Facial scars can be painful, restrict your movement, and lower self-esteem. Scars come in two varieties: hypertrophic and keloid. A hypertrophic scar sits at or lower than the surface of the skin, stays within the scar area and can restrict movement or pull painfully at surrounding skin. On the other hand, a keloid scar occurs when the skin over-produces collagen during the healing process and are marked by tissue that crosses the boundary of the scar’s edge and often sits above the surface of the skin, causing a bulging appearance. Both kinds of scars can be treated surgically by a cosmetic plastic surgeon to reduce pain and diminish appearance.
Although scars are for the most part permanent, many different steps can be taken to reduce their appearance, especially keloid scars. Surgical procedures can help remove some of the excess tissue associated with keloid scars, and some physicians can even inject scars and treat them with steroids and other specially formulated medications that will help the skin recover, counteract the scar’s inflammatory effects, and reduce the scar’s appearance.
Having a scar surgically repaired or reconstructed can be a huge boost for self-esteem and can help patients regain control over their own appearance.
