouflaged in the lines that form some wrinkles. He will be able to diagnose how much it is possible to improve a scar, according to its position, size, depth, tissues that have been affected, the person's age, pigmentation and quality of the skin, among other aspects.
According to the localization of the lesion it could be used local anesthesia, intravenous sedation or general anesthesia.
It’s important that you know that:
1 The surgery can minimize the deforming aspect of a scar, but it can not move it away completely.
2 the surgeon can replace the deforming scar for a less visible one.
3 During the surgery are carried out incisions planned on the scar to try to correct it.
4 in certain cases is necessary to change the address of the scar so it approaches to the lines that form some wrinkles.
5 All skin cut either accidental or planned it produces a scar.
6 The final appearance depends, among other factors, of the capacity of recovery of the organism.
7 The maturation of scars take from 6 to 18 months.
8 A recently repaired scar looks quite well. Then it turns red a little, gets up on the level of the skin surrounding and becomes hard. Gradually these symptoms give and they leave a soft scar that is at the same level and that is a little clearer than the skin that surrounds it.
9 For better results most of the scars should become soft and flat before taking the decision of a surgery.
10 Many scars on initial appearance can be unpleasant, but they improve substantially with the time. Therefore, except for exceptional cases, they should not be intervened so early. Enough time is part of the treatment.
11 Those deforming scars or those that impede the correct operation in lids, lips or nasal graves can be treated in an early way.
12 For scars of more extension could be needed more than a surgery.
13 It's advisable to maintain realistic expectations for the results. The patients that are not in capacity of understanding that, the treatment of a scar has as objective the improvement of it and not the perfection, they will abstain from carry out any surgery.
DERMOABRASION IN CORRECTION OF FACIAL SCARS.
The dermoabrasion is a technique used by medical surgeons to help to regenerate the most superficial layer in the skin affected by scars, sequels of the acne or burns. Through this procedure the surgeon moves away the most superficial layer of the epidermis by mechanical means, chemists or laser. Their effects soften the skin improving the aspect of deep and superficial scars.
The dermoabrasión is also used as an aesthetic procedure to recover the bloom of an aged skin or with acne stains. Although the results are highly satisfactory, no treatment is able to erase scars or wrinkles absolutely. The patients that have undergone this procedure see more clean, healthy and smooth their skin, with less stains and less visible scars.
The results begin to be appreciated after has past 15 days of the procedure and it is possible to return to the habitual activities from one week to 10 days after the surgery. This treatment combines with the use of medications that facilitate and accelerate the process of recovery of the skin. Some make-ups facilitate the recovery.
Dr. Jorge Alberto Espinosa Reyes will analyze your case through a photographic study by computer and will discuss with you the alternatives that better are adjusted to your characteristics. He will request some laboratory exams to examine your clinical history, it is important that you know that:
To avoid undesirable changes in the coloration of your skin, after a dermoabrasión, you obligatorily should use solar protector and hat that protect you of the solar rays. Likewise, and to prevent stains in the skin you should be subtracted from the exhibition to solar light and wind during the first year.
This procedure is ambulatory and it can be carried out with general anesthesia or intravenous sedation and local anesthesia. It is recommended to go accompanied and to make somebody takes care of you during the first post surgery days.
In the post surgery you receive a series of indications and topical medications that will help you to maintain the hydration of the skin and to avoid infections.
The skin will be red and sensitive the first days. It is recommended to reduce the conversations and exaggerated movements of the face.
It is probable that you feel certain difficulty to speak or to eat, which is totally normal. These nuisances will give with the step of the days.
The surgeon will prescribe analgesic, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory to minimize the nuisances.
After some days the skin is regenerated forming a scab that comes off to give origin to the new skin..
It is normal to feel some itch in the area. The nuisances can be controlled with some topical medications.
An inflammatory process can be developed in the treated area as zn answer to the treatment, which is totally normal.
The men should avoid the shaving during some days.
The recovery can take between 4 and 6 weeks. You will be able to returne your daily works after two weeks. Nevertheless, as the inflammation and reddish coloration could still persist, it is possible that you decide to take an additional time.
It is recommended not to ingest alcohol during the recovery.
It's advisable not to develop activities of physical demand neither sports until the complete recovery.
You should abstain of bath in pools.
In elderly patients the scaring can be slower.
The consumption of Aspirin will be avoided (acetylsalicylic acid) and smoking before and after the surgery. Inform in advance of allergies to medications.
It becomes necessary sometimes covering the lesions with bandages.
