Remove scars – treatment and methods
Scars on the face and body are an extremely common problem that causes a number of inconveniences. They appear as a result of trauma to the skin or as a result of rashes.
Why do scars appear
Scars or scars are formed as part of the healing process of damaged tissues. The body creates additional structures to repair the damaged skin and close the gaps created by the injury. Scars come in different shapes and sizes. They can be the result of accidents, burns, surgical interventions, acne and diseases.
The main building material of scars and scars is collagen, which is involved in the healing process of the skin. If there is an excess of collagen fibers, then the scar will not only be noticeable in color, but also convex.
Fortunately, modern dermatology and cosmetology has a number of techniques that help smooth out such irregularities. We will talk about the treatment of scars and scars in this article.
What are scars
The scar usually consists of hard connective tissue and does not contain sweat glands and hair follicles. Scars on the body can be of several types:
◼ acne scars (postacne) – after serious and prolonged rashes scars often remain on the skin. They can have the appearance of deep pits, uneven or wavy scars. Depending on the type of scar, the cosmetologist selects a treatment that will include various procedures (for example, laser skin resurfacing or microneedle RF lifting) ;
◼ keloid – scars that appear in the process of excessively aggressive healing Such scars go beyond the initial trauma. Removal of scars is carried out with the help of cryotherapy, and in more complex cases, surgical intervention, steroid injections and silicone patches are required;
◼ contracture – similar scars are formed as a result of burns. They tighten the skin, and in serious cases penetrate deeper and affect the nerves and muscles. Various laser procedures help to remove contracture type scars;
◼ hypertrophic – raised scars that have a red tint. Similar to keloid, but do not go beyond the trauma. You can get rid of the scar with the help of steroid injections to reduce inflammation, as well as using smoothing silicone patches.
Removal of scars on the face and body
Patients who want to improve the condition of their skin and make their scars less visible always have many questions. The best solution in such a situation is to make an appointment with a doctor, during which a specialist will be able to explain all points of interest. But in order for you to better navigate the topic right now, we have collected all the necessary information in this article.
Is it possible to completely remove the scar
Before starting the treatment, the patient must understand that it is completely impossible to remove the already formed scar on the skin. It is quite difficult to achieve a result when the scar is not visible at all. However, it is realistic to make it minimally noticeable. For this, you need to be patient and follow all the recommendations of a dermatologist.
Effectiveness of scar removal depends on many factors:
- depth and initial sizewounds;
- location of injury;
- how late the treatment was started;
- individual features of the patient (skin type, gender, age, etc.).
Experienced doctors of Esteva Clinic’s aesthetic medicine and dermatology clinic analyze the condition of the scars and form an optimal treatment scheme based on this, which may include various procedures.
Benefits of the scar treatment course
Treatment of scars will be useful for those who feel aesthetic or physical discomfort from these formations on the skin. The result of the treatment is reduction and smoothing of scars, improvement of the general condition of the skin. A properly selected course of treatment can improve the color, size, thickness and hardness of the scar, as well as make its texture smoother and imperceptible to the touch.
What is the best way to remove a scar
At an individual consultation, the doctor selects a combination of procedures and drugs that will help improve the condition of the scars and obtain the maximum result from the treatment. Most often, the removal of scars is carried out in several stages and in a course.
Below we will talk about the most popular and most effective ways to treat scars.
Laser therapy
The laser creates microscopic tunnels in the scar tissue that are replaced by normal tissue, so that the dense scar tissue eventually gives way to more normal skin. This stimulates collagen production and intensive skin healing. With the help of a laser, you can get rid of scars of various types (postacne, keloid, stretch marks).
The effect on the skin occurs quickly and without any particular discomfort. After treatment, the scar should become lighter and less noticeable.
Laser treatment does not remove scars completely. In essence, you are changing one scar for another, smaller and less noticeable. To achieve the maximum result, it is recommended to repeat the procedure several times.
Laser treatment is performed in the doctor’s office and does not require a long stay in a medical institution. The doctor will apply local anesthesia to the treatment area to reduce pain.
You can learn more about laser scar removal in Kyiv in our article “Laser removal of scars and scars“.
Microneedle RF lifting
Another non-surgical method that is often used as a way to get rid of scars. The effect on the skin occurs with the help of microneedles, through which high-energy radio waves are transmitted to the skin. As a result of such an effect, microscopic columns appear in the skin, which are later filled with collagen. It is due to this that the texture and relief of the skin are noticeably evened out. In the process of such healing, scars and spots on the skin formed as a result of trauma are reduced. Thus, this technique is in many respects similar in effect to laser therapy.
The procedure itself is as comfortable as possible, and skin recovery takes several days. Depending on the condition of the skin, the doctor may prescribe a course of procedures – usually 3-6 sessions. Also, RF lifting is perfectly combined with other techniques to obtain a more pronounced result.
We talked about the procedure and its strengths in more detail in the article “Microneedle RF lifting“, as well as in video.
Steroid Injections
The drugs are injected directly into the scar tissue and reduce the itching, burning and redness of keloid scars. In some cases, such injections also help reduce the size of scars.
Operation
In the presence of large, serious skin damage, surgical intervention is necessary. However, not every person will agree to go under the surgeon’s knife, especially if the scar is not very large and does not cause physical discomfort.
It is for such people that there are various alternatives that are presented in modern clinics of aesthetic medicine.
Laser scar removal – before and after photos
In the photos below, you can see how scars are treated in the clinic of aesthetic medicine and cosmetology Esteva Clinic in Kyiv.
Are there any complications with laser scar removal
There are some possible unwanted effects of using laser scar treatment, including:
Exacerbation of infectious diseases. Laser resurfacing can lead to bacterial, viral or fungal infection in cases where post-procedural recommendations for the care of the scar treatment area are not followed . The most common infection is an outbreak of the herpes virus, the virus that causes colds. In most cases, the herpes virus or other infections are already present in the body, but are dormant in the skin.
Change in skin color. Laser resurfacing can cause the treated skin to become darker than it was before treatment (hyperpigmentation) or lighter (hypopigmentation). Skin discoloration is more common in people with dark brown or black skin. Talk to your doctor about which laser resurfacing technique reduces this risk, such as microneedle RF.
To avoid these undesirable phenomena, we recommend using creams with SPF protection and following all post-procedural recommendations prescribed by the doctor.
Contraindications for scar removal
Although laser scar removal is a very common and popular procedure, it has some contraindications.
Reasons for which you should refuse laser therapy:
- oncological diseases;
- disturbed blood coagulation processes;
- taking oral retinoids during the year before the procedure;
- pregnancy or lactation period;
- immunosuppression (suppressed immunity);
- disruption of connective tissue and tendency to the formation of keloid scars;
- chronic diseases (for example, diabetes);
- skin diseases in the place of the intended procedure.
Before the doctor starts removing the scars, he will conduct a detailed survey to find out if you have any contraindications to the procedure.
How much does it cost to remove a scar
Current prices and current promotions for scar removal at the Esteva Clinic aesthetic medicine and dermatology clinic are presented below.
Лазерне лікування рубців і розтяжок (стрій)
| Назва процедури | Ціна, грн |
|---|---|
| Лазерна шліфовка рубців за 10 см | 1290 |
| Лазерна шліфовка рубців / розтяжок / стрій за 1 кв. см | 490 |
| Лазерная шлифовка розтяжок / стрій за 10x10 см | 990 |