Scars are most often caused by medical or cosmetic surgeries, trauma, and injuries, but there are a variety of factors which can influence their visibility and severity. In some cases, scarring can cause ongoing medical conditions such as infections or limit an individual’s movement if located around a joint. Scars situated in prominent areas, including the face, may prompt an individual to seek scar treatment.
Types of scars
There are various scar types that can form which are treatable, including:
- Hypertrophic scars – Often red and raised, itchy and painful, they usually do not go beyond the injury or surgical site
- Keloid scars – Thick, puckered, and often firm, with pain and itchiness. It is usually caused by aggressive overhealing and collagen production extending beyond the surgical or injury site
- Contracture scars – Often caused by skin burns or injuries involving a large area of tissue loss. As it heals, the skin tightens, affecting an individual’s mobility in that area. This scarring often occurs in the deeper skin layers, affecting the muscles and nerves
- Acne and facial scars – Severe acne sufferers can develop acne scars of varying size and depth, often causing deep grooves and pits on the face. Traumatic injuries and cosmetic surgeries may also cause facial scarring
Several surgical treatments and techniques are designed to reduce the appearance of noticeable scars, which Plastic Surgeon Dr Matt Starr offers to his patients. Depending on the type of scar, its location, and how much scar tissue there is, techniques such as excising the scar, performing z-shaped or w-shaped incisions, and conducting skin graft or skin flap surgery can lessen a scar’s appearance, with the aim of enhancing the quality of the skin and minimising any discomfort that the scar may cause.
